Hartford, CT
Solar in Hartford
Considering solar panels for your Hartford home? With Connecticut’s electricity prices increasing 27% since 2020 and rates now at 28.76 cents per kWh (4th highest nationwide), solar power offers a practical solution for rising energy costs.
Hartford homeowners are embracing clean energy not just for the significant savings, but also for environmental benefits. Let’s explore how solar installation works in Connecticut’s capital and what makes it an increasingly popular choice.
CONNECTICUT by the Numbers
Key Takeaways
- Hartford homeowners can save $125,000+ over 25 years with solar, offsetting Connecticut’s electricity rates that are 75% higher than the national average.
- Connecticut offers valuable solar incentives including 30% federal tax credits, property tax exemptions, and sales tax exemptions that make going solar more affordable.
- Solar panels in Hartford produce 14,600 kWh annually with a 10kW system, enough to power most homes year-round despite seasonal variations.
Solar Cost Calculator
Discover your exact solar costs in Hartford with Palmetto’s calculator. Using real installation data from Hartford and surrounding areas like West Hartford, Wethersfield, and Bloomfield, we provide accurate estimates tailored to local conditions. Make informed decisions about clean energy for your Connecticut home.
Select Your Home Size
Estimated Investment and Savings
Based on Palmetto Solar installations in Connecticut. Current electricity rate: 28.8¢/kWh. Assumes 100% credit of retail rate.
Hartford Electricity Prices
Hartford residents face some of the highest electricity costs in the nation, with Connecticut’s rates nearly double the national average in recent years.
Since 2021, Hartford’s electricity rates have jumped from 21.9 to 28.8 cents per kWh – a 31% increase. Meanwhile, Connecticut consistently ranks among the top 5 most expensive states for electricity.
Solar installation offers Hartford homeowners a practical solution to these rising utility costs. By generating your own clean energy, you can significantly reduce your dependence on expensive grid electricity.
While Connecticut’s electricity rates continue climbing, solar provides predictable energy costs for decades. Most Hartford solar systems pay for themselves within 7-10 years, then provide essentially free electricity for 15+ more years.
Price of Energy: Connecticut vs National Average
Hartford Area Utility Providers
In 2023, Hartford residents primarily relied on Eversource for electricity, with rates at 31.6¢ per kWh—significantly higher than the national average of 16.0¢ and even above Connecticut’s state average of 29.90¢.
Hartford’s elevated electricity costs stem from Connecticut’s reliance on natural gas, regional infrastructure constraints, and stringent environmental regulations that impact utility pricing throughout New England.
With electricity prices nearly double the national average, Hartford homeowners can benefit from solar’s stable, predictable energy costs—providing a practical hedge against Eversource’s high rates while contributing to a cleaner environment.
Hartford Utilities Electricity Rates
Connecticut Solar Incentives
Hartford homeowners can significantly reduce solar installation costs through solar incentives in Connecticut, including both federal tax credits and state-specific programs.
Connecticut offers exceptional solar benefits including property tax exemptions on added home value, sales tax exemptions on equipment, and the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program for electricity bill savings.
These incentives can change over time, so researching current offerings is essential. Connect with solar experts to understand how these programs can maximize your investment in clean energy.
Save an average of
$8,390
in solar rebates in Connecticut
| INCENTIVE | TYPE | DESCRIPTION | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Clean Energy Credit | Federal tax credit | A federal tax credit worth 30% the cost of a solar panel system in the year it’s installed | Learn More |
| Property Tax Exemption | State tax exemption | Added home value from solar not subject to property tax. Requires application with local assessor. | Learn More |
| Sales Tax Exemption | State tax exemption | No state sales tax on solar equipment and installation. Reduces upfront purchase price. | Learn More |
The Residential Clean Energy Credit lets people claim a tax credit worth 30% the cost of a solar panel system in the year it’s installed. The credit can only be used against taxes you owe or have already paid that year, but any excess credit can be rolled over to future years.
The credit is broadly available, though there are a few restrictions — you must own the panels and they must be on a house you live in — so be sure to consult a tax professional about your situation.
Connecticut’s Property Tax Exemption for solar energy systems provides a significant financial benefit for homeowners who install solar panels on their property. This state tax exemption means that the added value of your solar installation will not increase your property taxes, allowing you to improve your home’s value without paying higher tax bills.
To qualify for this exemption, you must own a solar energy system installed on your property in Connecticut. There is no specific application deadline, but you should check with your local tax assessor to ensure your system is properly documented as exempt. This incentive has no expiration date and remains in effect for the life of your solar system, making it a long-term financial benefit that complements other solar incentives available in Connecticut.
Connecticut offers a Sales Tax Exemption for solar and other renewable energy equipment, which means you won’t pay the state’s 6.35% sales tax when purchasing qualifying systems. This incentive applies to solar panels, wind power systems, geothermal systems, and related equipment used in renewable energy production.
To qualify, you must purchase equipment that falls under Connecticut’s definition of renewable energy technologies, which includes solar electricity systems, solar water heating (both active and passive), geothermal systems, and wind power generation systems. The exemption applies automatically at the time of purchase when your installer or retailer provides the appropriate exemption certificate (CERT-142). There is no deadline or expiration date for this program, as it has been in effect since July 1, 2010.
