Connecticut Solar Panels

The Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) Program, launched in January 2022 and administered by Eversource Energy and United Illuminating (UI), replaced Connecticut’s legacy net metering program. It offers two compensation options for residential solar owners. The Buy-All Tariff pays $0.3289 per kWh (2026 rate) for all solar energy your system produces, locked in for a 20-year term, with compensation delivered as an on-bill credit or quarterly cash payment. The Netting Tariff credits excess solar production at the full retail electricity rate (approximately $0.28–$0.30/kWh), with credits rolling over indefinitely — though 2026 enrollees are subject to a $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment charge on total production.

To be eligible, your system must be 25 kW or smaller and sized to your home’s historical electricity load. Your chosen rate is locked in for 20 years from enrollment, providing long-term financial certainty. Income-eligible customers (at or below 60% of state median income, or enrolled in programs like the Winter Protection Program or HES-IE) may qualify for additional incentive adders — for example, the Buy-All rate can increase to approximately $0.3839/kWh for qualifying low-income households.

The program is funded by electric ratepayers and overseen by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). Under HB 5340 signed in May 2026, the RRES program has been extended through 2035, ensuring long-term availability. Contact your utility — Eversource or UI — to begin the interconnection application process, which your solar installer can typically assist with.

The Energy Storage Solutions (ESS) Program, administered by the Connecticut Green Bank alongside Eversource and United Illuminating, provides financial incentives for residential battery storage installations. Effective April 1, 2026, the program transitioned to a new framework: homeowners now receive a smaller upfront enrollment incentive of $30/kWh for standard installations (or $130/kWh for homes on grid-constrained “grid edge” circuits), plus ongoing annual performance payments of $300–$550 per kW for years 1–5 and up to $130/kW for years 6–10, tied to Active Dispatch participation during peak grid demand events.

You do not need solar panels to participate — batteries can be installed as standalone systems. Eligible models include the Tesla Powerwall 2/3, Enphase IQ Battery 5P/10T, SolarEdge Home Battery, Franklin WH aPower, Generac PWRcell, and sonnen ecoLinx, among others meeting ESS technical requirements. Homeowners in designated Grid Edge zones (the top 10% of circuits most vulnerable to outages) receive a 1.5x bonus multiplier on their enrollment incentive. Low-income and underserved community households qualify for enhanced incentive tiers, with the maximum incentive capped at $16,000 or 50% of installed cost, whichever is less.

To apply, work with a participating ESS-approved installer who will submit your application through the program portal at energystoragect.com. Battery storage installations in Connecticut also benefit from a full sales tax exemption and a property tax exemption, meaning your home’s assessed value will not increase due to the battery installation. The program is overseen by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).

Connecticut offers a complete exemption from the state’s 6.35% sales and use tax on residential solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage equipment. This exemption applies at the point of purchase, meaning you simply never pay the tax — there is no rebate or application required after the fact. For an average solar installation costing approximately $26,000–$33,000, this exemption saves homeowners roughly $1,650–$2,100 upfront.

The exemption covers both solar panels and battery storage systems, making it one of the broadest clean energy sales tax exemptions in the Northeast. There is no expiration date on this exemption — it is a permanent provision under Connecticut law. Both the equipment and installation labor costs associated with qualifying solar and storage systems are covered.

No special application is required; your solar or battery installer should automatically apply the exemption at the time of sale. If you have questions about eligibility, contact the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) or reference Form CERT-140. This exemption stacks with other state incentives such as the RRES Program and the ESS Program, further improving the financial return on your solar investment.

Connecticut law permanently exempts the value added to a home by a solar energy system or battery storage installation from property tax assessment. This means that even though solar panels and batteries can significantly increase your home’s market value, your property tax bill will not increase as a result of the installation. With Connecticut’s effective property tax rate among the highest in the nation at approximately 2.04%, this exemption provides substantial long-term savings.

For a typical residential solar installation on an average Connecticut home, the property tax exemption is estimated to save homeowners approximately $669 per year, or roughly $16,700 over a 25-year system lifespan. Battery storage systems installed alongside or independently of solar also qualify for this exemption, so your assessed value will not rise due to the battery installation either.

This is a permanent exemption with no expiration date. To ensure the exemption is applied, homeowners should file the appropriate documentation with their local assessor’s office by November 1 of the assessment year in which the system is installed. Contact your town’s assessor’s office or the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services for the specific form required in your municipality.

