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New Haven solar costs $2.80–$3.15 per watt in 2026. A typical 10.5 kW system runs $29,400–$33,075. Located in United Illuminating territory and designated an economically distressed municipality, New Haven qualifies for enhanced ESS incentives ($450/kWh) and RRES adders.
Avg Cost/Watt
$2.98/W
10.5 kW System
~$31,290
Federal ITC
$0
Cash Payback
8-10 yr
Federal Residential Solar Tax Credit (Section 25D) Expired December 31, 2025
New Haven homeowners who purchase solar with cash or a loan receive $0 in federal tax credits. All prices below reflect what you actually pay. PPA/lease providers can still claim Section 48/48E (30%) through July 4, 2026. Is solar still worth it?
New Haven is unique in Connecticut: United Illuminating territory with enhanced incentives from its economically distressed designation.
New Haven is served by UI ($0.28/kWh), not Eversource. RRES program is administered identically by both utilities under PURA rules. Interconnection takes 4-8 weeks. Same Solar Energy Adjustment applies ($0.0402/kWh for 2026 enrollees).
Standard ESS battery incentive is $250/kWh. New Haven qualifies for the underserved community tier at $450/kWh. A 13.5 kWh battery receives $6,075 vs $3,375 standard — $2,700 more in incentive.
New Haven’s high renter population (Yale area) makes community solar via CT SCEF especially relevant. Renters save 5-15% on bills with no installation. Several SCEF projects target the New Haven market.
New Haven prices reflect United Illuminating territory ($0.28/kWh). Average system is 10.5 kW, slightly smaller than the CT average due to compact housing stock.
| System Size | Price Range | After Sales Tax Exemption |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | $14,000–$15,750 | $13,055–$14,805(-$945 saved) |
| 8 kW | $22,400–$25,200 | $20,889–$23,689(-$1,511 saved) |
| 10.5 kWMOST COMMON | $29,400–$33,075 | $27,416–$31,091(-$1,984 saved) |
| 13 kW | $36,400–$40,950 | $33,944–$38,494(-$2,456 saved) |
| 15 kW | $42,000–$47,250 | $39,166–$44,416(-$2,834 saved) |
Prices as of February 2026. Based on New Haven-area installer data. Sales tax exemption (6.35%) via Form CERT-140. No federal 25D ITC ($0). No CT state income tax credit. United Illuminating territory.
Pricing varies by neighborhood based on housing type, historic status, rental prevalence, and shade conditions.
Desirable residential neighborhood with good roof access. Mature trees require shade analysis. Popular area for owner-occupied solar installations.
Established residential area with larger lot sizes. Good solar potential on many homes. Some older homes may need electrical panel upgrades.
Historic district — New Haven Historic District Commission review required. Italian Renaissance and Federal architecture. Low-profile panel placement on less visible roof faces.
Working-class neighborhood with strong LMI solar opportunity. Many residents qualify for RRES income-qualified adder. Dense housing with compact lots.
High LMI population qualifies for enhanced RRES incentives and ESS underserved tier. Community solar is popular here due to rental housing prevalence.
Mixed-use area with limited rooftop solar opportunity for residents. High-rise buildings create shade. Community solar subscriptions may be the better option for many downtown residents.
New Haven’s UI territory, Yale-area rental market, and distressed status shape local solar economics differently from most CT cities.
New Haven is served by United Illuminating ($0.28/kWh), not Eversource. While both utilities administer RRES identically under CT PURA rules, the slightly lower UI rate means marginally lower net metering value compared to Eversource territory ($0.29/kWh). Interconnection timelines are comparable at 4-8 weeks.
Wooster Square and parts of downtown New Haven fall within historic districts. The New Haven Historic District Commission reviews solar installations for visual impact. Low-profile black panels on rear-facing roofs are typically approved. Budget 2-4 extra weeks for review.
New Haven is designated an economically distressed municipality by DECD. This unlocks the RRES income-qualified adder and ESS underserved community tier ($450/kWh vs standard $250/kWh). Fair Haven, Dixwell, and Newhallville residents benefit significantly from these enhanced incentives.
Yale University and surrounding institutions create unique solar dynamics. Many properties near campus are renter-occupied, making community solar subscriptions (CT SCEF program) more practical than rooftop systems. Homeowners in East Rock and Westville see the strongest rooftop ROI.
New Haven has a higher rental rate than the CT average due to Yale and other institutions. Renters cannot install rooftop solar without landlord approval. Community solar (SCEF) offers 5-15% bill savings with no installation, making it ideal for New Haven renters.
New Haven averages 10.5 kW systems compared to the CT average of 11 kW. This reflects the city's more compact housing stock and higher proportion of multi-family buildings. Smaller systems still provide strong ROI given UI rates at $0.28/kWh.
What New Haven homeowners actually pay and earn from a 10.5 kW system in United Illuminating territory.
Plus $1,987 upfront sales tax savings. Income-qualified New Haven households may see additional RRES adder value.
The $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment
New 2026 RRES enrollees pay $0.0402/kWh on all solar production. On a 10.5 kW system this costs ~$496/yr. Adding a battery increases self-consumption and reduces the kWh subject to this adjustment. Full RRES guide
Highest long-term savings. ~$29,303 net cost. 8-10 year payback in New Haven.
25-year savings: ~$60,000+
$0 down, 6.99-7.99% APR through CT Green Bank. Can bundle roof repairs (up to 25%). NOT 0.99% for solar.
Smart-E details →$0 upfront. Third-party claims Section 48 (30%). RRES Buy-All at $0.3289/kWh locked 20yr. Immediate savings.
Compare options →Most of CT is Eversource territory, but New Haven is served by United Illuminating. Here’s what that means for solar.
