Solar Guide
Solar in Hartford
Hartford residents are turning to solar energy as electricity costs continue climbing across Connecticut. With utility prices ranking 4th highest nationwide and residential rates at 28.76 cents per kWh, many homeowners are exploring how solar panels for home use can provide long-term savings.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about solar installation in Hartford, from understanding local incentives to selecting the right system for your specific needs.
CONNECTICUT by the Numbers
Key Takeaways
- Hartford residents pay 28.8¢ per kWh – nearly double the national average, making solar savings more substantial.
- Connecticut offers excellent solar incentives including 30% federal tax credit and property tax exemptions.
- Average Hartford solar system saves $125k over 25 years while powering your home with clean energy.
Solar Cost Calculator
Our solar cost calculator uses real installation data from Hartford neighborhoods like West End, Asylum Hill, and Downtown to show accurate pricing. Get personalized estimates based on actual local projects, not generic numbers.
System
Cost
Savings
Hartford Electricity Prices
Hartford residents face some of the nation’s highest electricity costs, making energy bills a growing concern for local families.
Connecticut electricity rates jumped from 21.9 cents per kWh in 2021 to 28.8 cents in 2024, nearly double the national average.
Solar panels can help Hartford homeowners generate their own clean electricity, reducing dependence on increasingly expensive utility power from the grid.
Over 20-25 years, solar systems often provide substantial savings while protecting families from future utility rate increases and price volatility.
Price of Energy: Connecticut vs National Average
Hartford Area Utility Providers
Hartford residents served by Eversource and UI face electricity rates significantly above national averages. Based on 2023 data, local rates range from 31.6¢ to 33.2¢ per kilowatt-hour.
These rates exceed both Connecticut’s state average of 29.90¢ and the national average of 16.0¢ per kWh, reflecting regional infrastructure costs and energy market dynamics.
With electricity costs nearly double the national average, Hartford homeowners often explore solar energy as a way to reduce their long-term energy expenses and gain predictable monthly costs.
Hartford Utilities Electricity Rates
Connecticut Solar Incentives
Hartford homeowners can significantly reduce solar installation costs through various solar incentives in Connecticut available at federal and state levels.
Connecticut offers property tax exemptions, sales tax savings, and net metering programs. These incentives work together to lower upfront costs and provide ongoing financial benefits for solar installations.
Research current incentive details thoroughly, as programs can change. Acting promptly helps ensure you maximize available benefits for your Hartford solar project.
$8,390
Average savings in Connecticut solar rebates
| 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 allows homeowners to exclude the added value of their solar installation from their property tax assessment. This means that while your solar panels may increase your home’s overall value, you won’t pay additional property taxes on that increased value. The exemption applies to both residential and commercial solar energy systems installed on your property.
The financial benefit varies depending on your home’s increased value from the solar installation and your local property tax rate. For example, if your solar system adds $20,000 to your home’s value and your local property tax rate is 2%, you would save approximately $400 per year in property taxes. This exemption continues for as long as you own the solar system, providing ongoing annual savings throughout the life of your installation.
To qualify for this exemption, you must own a solar energy system installed on property you own in Connecticut. The system must be used primarily for generating electricity for your own use. You’ll need to apply for the exemption through your local tax assessor’s office, and it’s important to file the necessary paperwork promptly after your solar installation is complete to ensure you receive the benefit starting with the next tax assessment period.
Connecticut’s Sales Tax Exemption for renewable energy allows businesses involved in solar, wind, geothermal, and other clean energy technologies to purchase equipment, materials, and supplies without paying the state’s sales tax. This exemption applies to items used directly in researching, developing, testing, or manufacturing renewable energy systems like solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal equipment.
The financial benefit equals Connecticut’s current sales tax rate (6.35%) saved on qualifying purchases. For example, a company buying $10,000 worth of solar manufacturing equipment would save $635 in sales tax. To claim this exemption, businesses must complete Form CERT-142 and present it to sellers when making purchases. The exemption has been effective since July 1, 2010, with no expiration date mentioned.
