Go Solar

WMLP Solar Rebate Program

The Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (WMLP) is providing a rebate to qualifying residential and commercial solar installations. WMLP customers are eligible for a rebate of $1,200 per installed kW-direct current (DC) of solar generation capacity, not to exceed 50% of total installed costs (labor and materials) excluding tax up to a maximum rebate of $12,000 (RS-1 Residential Service customers)  or $15,000 (SGS-1 Small General Service customers).  WMLP will also issue participating customers a bill credit for excess solar generation exported to its system at the wholesale electric supply rate (see the WMLP's Solar Net Metering Rate Schedule SP-1), provided the system has a nameplate capacity equal to or less than 15 kW-alternating current (AC). The WMLP's solar rebate application process is administered by Energy New England (ENE). 

PLEASE NOTE:

• Customers whose solar systems have already received an Authorization to Operate from the WMLP are not eligible for the rebate.  Customers or their installers are strongly advised to submit their rebate applications upon receipt of an Approval to Install from the WMLP and not to commence installation until after ENE issues a Rebate Reservation letter.  This is to ensure that your solar system, as designed, meets the rebate program requirements. 
•  Within the WMLP's service territory, customers cannot purchase or buy the solar energy output from installer- or other third party-owned systems (i.e. through power purchase agreements or "PPAs").  Customers can either purchase or lease a solar system and use its energy output; however, only customer-owned (not leased) systems are eligible for the rebate.
• New construction projects (newly constructed homes and buildings) are not eligible for the rebate.

Process

Solar energy is a cost-effective way for homes and businesses in Wellesley to lower their energy bills and lock in reliable energy costs from a proven clean energy solution: the sun.  Ready to investigate solar electricity for your home or business?

Step 1: Review the basics to see if solar is right for you.  The WMLP and EnergySage have partnered to help you go solar. EnergySage offers valuable educational resources, calculators, and marketplaces to help you learn about and shop for solar with confidence at no cost or obligation to you. 

• Estimate your property's potential for solar energy production with this tool (USDOE NREL PVWatts® Calculator).
• Calculate your potential savings using EnergySage's Solar Calculator.

Step 2:  Get competing solar quotes from EnergySage, or other local solar installers.  

•  While the WMLP does not endorse or sponsor any solar installers, these installers are known to have recently installed multiple residential solar projects in our Town and are familiar with the WMLP's solar rebate application process:  Great Sky Solar, Viridis Energy, and All Energy Solar.   Although many of the installers who provide quotes through EnergySage may not actually do work in Wellesley, they can still provide pricing that may be informative.

Step 3:  After taking the recommended steps of checking installers' references, verifying their licenses (MA Home Improvement Contractor Registry or the MA ePlace Portal), and bonding and insurance, select an installer.  Selected installer completes and submits the appropriate Interconnection Application and Service Agreement to the WMLP.  

• Please note that the interconnection application process (administered by WMLP) is separate and complementary to the rebate application process (administered by ENE).
• The required roof orientation is with an azimuth of 80-280 degrees, and minimum total annual solar access of 70%.  Arrays or panels that do not meet these requirements will be excluded from the rebate.  The rebate amount is based on the lower of the total nameplate capacity (kW-DC) of the solar array(s) (the proportion that meets the azimuth and annual solar access requirements) and inverters.
• Please also note that in order to qualify for the rebate, your solar system must include an Also Energy Locus Meter (for further information, see ENE’s portal in Step 6).

Step 4:  Upon receiving an Approval to Install from the WMLP, submit a solar rebate application through ENE's portal and follow the remaining steps outlined there.

• Await portal application validation - monitor your emails for notifications. Once submitted, ENE will await sign-off from the WMLP that confirms it has issued an Approval to Install and your utility account is in good standing before reviewing your application and if found to be satisfactory, issuing a Rebate Reservation letter. 

Step 5:  Install your new solar system after receipt of the Rebate Reservation letter from ENE.   Any project installed without a Rebate Reservation letter is at the project owner's risk.

Step 6:  After the system is installed, submit the requisite interconnection closeout documentation (e.g., building and electrical permits showing final inspections) to and schedule a witness test/inspection with the WMLP.  After successful witness testing/inspection, the WMLP will issue an Authorization to Operate, which is to be submitted along with other project completion documentation to ENE for review and final rebate approval.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Customer must have an active electric account in good standing with the WMLP (at least 6 months of satisfactory payments with no past due balance at time of application AND when the rebate is issued) and must not have any municipal tax liens on the property or service address. Newer customers who have less than 6 months of satisfactory payment history with the WMLP may provide a letter from their previous electric utility. The qualifying solar system must be installed at the account’s service address.
2. WMLP solar rebate is available up to the limits described above to only those WMLP customers being served under the RS-1 Residential Service or SGS-1 Small General Service rate schedule and served by a single utility meter.  WMLP bill credit for excess solar generation is available to RS-1 Residential Service or SGS-1 Small General Service customers whose solar systems have a nameplate capacity equal to or less than 15 kW-alternating current of generation capacity.
3. Customer’s rebate application and solar system must fully comply with the program requirements established by Energy New England (ENE) (e.g., Program Description and Technical Requirements), which include but are not limited to: 1) a minimum total annual solar access of 70% (i.e., maximum shading of 30%), 2) an azimuth of between 80 and 280 degrees, and 3) a separate LocusNOC solar production meter.  .  A customer’s rebate is reserved for one year from the date of ENE’s Rebate Reservation notice, or until ENE receives complete Project Completion documents, whichever occurs earlier.
4. Any false, fraudulent, or incorrect information provided on the rebate application, attached documents, agreement, or Project Completion documents is grounds for non-payment or return of any rebates, and suspension or termination from future WMLP programs.
5. The WMLP shall have title to the customer’s solar system’s non-energy attributes and the associated Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard Class I Renewable Energy Certificates (RPS Class I RECs).
6. Customer’s solar system must pass all requisite building, electrical, and interconnection inspections and approval processes and requirements.
7. Only new equipment is eligible for the rebate.
8. New construction projects (newly constructed homes and buildings) are not eligible for the rebate.
9. Leased equipment or solar systems are not eligible for the rebate (i.e., new solar system must be fully owned (purchased/financed) by the customer).  Energy sales by a solar installer or other third party are not permitted within the WMLP’s service territory.
10. Repair or the partial replacement of existing solar systems is not eligible for the rebate.
11. Customers whose solar systems have already received an Authorization to Operate from the WMLP are not eligible for the rebate.
12. WMLP rebate will not exceed 50% of a solar project’s total installation costs.
13. The customer is responsible for obtaining pricing, selecting a contractor/installer, coordinating contractor/installer scheduling, and making payments to the contractor/installer.
14. WMLP reserves the right to verify or inspect completed solar system installations for which a rebate is requested or was issued.
15. WMLP reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate this rebate at any time.
16. The WMLP will issue the rebate in the form of a check mailed to the customer’s mailing address on record. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for processing.

State Solar Incentives