Connecticut’s Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program offers homeowners with solar panels a significant financial benefit through its Net Metering option. This program allows you to receive full retail credit for the excess electricity your solar system produces and sends back to the grid. When your system generates more electricity than you’re using, your utility meter essentially runs backward, providing you with credits on your bill at the same rate you would normally pay for electricity.
For Eversource and United Illuminating customers who installed systems after January 1, 2022, any unused credits roll over indefinitely from month to month until you close your utility account. This is a notable improvement over the previous policy (for pre-2022 installations), which cashed out remaining credits annually in March at a lower avoided cost rate. There are no specific dollar amounts associated with this incentive as the value depends on your electricity usage, solar production, and current utility rates, but receiving the full retail rate for excess generation typically provides greater savings than alternative compensation methods.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with Connecticut incentives.
Get a Free QuoteHartford Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.
Despite Hartford’s seasonal climate, the city’s strong summer sunshine and moderate winters make it ideal for solar power, with proper system design maximizing year-round energy production.
Solar Production in Hartford by Month
What Can Your Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
In July, your 10 kW system could power:
- 3.6 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Run central AC for 18 hours AND power all other appliances
- or Fully charge 5.4 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Winter Production (December)
In December, your 10 kW system could power:
- 2 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Keep your home heating system running for 15 hours
- or Fully charge 3 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Annual Production
Over a year, your 10 kW system could:
- Offset 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 175 trees
- or Save approximately $4,234 in electricity costs
Want to know exactly how much solar can power your home?
Get a personalized solar analysis based on your actual home, energy usage, and roof characteristics.
Get My Custom EstimateSolar Installations in Hartford
Discover Hartford’s solar revolution! We’ve mapped every residential solar installation in your area, revealing which neighborhoods are embracing clean energy. Explore our interactive heatmap to see how your community is participating in the sustainable energy movement and find inspiration from neighbors who’ve already made the switch.
Leasing Solar Panels
Hartford residents have flexible solar financing options through Palmetto’s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), available with both Eversource and United Illuminating Company. With a PPA, you’ll pay only for the electricity your system produces at a set price per kilowatt-hour instead of purchasing the equipment outright.
This approach eliminates upfront installation costs and ongoing maintenance responsibilities – Palmetto handles everything while you enjoy clean energy savings. Your payments will typically be higher during summer months when panels produce more electricity and lower during winter.
Unlike purchasing, where you’re responsible for equipment maintenance and repairs, a PPA from Palmetto includes complete system monitoring and maintenance through our LightReach program. This worry-free option lets Hartford homeowners start saving immediately without the significant initial investment of purchasing panels.
Go solar without the investment
With LightReach, there are no investment costs to recoup, loan payments to manage, or maintenance needs to take on. As soon as your panels are active, your solar savings are too!
Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, solar makes excellent financial sense in Hartford. With Connecticut’s electricity rates 75% higher than the national average and strong solar incentives including a 30% federal tax credit, property tax exemptions, and sales tax exemptions, most Hartford homeowners see significant savings.
While Hartford receives less sunlight than southern states, modern solar systems still produce enough energy to power most homes year-round, with a typical payback period of 5-7 years and $125,000+ in lifetime savings.
Yes, Hartford has full 1:1 net metering through both Eversource and United Illuminating Company under the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Netting Tariff. Excess electricity credits are carried over month-to-month at the full retail rate.
For systems installed after January 1, 2022, unused credits roll over indefinitely until you close your utility account, providing long-term value for solar homeowners.
Yes, solar panels increase home value in Hartford. According to a Zillow study, homes with solar panels sell for approximately 4.1% more than comparable homes without solar.
Hartford homeowners benefit from Connecticut’s property tax exemption on this added value, meaning you won’t pay higher property taxes despite the increased home value. This combination of higher resale value and tax advantages makes solar an excellent investment for Hartford homeowners.
In Hartford, a typical solar installation costs between $19,500-$25,600 after federal tax credits for an average-sized system (9-10kW). Connecticut’s high electricity rates (28.8¢/kWh) make this investment particularly valuable.
Your specific cost depends on system size, roof characteristics, and equipment quality. Most Hartford homeowners see a payback period of 5-7 years with $125,000+ in lifetime savings.
Solar is exceptionally worthwhile in Hartford due to Connecticut’s high electricity rates (28.8¢/kWh) – among the nation’s highest. With federal tax credits covering 30% of costs and state incentives like property and sales tax exemptions, most systems pay for themselves in 5-7 years.
A typical Hartford solar installation saves homeowners $125,000+ over 25 years while protecting against Eversource’s rising rates, which have increased 31% since 2021.
As a national company with a strong local presence in Hartford, we at Palmetto Solar offer comprehensive installation services backed by our 1,235 Connecticut installations since 2020.
Our industry-leading financing options and extensive installation network make us uniquely positioned to serve Hartford homeowners. We combine nationwide expertise with local knowledge to deliver reliable solar solutions tailored to Connecticut’s specific energy needs and incentives.