Important limitations apply to this incentive. It only covers tangible items like machinery, tools, materials, and fuel – not services, real property, or general office supplies. The exemption is designed for businesses in the renewable energy industry, not individual homeowners purchasing solar systems for their homes. Homeowners should look into Connecticut’s separate solar system sales tax exemption under a different statute for residential installations.
Connecticut’s Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program offers 1:1 net metering for homeowners with solar panels. This means when your solar system produces more electricity than you use, the excess energy is sent back to the grid and you receive full retail rate credits on your utility bill. These credits can be carried over from month to month, helping offset your electricity costs during times when your solar panels aren’t producing enough power to meet your home’s needs.
The financial benefit depends on when your solar system was installed. If you installed your system after January 1, 2022, any unused credits will roll over indefinitely until you move or close your utility account – giving you maximum flexibility to use your solar credits over time. However, if your system was installed before January 1, 2022, any remaining credits are settled annually in March at the utility’s avoided cost rate, which is typically lower than the retail rate. This program is available through both major Connecticut utilities: Eversource and United Illuminating Company, making it accessible to most homeowners throughout the state.
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.
Hartford’s four distinct seasons and moderate snowfall create varying solar conditions throughout the year, but proper system design ensures excellent 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
We’ve mapped every solar installation across the United States to show you something exciting: your Hartford neighbors who’ve already made the switch to clean energy! Explore this interactive map to discover which communities are leading Connecticut’s solar revolution.
Leasing Solar Panels
Hartford homeowners have access to Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) through both major utility providers in the area – Eversource and United Illuminating Company. With a PPA, you pay for the actual electricity your solar panels produce at a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour, rather than making monthly lease payments.
This flexible payment structure means your solar costs naturally vary with seasonal production – you’ll typically pay more during sunny summer months when panels generate the most electricity, and less during winter months. The beauty of a PPA is that you start saving money immediately without any upfront investment, while LightReach handles all system maintenance and monitoring.
Compared to paying cash upfront and managing your own system maintenance, a PPA removes the financial risk and ongoing responsibilities of solar ownership. You get predictable energy costs, professional system care, and the peace of mind that comes with choosing the right solar financing option for your Hartford home.
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 sense in Hartford. Connecticut residents pay 28.8¢ per kWh – nearly double the national average – making solar savings particularly substantial here.
Hartford’s combination of high electricity rates, excellent state incentives like property tax exemptions, and 30% federal tax credits create ideal conditions for solar investment with typical payback periods under 6 years.
Yes, Hartford has net metering through both Eversource and United Illuminating Company. Connecticut offers 1:1 net metering under the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Netting Tariff.
Excess solar credits carry over month-to-month at full retail rate. For systems installed after January 1, 2022, unused credits roll over indefinitely until you move or close your utility account.
Yes, solar panels increase home value in Hartford, CT. Research shows solar installations typically add 4-5% to property values, with Zillow’s study finding a 4.1% average increase nationally.
Connecticut’s property tax exemption means you benefit from increased home value without paying additional property taxes on the solar system’s added worth, making solar a smart investment for Hartford homeowners.
Solar costs in Hartford typically range from $14,589 to $25,619 after the 30% federal tax credit, depending on your home size and energy needs.
A typical Hartford home needs a 9.4 kW system costing around $19,578 after incentives. With Connecticut’s high electricity rates at 28.8¢ per kWh, most homeowners see payback periods of 5-6 years and save over $125,000 during the system’s 25-year lifespan.
Yes, solar is financially worth it in Hartford. With Connecticut’s electricity rates at 28.8¢ per kWh—nearly double the national average—solar provides substantial long-term savings despite upfront costs.
Most Hartford homeowners see payback periods of 5-6 years and save over $125,000 during their system’s 25-year lifespan, while also benefiting from increased home value and protection against rising utility rates.
We serve Hartford homeowners with transparent pricing, flexible financing options, and a proven track record of 1,235 installations across Connecticut since 2020. Our national scale provides competitive costs while our local focus ensures personalized service for each Hartford project.
We offer some of the industry’s best financing options and work with trusted local installers who understand Connecticut’s unique requirements, from permitting to utility interconnection with Eversource and UI.