Typical customer: Worth it

City of Peabody and solar

City of Peabody is a municipal utility serving about 22,697 homes in Massachusetts. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.

Average price (2026 est.)
16.9¢44% below Massachusetts average
Typical bill
$121716 kWh a month
Exports credited
RetailFull retail net metering
Typical payback
12.2 yrs6.6 kW, cash

Export rules for City of Peabody customers

Full retail net metering (Massachusetts rule).

Massachusetts investor-owned utilities credit residential solar exports at close to the full retail rate (net metering credits), and credits roll over indefinitely. On top of that, the SMART 3.0 program pays a fixed per-kWh incentive for 20 years.

Massachusetts net metering details

Solar for a typical City of Peabody home

System6.6 kW (100% of 716 kWh/month)
Cost$22,310, $21,310 after incentives
First-year savings$1,390
Payback12.2 years
25-year net$31,515

Uses the utility's average price.

Solar adoption

Homes with solar (2025)
48
Share of customers
0.2%
Residential solar capacity
0 MW
Residential customers
22,697

EIA-861, 2025.

Cities served

Questions about City of Peabody and solar

Does City of Peabody have net metering?

City of Peabody follows Massachusetts's rules: Massachusetts investor-owned utilities credit residential solar exports at close to the full retail rate (net metering credits), and credits roll over indefinitely. On top of that, the SMART 3.0 program pays a fixed per-kWh incentive for 20 years.

How much does electricity cost with City of Peabody?

Residential customers paid an average of 16.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 716 kWh a month, a bill of about $121.

Is solar worth it with City of Peabody?

For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 6.6 kW system costing about $21,310 pays back in about 12.2 years, with $31,515 net over 25 years.

How many City of Peabody customers have solar?

About 48 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.2% of residential customers (EIA-861).

Legal name: City of Peabody - (MA) (EIA ID 14605). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.