The Smart-E Loan, offered through the Connecticut Green Bank via a network of participating credit unions and community banks, provides accessible financing for residential solar, battery storage, and other clean energy upgrades. Loans are available up to $50,000 with interest rates of 6.99% APR for 5–10 year terms and 7.49–7.99% APR for 12–15 year terms. The loan requires $0 down, has no closing costs, and is unsecured — meaning your home is not used as collateral.

A unique feature of the Smart-E Loan is that up to 25% of the loan amount can be used for non-energy-related improvements that support your solar or storage project, such as roof repairs, ENERGY STAR appliances, or lead removal. This makes it particularly useful for homeowners who need to address structural issues before installing solar. The loan is available to owner-occupants of properties with up to four residential units who meet credit score and debt-to-income requirements.

To apply, contact the Connecticut Green Bank directly at (860) 713-7900 or visit ctgreenbank.com to find a participating lender near you. The Smart-E Loan can be combined with the RRES solar tariff and the ESS battery incentive program, allowing homeowners to finance their system while earning ongoing compensation from the utility — often resulting in monthly loan payments that are partially or fully offset by energy bill savings and incentive payments.

The Shared Clean Energy Facility (SCEF) Program, established under Public Act 18-50 and administered by Eversource and United Illuminating in coordination with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), allows residents who cannot install rooftop solar to benefit from clean energy. Subscribers receive an on-bill credit reflecting their share of the solar facility’s output, typically resulting in 5–15% savings on their monthly electricity bill. No credit check is required in most cases, and you do not need to own your home or have a suitable roof.

The program is specifically designed to expand solar access to underserved customers, including renters, low-income households, and residents of multi-family buildings. Low-income subscribers may qualify for enhanced bill credits beyond the standard 5–15% discount, as well as reduced or eliminated subscription fees. Residents in economically distressed municipalities such as Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury may receive additional benefits under the program’s equity provisions.

The SCEF program procures up to 50 MW of Class I renewable energy resources annually through a competitive process. If you are an Eversource or United Illuminating customer in Connecticut, contact your utility directly to check availability and subscribe. Under HB 5340 signed in May 2026, the program has been extended and new low-income community solar provisions have been added, ensuring continued access through at least 2035.

Project SunBridge is Connecticut’s implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All initiative, funded by a $62.45 million grant awarded to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) under the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The program’s work plan was approved by the EPA on January 15, 2025. Its primary goal is to overcome financial and technical barriers that prevent low-income and disadvantaged communities from accessing solar and battery storage technologies.

The program prioritizes multi-family affordable housing units and works in coordination with Connecticut’s existing RRES and ESS programs to deliver solar and storage to households that would otherwise be unable to afford them. Assistance is provided through a combination of direct financial aid (such as subsidized or zero-cost solar installations) and technical assistance (such as help navigating the application and installation process). Thousands of Connecticut households are expected to benefit over the program’s lifetime.

Eligibility is focused on low-income households and residents of disadvantaged communities as defined by the EPA. To learn more or apply, visit the official program page at portal.ct.gov/deep/energy/solar-for-all or contact the Connecticut DEEP directly. This program stacks with other state incentives including the RRES Buy-All tariff income adders and the ESS low-income battery incentive tiers, potentially making solar and storage nearly free for qualifying households.

Connecticut’s House Bill 5340, signed into law in May 2026, includes a landmark provision effective October 1, 2026 that allows renters and homeowners to install a single plug-in solar device (also called a balcony solar system or plug-in PV) of up to 1,200 watts without requiring landlord permission, utility notification, an interconnection agreement, a building permit, or any utility fee. This makes Connecticut one of the most renter-friendly states for small-scale solar access.

A typical 800W plug-in solar system installed on a south-facing balcony in Connecticut can generate approximately 1,100 kWh per year, saving an estimated $315 per year at current electricity rates — one of the highest per-system savings in the country due to Connecticut’s high retail electricity prices. These systems simply plug into a standard outlet and offset household electricity consumption directly, with no complex installation or utility approval required.

HB 5340 also requires Connecticut municipalities to implement automated instant solar permitting (such as the SolarAPP+ platform) for residential rooftop systems up to 25 kW by July 1, 2028, which will significantly reduce permitting delays and costs for standard solar installations statewide. Additionally, the bill extended the RRES and SCEF programs through 2035, providing long-term certainty for solar investors in Connecticut.