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Connecticut solar costs $2.60–$3.10 per watt in 2026. A typical 11 kW system runs $28,600–$34,100 before exemptions. No federal tax credit (25D expired), but CT’s high electricity rates ($0.27–$0.30/kWh) and RRES netting credits make payback 8–10 years.
Avg Cost/Watt
$2.87/W
11 kW System
~$31,570
Federal ITC
$0
Cash Payback
8-10 yr
Federal Residential Solar Tax Credit (Section 25D) Expired December 31, 2025
Connecticut 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?
Prices include all equipment, installation, permitting, and interconnection. No federal tax credit included (25D expired).
| System Size | Price Range | After Sales Tax Exemption |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | $13,000–$15,500 | $12,095–$14,595(-$905 saved) |
| 8 kW | $20,800–$24,800 | $19,352–$23,352(-$1,448 saved) |
| 11 kWMOST COMMON | $28,600–$34,100 | $26,609–$32,109(-$1,991 saved) |
| 13 kW | $33,800–$40,300 | $31,447–$37,947(-$2,353 saved) |
| 15 kW | $39,000–$46,500 | $36,285–$43,785(-$2,715 saved) |
Prices as of February 2026. Based on EnergySage data for CT installations. Sales tax exemption of 6.35% is permanent (Form CERT-140). No state income tax credit available in CT. Federal 25D ITC expired — $0 tax credit.
Prices vary by location, utility territory, and local labor market. Economically distressed municipalities qualify for enhanced RRES adders and higher ESS battery incentives.
Cost/Watt
$2.75–$3.10/W
Avg System
11 kW
State capital, economically distressed — qualifies for RRES income-qualified adder
Cost/Watt
$2.80–$3.15/W
Avg System
10.5 kW
UI territory, Yale area, economically distressed — higher ESS incentive ($450/kWh)
Cost/Watt
$2.90–$3.20/W
Avg System
12 kW
Fairfield County, high-value homes, larger systems typical
Cost/Watt
$2.65–$3.00/W
Avg System
10 kW
Lowest costs in CT, economically distressed — ESS low-income tier ($600/kWh)
Cost/Watt
$2.85–$3.15/W
Avg System
11.5 kW
Coastal city, salt air premium — marine-grade racking recommended
Cost/Watt
$2.60–$2.95/W
Avg System
10.5 kW
Most affordable in CT, economically distressed — ESS underserved tier ($450/kWh)
Tier 1 monocrystalline solar panels
Inverter (string or microinverters)
Racking and mounting hardware
Electrical wiring and conduit
Permitting and engineering
Professional installation labor
Utility interconnection application
Production monitoring system
Turnkey pricing: All quotes should include everything above. If an installer quotes without permitting or interconnection, ask for the all-in price. CT sales tax exemption (6.35%) applies to the total — provide Form CERT-140 at purchase.
Eight factors that drive price variation across Connecticut installations.
Asphalt shingle roofs are cheapest to install on. Tile, slate, and flat roofs add 5-15%. Older homes in Hartford, New Haven, and Waterbury may need roof work before solar. Smart-E loans allow 25% for non-energy improvements like roof repairs.
South-facing roofs at 30-35 degrees are ideal for CT latitude (41.2°N). East or west-facing roofs produce 10-15% less. North-facing roofs are not recommended. Production modeling determines exact output.
Connecticut is heavily forested. Even partial shade from trees or neighboring buildings reduces output. Microinverters or optimizers mitigate shade impact better than string inverters but add $0.15-0.25/W.
CT has streamlined solar permitting in most municipalities. Some historic districts (downtown New Haven, Hartford) require additional design review. Most permits are processed in 1-2 weeks.
CT has strong solar installer demand. NABCEP-certified crews command premium rates. Winter installation (Nov-Feb) may offer 5-10% discounts when demand drops. Fairfield County installers charge more than central CT.
Norwalk, Stamford, Bridgeport, and shoreline towns face Long Island Sound salt exposure. Marine-grade racking, corrosion-resistant hardware, and sealed junction boxes are required. Expect 5-10% cost premium.
Premium panels (REC Alpha, SunPower Maxeon) cost $0.30-0.50/W more than Tier 1 alternatives (Qcells, Canadian Solar, Longi) with similar 25-year warranties. Microinverters (Enphase) add $0.15-0.25/W over string inverters.
Homes with 100A or 150A panels may need a 200A upgrade ($1,500-$3,000). Older CT homes in Hartford and Waterbury are more likely to need upgrades. Most homes built after 1990 have adequate panels.
No federal tax credit. No state income tax credit. But CT’s high rates and strong exemptions make solar work.
Plus $2,005 upfront sales tax savings. Payback: ~7.1 years accounting for rate increases.
The $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment
New 2026 RRES enrollees pay $0.0402/kWh on all solar production — an 8x increase from the prior $0.005/kWh. This reduces net savings by 10-15% compared to legacy customers. Read the full RRES guide for strategies to manage this cost, including battery self-consumption.
