Rebates and incentives that touch a panel upgrade
There is no panel line in the standard Mass Save heat pump table. There are real programs that cover panel work, though, if you qualify. Each one is below with its date and the page it comes from.
- Checked: November 2026
The short version. For most households there is no rebate that pays for a panel upgrade by itself. If you qualify by income, Mass Save may cover up to all of it when the panel is needed for new equipment. Charger rebates and one light plant program pay part of it. Check your date and your utility before you sign a contract: several offers changed or closed this fall.
Dates that matter
- 1Nov 1, 2026Eversource EV rebate closedThe 2026 application deadline has passed. 2027 awaits DPU approval.Eversource
- 2Dec 10, 2026National Grid EV upgrade deadlineWork done and application in. Incentives expected to change in 2027.National Grid
- 3Dec 31, 2026Heat pump install at 2026 ratesMass Save 2026 rebate needs the install by this date.Mass Save
- 4Feb 28, 2027Mass Save paperwork dueFor installs finished in 2026.Mass Save
- 5Early 2027DPU decisionOn Eversource's Electrification Demonstration.Eversource
Sources: Eversource National Grid Mass Save Mass Save Eversource Full rebate dates: the December 31 deadline guide.
Every program we could verify
| Program | Who | What it pays toward a panel | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass Save income-based turnkey offer | Homes of 1 to 4 units whose household income is in range. Mass Save Income table | If the home needs a panel upgrade for new equipment, or health and safety updates before weatherization, up to 100% of the cost may be covered. Mass Save | Open. All turnkey offers are subject to cost-effectiveness screening. Start with a Home Energy Assessment. Mass Save |
| Mass Save 0% financing | Mass Save customers. | 0% financing on approved electrical panel upgrades. Mass Save The related HEAT Loan is up to $25,000 for qualified improvements. Mass Save | Open. Ask whether your job is approved first. |
| Eversource home EV charging rebate | Eversource customers with a Wi-Fi Level 2 charger of 80 amps or less on its qualified list. | Toward wiring or panel upgrades: up to $700 standard rate, up to $1,700 total with charger on the Discount Rate, up to $1,000 in environmental justice communities. Shared chargers in 2-4 unit buildings: $1,400, $2,700 and $2,000. Eversource | Not taking 2026 applications since the November 1, 2026 deadline. Awaiting 2027 approval; changes expected. Eversource |
| National Grid EV Charging Upgrade Program | Single-family or 2-4 unit homes with a National Grid account and an EV. Single-family must enroll in Off-Peak Charging. | Up to $700 for single-family home wiring (240-volt circuit or outlet in the garage or parking space), $1,400 for 2-4 units, $1,000 and $2,000 in environmental justice populations. The page does not say panel work is covered, so ask. National Grid | Work done and application in by December 10, 2026. Incentives expected to change in 2027. National Grid |
| RMLD Electric Panel Upgrade Rebate | RMLD customers (Reading, North Reading, Wilmington, Lynnfield), licensed electrician, town permit and inspection. | $500 for an upgrade to a 200 amp or 400 amp standard or smart panel, not more than 50% of installed cost, one per meter every four years. Sub-panels do not qualify. Reading Municipal Light Department Reading Municipal Light Department | Open. Cut from $1,000 and $1,500 on June 1, 2025. Apply within 180 days of final wiring inspection. Bill credit. |
| RMLD Load Management Device Rebate | RMLD residential customers on its time-of-use rate. | 100% of equipment cost up to $1,200 for smart panels, circuit control units, smart breakers and relays. Not wiring or labor. Reading Municipal Light Department | Open. One per customer every five years. Time-of-use Schedule A2 for at least a year. Reading Municipal Light Department |
| Eversource Electrification Demonstration | Select neighborhoods in Springfield and Carver. | Pre-weatherization barriers and electrical panel upgrades, if needed, are in the included work. Eversource | Needs DPU approval; decision estimated for early 2027. |
Where we found nothing
- Federal tax credit. The IRS says the home improvement credit covers improvements made through December 31, 2025. A panel upgraded in 2026 does not qualify for it. IRS
- Standard Mass Save heat pump rebate. The per-ton table has no panel line. See the rebate guide.
