Is solar worth it in Connecticut?
For a typical Connecticut home in 2026, solar is worth it: about a 8.7-year payback and $57,412 saved over 25 years after paying for the system. Check your own home, because roofs, usage and utilities vary a lot.
- Payback, typical home
- 8.7 yrs6.5 kW, paying cash
- Electricity price
- 28.0¢per kWh, U.S. 18.0¢
- Solar production
- 1,286kWh per kW per year
- Exports credited at
- RetailFull retail net metering
The numbers for a typical Connecticut home
| Electricity use | 695 kWh a month (Connecticut average) |
|---|---|
| Best-value system | 6.5 kW, producing 8,360 kWh a year (100% of use) |
| Price | $20,400 at about $3.10/W |
| First-year savings | $2,228 |
| Payback | 8.7 years |
| 25-year net | $57,412 (12.1% a year return) |
| Rate increase assumed | 3.4% a year, from Connecticut's 2015–2025 history |
Paying cash, no federal credit, 5% discount rate, microinverters, $25 per kW a year for maintenance and repairs. Methodology.
Why it comes out this way
- Electricity is expensive: 28.0¢ per kWh over the last 12 months, 56% above the U.S. average (18.0¢).
- Most utilities credit exported solar at or near the retail rate, so you get full value for midday surplus.
- A typical system here produces about 1,286 kWh per kW per year (ranked #43 of 51).
- There is no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026, which adds several years to payback compared with 2025.
Net metering and export rules in Connecticut
Full retail net metering. Connecticut replaced traditional net metering in 2022 with the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) program. Homeowners choose either a 'netting' option (monthly net metering at retail with an added payment for renewable energy credits) or a 'buy-all' option (all production sold to the utility at a fixed 20-year rate). A 2026 law extended the program through 2035.
Netting tariff: monthly netting at full retail kWh value; excess kWh roll forward and remaining credits are cashed out annually at a wholesale (avoided-cost/LMP-based) rate; plus a PURA-set REC/production payment per kWh for 20 years. Buy-all tariff: all production purchased at a fixed 20-year rate (2026 enrollment: reported ~$0.33/kWh, includes REC value).
- Netting: monthly
- Unused credits: Netting: monthly excess carried forward; annual cash-out of remaining credits at wholesale rate (Eversource Rider N average RT-LMP 10am-4pm).
- Fixed charges: Standard customer service charges (~$10/month) apply. Under RRES the REC rate for netting is set annually; reporting for 2026 enrollment suggests a negative netting REC adjustment (~-$0.04/kWh), reflecting high retail rates — unverified, check PURA Docket 25-08-02.
- Last major change: HB 5340 (signed June 2026) extended RRES/NRES through Dec 31, 2035, with 180 MW/yr target and $85M/yr budget cap from 2028; PURA Program Year 5 decision (Dec 17, 2025) set 2026 rates.
- Pending: PURA successor proceeding to design post-2027 tariffs (orders due 2027-2028).
Read net metering explained to see why export rules can swing payback by years.
| Utility | Export credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eversource (Connecticut Light & Power) | ~100% of retail | RRES netting or buy-all; 20-year term. Retail rate ~30 cents/kWh. |
| United Illuminating | ~100% of retail | Same RRES structure as Eversource. |
Solar incentives in Connecticut
The federal 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. What that means.
| Program | Type | What you get | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| RRES Buy-All tariff | performance payment | Fixed 20-year payment for all solar production (2026 enrollment rate reported ~$0.3289/kWh for Eversource/UI; unverified), with adders for low-income and distressed-municipality customers. Eligibility: Eversource/UI residential customers; enrollment year sets rate. | active |
| Energy Storage Solutions | battery incentive | Upfront incentive per kWh of battery (declining blocks; ~$200-250/kWh baseline, $450/kWh underserved, $600/kWh low-income), residential cap up to $16,000, plus performance payments for grid dispatch. Eligibility: Eversource/UI customers; must enroll in performance program. | active |
| Solar property tax exemption | property tax exemption | Residential solar systems exempt from local property tax (CGS 12-81(57)). Eligibility: Residential systems for on-site use. | active |
| Solar sales tax exemption | sales tax exemption | Solar PV equipment exempt from CT sales and use tax. Eligibility: Residential solar equipment. | active |
| Connecticut Green Bank Smart-E Loan | loan program | Low-interest loans through local lenders for solar, storage and efficiency. Eligibility: CT homeowners. | active |
What solar costs in Connecticut
A fair cash price is around $3.10 per watt before incentives. For the 6.5 kW system that fits a typical home, expect roughly $17,100 to $24,200; smaller systems cost more per watt.
