Solar panels are a great energy solution during the winter in Massachusetts, but they do produce less energy compared to the longer, sunny days of summer. However, with the right system design, optional battery storage, and net metering, your residential solar panels will meaningfully cut winter energy costs and keep critical loads powered during outages.
Do Solar Panels Work in Winter?
Your solar energy system will produce power year‑round, though shorter days and a lower sun angle mean total winter output is lower than in summer.
Solar panels generate electricity from sunlight, not heat, so cold weather does not stop them from working. In fact, the lower temperatures can actually improve efficiency when your solar panels are clear of snow.
Does Snow Affect Solar Panels?
Snow only becomes an issue when it completely covers the panels and blocks sunlight. But most arrays are installed at a tilt, so the snow slides or melts off quickly. Light or patchy snow, and snow on the ground around the array, can sometimes even help by reflecting extra light onto the panels.
What Happens During a Power Outage?
Solar panels are connected to the electric grid. The grid connection has many benefits, including that it allows you to participate in net metering (more on that below).
However, it also means that when the electric grid goes down, your solar panels do, too. The shutoff happens automatically and is a safety precaution that stops your panels from sending power into the grid while linemen are out making repairs.
If you install a solar battery, however, you can keep your solar panels on during a power outage. The battery allows your system to temporarily disconnect from the electric grid and operate independently. This is called islanding.
In a power outage, a properly configured solar‑plus‑storage system can keep your power on. In most cases, one battery is enough to power essentials like your lights, refrigerator, and medical equipment. Multiple batteries can power more. We can even size your battery system to backup your entire home.
How Net Metering in Massachusetts Helps with Winter Electric Bills
Net metering allows you to earn utility credits when your solar panels send excess electricity back to the grid. Those credits can then be used to pay for grid power when your solar PV system’s production doesn’t cover your usage.
Massachusetts has some of the strongest net metering rates in the country. For most residential customers of Eversource or National Grid, eligible systems receive credits close to the retail rate for each kilowatt‑hour they export.
Your credits roll over month to month, which means strong summer production can offset a significant portion, or sometimes all, of your winter electric usage.
Maximize Your Solar Production with MGE
Maximizing year-round solar production in Massachusetts starts with smart design and high‑quality installation, and that is where My Generation Energy excels as a local solar specialist serving Cape Cod and the Islands, Greater Boston, the South Shore, and the South Coast. From the first visit, our team focuses on sun exposure, shading, roof and site conditions, as well as your actual energy use, so your system is set up to perform at its peak in every season, including winter.
