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RSIP is gone. RRES is the program. Here is the complete guide including the $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment that most solar companies do not mention — and why it still makes sense to go solar in Connecticut.
The 30% federal solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025.
Homeowners who buy solar with cash or a loan in 2026 receive $0 in federal tax credits. Third-party systems (PPA/lease) still access 30% under Section 48/48E — the financing company claims the credit, not the homeowner. CT has NO state income tax credit for solar. Learn what changed
Program: RRES replaced RSIP (closed 2021 at 350 MW)
Netting Tariff: Retail-rate credits, self-consumption benefit
Buy-All Tariff: $0.3289/kWh locked 20 years
Solar Energy Adjustment: $0.0402/kWh (was $0.005 — 8x increase)
Max System: 25 kW residential
Administrators: Eversource and United Illuminating
Section 25D residential ITC EXPIRED Dec 31, 2025. CT has no state income tax credit for solar. RRES + tax exemptions are the primary CT incentives in 2026.
If you are researching solar in Connecticut, you will encounter outdated references to RSIP (Residential Solar Investment Program). That program closed in 2021 after Connecticut reached its 350 MW residential solar target. RRES is the replacement.
Program Name
RRES
Residential Renewable Energy Solutions
Replaced
RSIP
Closed 2021 at 350 MW
Regulated By
CT PURA
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
Max System
25 kW
Residential cap
The Netting Tariff is the most common choice for homeowners who purchase their solar system with cash or a loan. It works similarly to traditional net metering in other states.
During daylight hours, your solar panels generate electricity that powers your home directly. Every kWh you consume from your own panels avoids buying that kWh from Eversource or UI at the retail rate ($0.27-$0.30/kWh). This self-consumption is the most valuable use of your solar.
When your panels produce more than you need (common midday), the excess flows to the grid. You earn a bill credit at the retail electricity rate for each kWh exported. These credits offset your nighttime and cloudy-day consumption.
Unlike some states that zero out your credits annually, Connecticut RRES netting credits roll over month to month with no expiration. They are only cashed out if you terminate your electric service.
The Solar Energy Adjustment of $0.0402/kWh (for 2026 enrollees) is charged on ALL solar production — not just exports. On an 11 kW system producing 12,925 kWh/yr, this is approximately $520/yr. This is the detail most solar companies omit from their proposals.
Credit Type: Retail electricity rate
Credit Rollover: Monthly, indefinite — cashed out only at service termination
Solar Energy Adjustment (2026): $0.0402/kWh on ALL production
Legacy Adjustment: $0.005/kWh (grandfathered through December 31, 2039)
Best For: Cash/loan buyers who consume their own solar
Max System Size: 25 kW
The Buy-All Tariff exports all solar production to the grid at a fixed rate, locked for 20 years. The homeowner continues buying 100% of their electricity from the utility. This is the standard choice for PPA and lease agreements.
This is the strongest PPA/lease export rate in New England. No other state in the region offers a comparable fixed export rate for this duration. For a third-party system owner, this rate lock provides investment certainty that translates to lower PPA/lease payments for the homeowner.
2026 Rate
$0.3289/kWh
2025 Rate
$0.3195/kWh
Lock Duration
20 years
Annual production: 12,925 kWh
Buy-All payment: 12,925 x $0.3289 = $4251/yr
Solar Energy Adjustment: $0 (does not apply to Buy-All)
20-year total: ~$85,021
Payment frequency: Quarterly or annual cash payout
Rate adjustment: None (fixed for full term)
Why Buy-All Matters for PPA/Lease
Under a PPA or lease, a third-party company owns the solar system and can still claim the 30% commercial ITC (Section 48/48E) for projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026. The Buy-All rate of $0.3289/kWh gives the system owner a guaranteed revenue stream, which lowers the PPA/lease rate they offer you. This is why CT PPA/lease deals are among the best in New England. Compare financing options
Your tariff choice is locked at enrollment. Understanding the differences is critical before you sign any contract.