- Belmont Light, Wakefield (WMGLD), Peabody (PMLP). No panel rebate appears on the program lists we read. Belmont Light Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department NextZero We did not find a Danvers program list to check; ask the Electric Division.
- Other state programs. We did not find an official Massachusetts page for a federal-funded home energy rebate that covers panels. We left it out rather than repeat figures from third-party sites.
How to not lose the money
- Call before the work starts. RMLD's contractor must get the Utility Authorization Number before installation. Mass Save's turnkey path starts with a Home Energy Assessment. Reading Municipal Light Department Mass Save
- Keep the permit and inspection. RMLD's rebate needs a town electrical permit and a passed wiring inspection. Reading Municipal Light Department
- Keep the invoice. RMLD wants proof of purchase with labor and materials. Eversource says rebates will not exceed the amount paid for the upgrade. Eversource
- Watch the dates. The three EV and heat pump deadlines above are the ones that change at year end.
Common questions
Does Mass Save pay for an electrical panel upgrade?
For households that qualify for the income-based turnkey offer, Mass Save says that if your home requires an electrical panel upgrade to support new equipment, or health and safety updates before weatherization, up to 100% of the cost may be covered, subject to cost-effectiveness screening. The standard per-ton heat pump rebates do not list a panel.
Is there financing for a panel upgrade?
Mass Save says 0% financing is available on approved electrical panel upgrades. The HEAT Loan is Mass Save's 0% loan for qualified home improvements. Ask your Mass Save contact whether your job is approved before you sign.
Is there a rebate for panel work when I add an EV charger?
Sometimes. Eversource's home charging rebate pays toward wiring or panel upgrades, with a standard-rate maximum of $700, but it stopped taking 2026 applications after November 1, 2026 and is awaiting 2027 approval. National Grid's EV Charging Upgrade Program pays up to $700 for single-family home wiring in the garage or parking space if the work is done and the application is in by December 10, 2026. Whether National Grid counts panel work is not stated on its page, so ask.
Is there a federal tax credit for a panel upgrade?
Not for work done in 2026. The IRS says the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit applies to improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Do municipal light plants offer panel rebates?
Reading Municipal Light Department does: $500 for a 200 amp or 400 amp panel upgrade, limited to 50% of installed cost and one per meter every four years. On the program lists we read for Belmont Light, Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light, and Peabody, we did not see a panel rebate. Ask your light plant.
What does RMLD pay for a smart panel?
RMLD's Load Management Device Rebate pays 100% of equipment cost up to $1,200, excluding tax and not including wiring or labor. It lists smart electrical panels, circuit control units, smart circuit breakers and relays, or outlet splitters. You must enroll in RMLD's Residential Time-of-Use Schedule A2 rate for at least one year.
Did RMLD cut its panel rebate?
Yes. RMLD's page says that on June 1, 2025 the incentives for 200 amp and 400 amp panel upgrades went from $1,000 and $1,500 to $500 for both. Older web pages still show the old numbers.
I am in the Eversource Electrification Demonstration area. What does it cover?
Eversource lists pre-weatherization barriers and electrical panel upgrades, if needed, among the items in its Electrification Demonstration Project. It is being considered in select neighborhoods in Springfield and Carver, and needs approval from the DPU, which Eversource expects in early 2027.
Which dates matter right now?
November 1, 2026: Eversource's 2026 EV rebate application deadline, now passed. December 10, 2026: National Grid EV Charging Upgrade deadline. December 31, 2026: last day for a heat pump install at 2026 Mass Save rates. February 28, 2027: Mass Save paperwork for 2026 installs. Early 2027: DPU decision on the Eversource demonstration.
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