No federal ITC and no state income tax credit, but two exemptions save New Haven homeowners thousands.
~$1,987
~$644/yr
New Haven’s economically distressed designation qualifies residents for the highest ESS battery incentive tier in Connecticut.
New Haven has streamlined solar permitting. Historic district properties in Wooster Square require an additional review step.
Submit through New Haven Building Department. Standard residential solar permits processed in 1-2 weeks. Your installer handles the application.
Wooster Square and downtown historic properties need New Haven Historic District Commission review. Low-profile black panels on rear-facing roofs are typically approved. Adds 2-4 weeks.
New Haven electrical inspector signs off after installation. Typically scheduled within 1 week of completion.
United Illuminating handles RRES enrollment and meter configuration. Takes 4-8 weeks after passing inspection. Process is identical to Eversource under PURA rules.
New Haven’s high renter population makes community solar especially relevant. No rooftop installation required.
No installation needed — subscribe to a local solar project and receive credits on your UI bill
5-15% bill savings — credits typically sold at a discount to retail rates
No long-term commitment — most programs allow cancellation with 30-90 days notice
Ideal for renters — New Haven’s Yale-area rental market has strong community solar participation
Calculate your personalized New Haven solar payback. Adjust system size, cost per watt, and financing type.
Estimate your solar return on investment with RRES income, CT tax exemptions, and ESS battery incentives.
Federal Residential Solar Tax Credit (Section 25D) Expired
Homeowners who purchase solar with cash or a loan receive $0 in federal tax credits. Section 25D expired December 31, 2025.
Hartford, most of CT (north, east, central)
New 2026 enrollees pay $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment on all production
Electric Rate
$0.29/kWh
RRES Program
Netting Tariff
Solar Energy Adj.
$0.0402/kWh
Interconnection
4-8 weeks
Permanent exemption — solar adds $0 to your property tax bill
Payback
7.6
years
25-Year Savings
$133,649
total
Monthly
$323
per month
Estimates based on average 2026 CT solar pricing, RRES netting tariff at retail rate, $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment, 6.35% sales tax exemption, permanent property tax exemption (~2.04% effective rate), and ESS incentive at $250/kWh standard tier. Section 25D residential ITC expired Dec 31, 2025 — $0 federal tax credit for cash/loan purchases. CT has no state income tax credit for solar.
Statewide pricing and city comparison
Why CT solar still works in 2026
Netting vs Buy-All tariffs explained
Utility comparison for solar
Solar financing options in CT
Sales tax + property tax savings
6.99-7.99% APR, NOT 0.99%
ESS incentives and storage guide
SCEF program for renters
State capital, distressed municipality
Fairfield County premium market
Solar panels in New Haven cost $2.80-$3.15 per watt in 2026. A typical 10.5 kW system runs $29,400-$33,075. The average installed price is about $2.98/W or $31,238 for 10.5 kW. New Haven is in United Illuminating territory ($0.28/kWh). There is no federal 25D tax credit (expired December 31, 2025). Sales tax exemption (6.35%) saves ~$1,984 upfront.
New Haven is served by United Illuminating (UI), not Eversource. UI administers the RRES program identically to Eversource under CT PURA rules. UI's average residential rate is $0.28/kWh, slightly lower than Eversource ($0.29/kWh). Interconnection takes 4-8 weeks. The Solar Energy Adjustment ($0.0402/kWh for 2026 enrollees) applies regardless of utility.
New Haven is designated an economically distressed municipality by CT DECD. This qualifies residents for: (1) RRES income-qualified adder on the netting tariff, (2) ESS underserved community battery incentive at $450/kWh instead of the standard $250/kWh, (3) Priority for state solar programs. These incentives are especially valuable for Fair Haven, Dixwell, and Newhallville residents.
Yes, but historic district properties (Wooster Square, parts of downtown) require New Haven Historic District Commission approval. Use low-profile black-on-black panels, install on rear-facing or less visible roof planes, and submit your design for review early. Most applications are approved with some modifications. This adds 2-4 weeks to the project timeline.
Yes. CT Shared Clean Energy Facilities (SCEF) allows New Haven renters to subscribe to community solar projects without any rooftop installation. Subscribers typically save 5-15% on electricity bills. This is especially relevant in New Haven where Yale-area rental housing makes rooftop solar impractical for many residents. No equipment, no permits, no roof requirements.
Yes. United Illuminating rates at $0.28/kWh are among the highest in the country. Combined with RRES netting credits, 6.35% sales tax exemption (~$1,984), permanent property tax exemption (~$644/yr), and the enhanced ESS incentive for distressed municipalities ($450/kWh), cash payback is 8-10 years. PPA/lease options offer $0 upfront with immediate savings since the third-party owner claims Section 48 (30%).
For a cash purchase, New Haven solar pays back in 8-10 years. A 10.5 kW system produces ~12,338 kWh/yr, generating about ~$2,960/yr in net RRES credits (after Solar Energy Adjustment) plus ~$644/yr in property tax savings. With the ~$1,984 upfront sales tax exemption, total first-year benefit is approximately $5,588.
Batteries are increasingly attractive in New Haven. As an economically distressed municipality, New Haven qualifies for the ESS underserved community tier at $450/kWh instead of the standard $250/kWh. A 13.5 kWh Tesla Powerwall 3 ($12,000-$15,000) receives $6,075 in ESS incentive. Plus demand response payments ($212/kW/yr) and reduced Solar Energy Adjustment costs through self-consumption.
See exactly what solar costs for your New Haven home. We factor in United Illuminating rates, your roof, RRES program, economically distressed incentives, and all CT exemptions. No ITC fluff — just real numbers.
Serving New Haven, East Haven, West Haven, and Greater New Haven area