| Feature | Netting (Option A) | Buy-All (Option B) |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Solar powers home first; excess exported earns retail-rate credits | All solar exported to grid; homeowner buys 100% from utility |
| Who keeps credits/payments | Homeowner (bill credits) | Homeowner (cash payout) |
| Solar Energy Adjustment | $0.0402/kWh on ALL production (2026 enrollees) | None (all production exported at fixed rate) |
| Rate lock | Floating (tied to retail rate) | $0.3289/kWh fixed for 20 years |
| Best for | Cash/loan buyers with high self-consumption | PPA/lease (third-party ownership) |
| System ownership | Homeowner-owned | Typically third-party (PPA/lease) |
| Payment method | Bill credits (reduce monthly bill) | Cash payout (quarterly or annual) |
| Battery benefit | High: increases self-consumption value | Minimal: all power exported regardless |
This is the section most solar companies in Connecticut do not want you to read. The Solar Energy Adjustment is a real cost that affects every RRES netting customer — and it just got 8x more expensive.
A charge on ALL solar production
The Solar Energy Adjustment is charged per kWh on your total solar production — not just exports. Whether you consume the solar yourself or export it, the charge applies to every kWh your panels generate.
8x increase for 2026 enrollees
The 2026 rate is $0.0402/kWh — up from $0.005/kWh for prior enrollees. That is an 8x increase. Prior enrollees keep the old rate through December 31, 2039.
Battery does NOT eliminate this charge
A common misconception is that storing solar in a battery avoids the adjustment. It does not. The charge is based on total generation from the inverter, not on what you export. However, a battery improves your net position by increasing self-consumption value.
Why it exists
CT PURA established the Solar Energy Adjustment as a cost recovery mechanism. As more solar is installed, the fixed costs of grid maintenance are spread over fewer non-solar ratepayers. This adjustment is PURA's way of ensuring solar customers contribute to grid upkeep proportional to their system output.
2026 Enrollee
$520/yr
12,925 kWh x $0.0402
Legacy Enrollee
$65/yr
12,925 kWh x $0.005
Annual Difference
$455/yr
10-15% less net savings for new enrollees
Why we disclose this when competitors do not
Most solar proposals in CT show projected savings without accounting for the Solar Energy Adjustment. When a customer signs based on inflated savings projections and then sees the adjustment on their bill, it erodes trust in the entire industry. We believe accurate information leads to better decisions — and solar in CT still makes excellent financial sense even with this charge factored in.
A side-by-side look at how the Solar Energy Adjustment difference affects real savings for a typical 11 kW system producing 12,925 kWh/year with 35% self-consumption.
| Metric | Legacy Enrollee ($0.005/kWh) | 2026 Enrollee ($0.0402/kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Production | 12,925 kWh | 12,925 kWh |
| Self-Consumed (35%) | 4,524 kWh | 4,524 kWh |
| Self-Consumption Value (@$0.29/kWh) | $1,312 | $1,312 |
| Exported (65%) | 8,401 kWh | 8,401 kWh |
| Export Credit Value (@$0.29/kWh) | $2,436 | $2,436 |
| Gross Solar Value | $3,748 | $3,748 |
| Solar Energy Adjustment | -$65 | -$520 |
| Net Year 1 Savings | $3,683/yr | $3,228/yr |
Grandfathering Protection
Prior RRES and legacy net metering customers keep the $0.005/kWh rate through December 31, 2039. If you already have solar under the old rate, do not change your service — you will lose the grandfathered benefit.
Still Worth It at $3,228/yr
Even with the higher adjustment, net Year 1 savings of $3,228 on a ~$31,500 system means a payback period of roughly 9-10 years. With electricity rates rising 3-5% annually, the savings grow each year while the adjustment stays fixed.
CT PURA provides supplemental adders to make solar more accessible for lower-income households and residents of economically distressed municipalities.
You qualify for the income-qualified adder if you meet either of these criteria:
Income: Household income at or below 60% State Median Income
Location: Solar system installed in an economically distressed municipality
Systems in these cities automatically qualify for the income-qualified adder regardless of household income:
Adder Range
$0.0175-$0.055/kWh
Set By
CT PURA (annually)
Est. Annual Value (11 kW)
$226-$711
On top of netting credits
Your tariff choice is locked at enrollment. Here is how to decide based on your specific situation.
