MASSLANDLORDS NEWSLETTER
months before your new renters can be onboarded. In the meantime, renters will incur their full electricity bill. Also, you will make no assurances that the solar credits will be meaningful. You will just assign them proportional to each unit and let the utility company do the work. Pros: This method encourages longer-term residents and earns higher base rent. Cons: Credits will be wasted if any remain on a renter’s account when they move out. Credits may be under-assigned for up to six months after each vacancy, leaving new renters disappointed.
METHOD FOUR: BYPASS THE RENTERS Use a standard “renters pay” metering arrangement and don’t mention solar in your marketing, as renters will receive no benefit. Sell electricity directly to the grid under the SMART standalone wholesale arrangement. Pros: This is a separate revenue stream that can be managed without renter involvement or landlord-tenant implications.
Cons: Wholesale rates are much less beneficial than retail rates, so the benefit to you and renters is diluted/nonexistent. This method is not often used on buildings that have electricity demand that can be offset at retail rates.
CONCLUSION: CAN A MASSACHUSETTS LANDLORD CHARGE FOR SOLAR? The answer is yes, but not directly. Massachusetts landlords have a complex legal and regulatory framework to navigate in. And the laws clearly were not developed with rental housing in mind. Did we get anything wrong? Send us your feedback at hello@masslandlords.net, this article will be updated. ML
LINKS Falling cost of heat pumps: http://clickmetertracking.com/ heat-pumps-cheaper Heat pumps: http://clickmetertracking.com/ heat-pumps-rental-properties
May 2019
Deep energy retrofit: http://clickmetertracking.com/ masslandlords-deep-energy-retrofit Columbia Gas Explosions: http://clickmetertracking.com/ columbia-gas-explosions Two electric vehicles: http://clickmetertracking.com/ usnews-mpge 105 CMR 410: http://clickmetertracking.com/ masslandlords-laws-state-sanitary-code Schedule Z: http://clickmetertracking.com/ eversource-schedule-z Net metering law: http://clickmetertracking.com/ net-metering-law MGL Chapter 164 Section 2: http://clickmetertracking.com/ malegislature-ch164-s2 SMART: http://clickmetertracking.com/ mass-smart-overview Twice per year: http://clickmetertracking.com/ mass-net-metering-guide
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