Connecticut
Connecticut Solar Incentives 2026 — RRES Buy-All & Netting Tariffs
New residential solar in Connecticut enrolls in PURA's Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program, the successor to the closed RSIP, choosing a 20-year buy-all or netting tariff with rates set each year. High electricity rates are the state's main solar advantage.
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Incentive categories
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Program entries
24.32¢
Avg rate / kWh
14.0 yrs
Simple solar payback
$40,832
25-yr net solar savings
Moderate
Solar potential
Solar Incentives in Connecticut
Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES)
20-yr buy-all or netting tariff (rates set yearly)
Successor to the closed Residential Solar Investment Program. New residential systems choose a 20-year buy-all tariff or a netting tariff; PURA sets the rates for new enrollees each year.
Eligibility: Eversource and United Illuminating residential customers.
EV Incentives in Connecticut
CT CHEAPR EV Rebate
$1,000 standard; up to $5,000 Rebate+
Standard rebate of $1,000 for a new battery-electric vehicle. Income-qualified Rebate+ applicants can receive a total of $4,000 for a new BEV or $5,000 for a used BEV.
Eligibility: Connecticut residents buying or leasing an eligible vehicle from a Connecticut dealer.
Heat Pump Incentives in Connecticut
Federal HEAR Framework (State Availability Varies)
Statutory household cap up to $14,000
Federal law sets measure and household caps, but consumers can use rebates only where the state or territory program is active and funded. A listed cap is not an available award.
Eligibility: Income, equipment, project, state-program, and funding rules apply; confirm availability with the administering state program before purchase.
Get Free Solar Quotes for Your Home
Open the external EnergySage marketplace to request and compare itemized solar proposals.
Your estimated 25-year savings: $40,832
We are not affiliated with EnergySage and receive no commission or referral fee. The button opens an external site; review its terms and privacy policy.
Is Solar Worth It in Connecticut?
Connecticut's high electricity prices (24.32¢/kWh) are its main solar advantage. New residential systems enroll in the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) program run by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), which offers 20-year buy-all or netting tariffs. Our planning model, which values production at the retail rate and does not include RRES terms, shows about 14.0 years to payback.
Nationally, EnergySage reports the average U.S. homeowner saves about $60,500 over 25 years by going solar, without the expired federal credit (page updated June 2026). Actual savings vary by state, electricity rate, export rules, and system size.
Key Advantage
RRES lets homeowners choose between selling all output at a fixed 20-year buy-all rate or netting their usage, with PURA setting the rates for new enrollees each year, so you can compare both options before committing.
Watch Out For
Connecticut's 4.0 peak sun hours/day limits raw production vs. southern states.
Solar Cost & Savings in Connecticut (8 kW System)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross install cost | $31,840 |
| Net install cost | $31,840 |
| Annual energy savings | $2,272 |
| Simple payback period | 14.0 years |
| 25-year net savings | $40,832 |
The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) is not available for expenditures after Dec 31, 2025 and is not included above. State and utility incentives may still apply and are listed separately.
* Planning example for an 8 kW system: $3.98/W installed (LBNL 2024 national median; no state-specific sample), 4 peak sun hrs/day, one 20% system derate, 0.5%/yr panel degradation from year two, and 24.32¢/kWh escalating 2.5%/yr. It assumes all production offsets electricity at the retail rate; actual self-consumption and export credits vary by utility tariff. Tax credits require eligibility and sufficient tax liability.
Get Free Solar Quotes for Your Home
Open the external EnergySage marketplace to request and compare itemized solar proposals.
Your estimated 25-year savings: $40,832
We are not affiliated with EnergySage and receive no commission or referral fee. The button opens an external site; review its terms and privacy policy.
How to Go Solar in Connecticut: Step-by-Step
- 1
Check current RRES tariff rates
Confirm you are an Eversource or United Illuminating customer and review the current RRES buy-all and netting rates on PURA's RRES program page (portal.ct.gov/pura).
- 2
Get quotes from several licensed installers
Get 3+ quotes and compare itemized $/W pricing and the RRES tariff each installer recommends.
- 3
Calculate your stacked incentives
Compare the RRES buy-all and netting options over 20 years, and include Connecticut's sales tax exemption on solar equipment. Note: The federal 25D ITC expired Dec 31, 2025.
- 4
Apply for the CT sales tax exemption
Connecticut exempts solar energy equipment from the 6.35% state sales tax. Confirm your installer applies this exemption before signing — it removes the 6.35% state sales tax from the equipment cost.
Frequently Asked Questions — Solar & Clean Energy in Connecticut
Is solar worth it in Connecticut in 2026?
Yes — emphatically. With electricity averaging 24.32¢/kWh, our planning model shows about 14.0 years to payback and $40,832 in 25-year net savings, That figure values production at the retail rate and does not include RRES tariff terms, which PURA sets each year. Note: The federal 25D solar ITC expired Dec 31, 2025 — if installed in 2025, consult a tax professional.
What replaced Connecticut's RSIP solar incentive?
The Connecticut Green Bank's Residential Solar Investment Program (RSIP) has closed. Its successor is the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) program run by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), which lets new residential systems choose a 20-year buy-all tariff or a netting tariff. PURA updates the rates for new enrollees each year, so ask your installer for the current RRES rates in writing.
Who can use Connecticut's RRES program?
RRES is offered to residential customers of Eversource and United Illuminating. Municipal utility customers should contact their utility about its own solar terms.
How much does solar cost in Connecticut in 2026?
LBNL's public data has no Connecticut-specific median, so this guide uses LBNL's 2024 national median of about $3.98/W, or $31,840 for an 8 kW system before incentives. The federal 25D ITC expired Dec 31, 2025. RRES tariff payments can change the economics; ask your installer to show the current RRES rates in writing.
Recommended Products for Connecticut
Product examples are provided for comparison only. Confirm electrical compatibility, installer requirements, warranty terms, and any current utility incentive before purchase.
Calculate Your Connecticut Savings
The Solar ROI link preselects Connecticut's planning inputs, including the listed electricity rate (24.32¢/kWh). Other tools open with their own defaults; review every input before calculating.
Browse Other States
Data Sources & Methodology
Incentive data: DSIRE, U.S. DOE Home Energy Rebates, IRS residential credit guidance, and linked state program pages. Electricity rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (June 2026). Solar resource: NREL PVWatts reference with state-level planning inputs, not an address-specific API result. Installed price: LBNL Tracking the Sun (Residential systems installed in 2024), a median rather than a quote. The 2.5% annual rate change is a model assumption, not a forecast. Sources and methodology reviewed 2026-09-06. Always verify current amounts with the administering agency and utility.