You own the system and consume your own solar first. Self-consumed solar is worth the full retail rate ($0.27-$0.30/kWh) because it offsets what you would have paid the utility. The Netting tariff maximizes this self-consumption benefit.
Under a PPA or lease, a third-party company owns the system. All production is exported at the locked $0.3289/kWh rate. The system owner captures the 30% commercial ITC (Section 48/48E) and passes savings through as a lower PPA/lease rate. No Solar Energy Adjustment for Buy-All customers.
If you have a battery, your self-consumption rises from ~35% to ~55%. More solar consumed at the retail rate means more value per kWh. The Solar Energy Adjustment still applies, but the net financial position is better because you are offsetting more expensive utility power. Netting is the clear winner for battery owners.
If your home is frequently unoccupied during solar production hours and you do not have a battery, most of your solar is exported anyway. In this scenario, the Buy-All rate of $0.3289/kWh with no Solar Energy Adjustment may net more value than Netting with the $0.0402/kWh charge. Run the numbers for your specific situation.
A battery does not eliminate the Solar Energy Adjustment. But it significantly improves your net financial position under the Netting tariff by shifting more solar value to self-consumption.
| Metric | Without Battery | With Battery |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Consumption Rate | ~35% | ~55% |
| Self-Consumed kWh | 4,524 kWh | 7,109 kWh |
| Self-Consumption Value (@$0.29) | $1,312 | $2,062 |
| Exported kWh | 8,401 kWh | 5,816 kWh |
| Export Credit Value (@$0.29) | $2,436 | $1,687 |
| Solar Energy Adjustment | -$520 | -$520 |
| Net Year 1 Savings | $3,228 | $3,229 |
The real battery benefit: resilience + rising rates
The table above shows Year 1 at current rates. But as utility rates rise 3-5% annually, the value of self-consumed solar increases because each self-consumed kWh offsets an increasingly expensive utility purchase. A battery amplifies this rising-rate benefit. Plus you gain backup power during outages — a significant value in CT where winter storms cause frequent power disruptions.
Standard
$250/kWh
Up to $16,000 or 50% of cost
Underserved Community
$450/kWh
Up to $16,000 or 50% of cost
Low-Income
$600/kWh
Up to $16,000 or 50% of cost
For a typical 13.5 kWh battery (Tesla Powerwall 3), the standard incentive is $3,375. Grid Edge locations receive a 1.5x multiplier. Full CT battery guide
Enrollment is handled through your solar installer. The typical timeline from installer selection to Permission to Operate (PTO) is 4-8 weeks. Your tariff choice is made at enrollment.
Select a licensed solar installer. NuWatt Energy handles all RRES paperwork for you.
Your installer designs the system and you choose Netting (Option A) or Buy-All (Option B). This choice is made at enrollment and is difficult to change later.
Your installer submits the interconnection application to Eversource or United Illuminating on your behalf.
System is installed, passes town electrical inspection, and utility conducts final inspection and meter swap.
Utility grants PTO. Your RRES tariff begins. You start earning credits (Netting) or payments (Buy-All) from day one.
Important: Tariff choice is locked at enrollment
Once you enroll in the Netting or Buy-All tariff, switching is difficult and may not be possible. Make sure you understand the implications of each option before your installer submits the interconnection application. NuWatt Energy provides a detailed comparison of both tariffs tailored to your specific usage pattern and system size as part of every proposal.
This calculator accounts for the Solar Energy Adjustment, RRES tariff structure, CT tax exemptions, and current utility rates. No inflated projections — just honest numbers.
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.
Answers to the most common questions about RRES, the Solar Energy Adjustment, tariff options, and what it all means for your solar investment.
The Residential Solar Investment Program (RSIP) closed in 2021 after Connecticut met its 350 MW residential solar target. RRES (Residential Renewable Energy Solutions) replaced RSIP in 2022 as the state's primary residential solar program. RRES is administered by Eversource and United Illuminating under CT PURA regulation.