Public installation records (LBNL Tracking the Sun and state data, 562 owned systems since 2024) show a median of $3.10/W, with the middle half between $2.87 and $3.58. These prices include loan dealer fees, which is why cash quotes are often lower.
How many homes have solar
- Homes with net-metered solar (2025)
- 119,508
- Share of homes
- 7.4%
- Residential solar capacity
- 977 MW
- Growth over the past year
- +10.8%
- New systems with a battery
- 3%
- New systems leased or PPA
- 0%
Sources: EIA-861 (2025), EIA small-scale solar estimates, LBNL Tracking the Sun and state interconnection data.
Electric utilities in Connecticut
| Utility | Homes served | Price (2026 est.) | Typical use | Typical-home verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource Connecticut | 1,193,581 | 27.9¢ | 708 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| United Illuminating | 314,909 | 33.0¢ | 567 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Town of Wallingford | 21,426 | 17.0¢ | 852 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| City of Norwich | 18,967 | 22.3¢ | 633 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Groton Dept of Utilities | 12,596 | 17.2¢ | 740 kWh/mo | Worth it |
Solar by city in Connecticut
- Bridgeport7.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Stamford8.7-yr payback · Worth it
- New Haven7.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Hartford8.9-yr payback · Worth it
- Waterbury8.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Norwalk8.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Danbury8.7-yr payback · Worth it
- New Britain8.6-yr payback · Worth it
- West Hartford8.8-yr payback · Worth it
- Bristol8.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Meriden8.6-yr payback · Worth it
- West Haven7.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Milford7.6-yr payback · Worth it
- East Hartford8.8-yr payback · Worth it
- Middletown8.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Shelton8.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Norwich8.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Manchester8.8-yr payback · Worth it
- Torrington8.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Naugatuck8.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Newington8.6-yr payback · Worth it
- East Haven7.7-yr payback · Worth it
- New London8.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Wethersfield8.8-yr payback · Worth it
Protect yourself when buying
- Check the license. CT Department of Consumer Protection solar license: PV-1 (unlimited solar PV contractor) / PV-2 (journeyperson), or E-1/E-2 electrical license. Look up an installer
- Cancellation rights. 3 business days to cancel many home-solicitation sales. Home Solicitation Sales Act; Green Bank/Energy Storage Solutions program requirements. How to cancel
- HOA and solar access. Partial: solar easements authorized; condo/HOA restrictions limited by recent law (verify specifics).
- Community solar. Yes - Shared Clean Energy Facility (SCEF) program, extended by HB 5340 with new solicitations from 2028.
Installers active in Connecticut
Ranked by installations in public records, not by payment. Volume isn't quality: always check licenses and reviews.
- Trinity Solar 12,481 installs
- Tesla Energy 7,081 installs
- Sunrun 5,838 installs
- Posigen 3,654 installs · bankrupt
- SunPower 2,840 installs · bankrupt
- Momentum Solar 1,709 installs
- Sunlight Solar Energy 1,158 installs
- Earthlight Technologies 1,030 installs
- Sungevity 815 installs
- Ecosmart Home Services 512 installs
- Venture Home Solar 478 installs
- Green Power Energy 340 installs
- Purepoint Energy 245 installs
- Jd Solar Solutions 238 installs
- Shippee Solar Construction 169 installs
Questions about solar in Connecticut
Is solar worth it in Connecticut in 2026?
For a typical Connecticut home, solar is worth it. A 6.5 kW system costing about $20,400 after state incentives saves about $2,228 in the first year and pays back in about 8.7 years. Your result depends on your roof, usage, utility and price, so run the calculator for your address.
How much do solar panels cost in Connecticut?
A reasonable cash price is around $3.10 per watt before incentives, or roughly $17,100 to $24,200 for a 6.5 kW system. Public installation records for Connecticut show a recent median of $3.10/W, which often includes loan dealer fees.
Does Connecticut have net metering?
Connecticut replaced traditional net metering in 2022 with the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) program. Homeowners choose either a 'netting' option (monthly net metering at retail with an added payment for renewable energy credits) or a 'buy-all' option (all production sold to the utility at a fixed 20-year rate). A 2026 law extended the program through 2035.
Is there a solar tax credit in Connecticut?
The 30% federal credit for homeowners ended for systems installed after 2025. Connecticut does not offer a state income tax credit for solar that we're aware of. Solar may be exempt from property tax.
How do I check a solar installer's license in Connecticut?
CT Department of Consumer Protection solar license: PV-1 (unlimited solar PV contractor) / PV-2 (journeyperson), or E-1/E-2 electrical license.. Look up any installer with the state's license search at https://www.elicense.ct.gov/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx.
Policy research current as of October 2026; sources include portal.ct.gov, pv-magazine-usa.com, eversource.com. Electricity data: EIA, through July 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.