Highest long-term savings. ~$29,565 net cost after sales tax exemption. 8-10 year payback.
25-year savings: ~$70,000+
$0 down, 6.99-7.99% APR through CT Green Bank. Own your system. 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 →RRES (Residential Renewable Energy Solutions) replaced RSIP in 2022. Two tariff options determine how you earn from solar.
Most common for homeowners
Used by PPA / Lease systems
No federal ITC and no state income tax credit, but two powerful exemptions still save Connecticut homeowners thousands.
~$2,005
~$644/yr
See your personalized payback and savings. Adjust system size, cost, utility, 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.
Why CT solar still works in 2026
Netting vs Buy-All tariffs explained
RRES netting tariff mechanics
Utility comparison for solar
Solar financing options in CT
Sales tax + property tax savings
6.99-7.99% APR, NOT 0.99%
ESS incentive $250-600/kWh
Section 48 ITC + MACRS + C-PACE
Solar panels in Connecticut cost $2.60-$3.10 per watt installed in 2026. A typical 11 kW system costs $28,600-$34,100 before incentives. The average installed price is $2.87/W or about $31,570 for 11 kW. Prices are lower in Waterbury ($2.60-2.95/W) and higher in Stamford ($2.90-3.20/W). There is no federal 25D tax credit — it expired December 31, 2025.
Yes. Connecticut has among the highest electricity rates in the US ($0.27-0.30/kWh). Combined with RRES netting credits at retail rate, 6.35% sales tax exemption (~$2,005 saved), permanent property tax exemption (~$644/yr), and ESS battery incentives, the payback is 8-10 years even without the federal 25D ITC. PPA/lease options are especially attractive since the third-party owner can still claim the Section 48 ITC (30%).
RRES (Residential Renewable Energy Solutions) replaced RSIP in 2022 after it hit the 350 MW target. RRES offers two tariffs: the Netting Tariff (retail-rate credits for excess generation, most common for homeowners) and the Buy-All Tariff ($0.3289/kWh locked 20 years, used by PPA/lease systems). New 2026 enrollees face a $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment on all production.
The Solar Energy Adjustment is a per-kWh charge applied to ALL solar production for RRES netting tariff customers. For 2026 enrollees, the rate is $0.0402/kWh — an 8x increase from the prior $0.005/kWh. On an 11 kW system producing 12,925 kWh/yr, this costs ~$520/yr. Legacy customers are grandfathered at $0.005 through December 31, 2039.
For a cash purchase, solar panels pay for themselves in 8-10 years in Connecticut. This factors in RRES netting credits (~$3,230/yr net), sales tax exemption ($2,005 upfront), and property tax savings (~$644/yr). With a Smart-E loan, payback extends to 11-14 years. PPA/lease options have zero payback since there is no upfront cost — savings begin immediately.
Four options in 2026: (1) Cash — highest long-term return, 8-10 year payback. (2) Smart-E Loan — 6.99-7.99% APR through CT Green Bank, $0 down, 5-15 year terms (note: 0.99% rate is for heat pumps ONLY). (3) PPA — $0 upfront, third-party claims Section 48 ITC (30%), RRES Buy-All at $0.3289/kWh locked 20yr. (4) Community solar — no installation, 5-15% bill savings.
Both Eversource CT and United Illuminating administer the RRES program identically under CT PURA rules. Eversource has a slightly higher average rate ($0.29/kWh vs $0.28/kWh for UI), which means marginally higher net metering value. Interconnection takes 4-8 weeks with both utilities. The Solar Energy Adjustment rate is the same regardless of utility.
Yes. Studies show solar adds approximately 4% to home value nationally. On a median CT home (~$380,000), that is roughly $15,200 in added value. Connecticut permanent property tax exemption means your home value increases but your property taxes do not. Homes with solar sell faster in CT, especially in high-rate areas like Fairfield County.
Batteries are increasingly attractive in CT. The ESS program offers $250-600/kWh upfront incentive plus demand response payments ($212/kW/yr). A battery increases self-consumption from ~35% to ~55%, which helps offset the $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment for new RRES enrollees. A 13.5 kWh battery (Tesla Powerwall 3) costs $12,000-15,000, reduced to ~$8,625-11,625 after ESS incentive.
RSIP (Residential Solar Investment Program) closed in 2021 after reaching its 350 MW capacity target. Many competitor websites still reference RSIP or list it as offering a $0.25/W rebate — this is outdated. RSIP was replaced by the RRES program in 2022, which uses tariff-based compensation (netting credits or Buy-All payments) rather than upfront rebates.
See exactly what solar costs for your home. We factor in your utility (Eversource or UI), roof, RRES program, and all CT exemptions. No ITC fluff — just real numbers.
Call (860) 555-SOLAR for immediate assistance