The Solar Energy Adjustment is a charge applied to ALL solar production for RRES netting tariff customers. For 2026 enrollees, the rate is $0.0402 per kWh — an 8x increase from the prior $0.005/kWh rate. On an 11 kW system producing 12,925 kWh per year, this costs approximately $520 per year. The charge applies to total production, not just exports, and a battery does NOT eliminate it.
The RRES netting tariff is Connecticut's version of net metering. It allows homeowners to earn retail-rate credits for excess solar exported to the grid, with credits rolling over monthly and indefinitely. However, unlike traditional net metering in some states, RRES includes the Solar Energy Adjustment charge on all production. The Buy-All tariff is a separate option where all power is exported at a fixed rate.
Your tariff choice is typically made at enrollment and is difficult to change afterward. This is a critical decision. If you own the system (cash or loan), the Netting tariff is almost always better because you benefit from self-consumption at the retail rate. If a third party owns the system (PPA or lease), the Buy-All tariff is standard because all production is exported and the third-party owner receives the payments.
No. The Solar Energy Adjustment only applies to RRES netting tariff customers. Under the Buy-All tariff, all production is exported to the grid and you receive a fixed payment of $0.3289/kWh (for 2026 enrollees) locked for 20 years. There is no additional adjustment charge because the Buy-All rate is a single all-in compensation rate.
Existing RRES enrollees and legacy net metering customers who enrolled before 2026 keep the prior Solar Energy Adjustment rate of $0.005/kWh. This grandfathered rate is protected through December 31, 2039. New 2026 enrollees face the higher $0.0402/kWh rate. This creates a significant financial difference of approximately $455 per year for an 11 kW system.
Yes. Both Eversource Connecticut and United Illuminating administer the RRES program under CT PURA regulation. Both utilities offer both the Netting Tariff (Option A) and the Buy-All Tariff (Option B). The tariff structures and rates are the same regardless of which utility serves your home. The main difference between utilities is the retail electricity rate used for netting credits.
No. The Solar Energy Adjustment is charged on ALL solar production regardless of whether you have a battery. However, a battery significantly increases the value of each kWh by raising self-consumption from approximately 35% to 55%. Since self-consumed solar is worth the full retail rate ($0.27-$0.30/kWh), a battery improves your net financial position even though the adjustment still applies. CT also offers the ESS battery incentive of $250-$600/kWh.
Income-qualified adders provide an additional $0.0175-$0.055/kWh payment for RRES participants who either have household income at or below 60% of State Median Income, or whose solar system is located in an economically distressed municipality. Qualifying distressed municipalities include Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury. The specific adder rate is set annually by CT PURA.
The Buy-All tariff at $0.3289/kWh locked for 20 years is the strongest PPA/lease deal in New England — no other state offers a comparable fixed export rate for that duration. The Netting tariff is competitive but the $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment is a headwind that reduces net savings by 10-15% compared to legacy customers. Overall, CT remains one of the better solar markets in the Northeast due to high electricity rates ($0.27-$0.30/kWh) and strong tax exemptions.
CT Net Metering 2026
How RRES netting credits work with Eversource and UI
Solar Panel Cost in CT 2026
Real pricing data: $2.60-$3.10/W installed, system cost breakdowns
CT Solar Battery Guide 2026
ESS incentives, ConnectedSolutions, and peak demand revenue
Eversource vs UI Solar Rates
Utility comparison: rates, credits, and ConnectedSolutions
CT Solar Without the Tax Credit
Section 25D is dead. Here is why CT solar still works in 2026
Cash vs Loan vs Lease in CT
Compare financing options with RRES tariff implications
Connecticut Solar Hub
All CT solar guides, city pages, and calculator tools
Get Your CT Solar Quote
Free quote with honest RRES projections including the adjustment
NuWatt Energy includes the Solar Energy Adjustment in every proposal. No hidden costs, no inflated savings projections. Get a free quote that shows you exactly what to expect under the RRES program — including which tariff is right for your home.
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