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Town-by-town breakdown of solar payback periods across Connecticut. Compare Eversource vs United Illuminating territories, real cost data, and 20-year savings projections.
7.6–8.6 yrs
Payback Range
$0 ITC
25D Expired 2025
6.35%
Sales Tax Exempt
How quickly does solar pay for itself in your Connecticut town? The answer depends on your utility (Eversource vs United Illuminating), local installation costs, system size, and which RRES tariff you choose. With the federal Section 25D residential tax credit expired as of December 31, 2025, payback periods are now 7.6 to 8.6 years across the state — still well within the 25-30 year lifespan of modern solar panels.
We analyzed 25 Connecticut towns across both utility territories using 2026 installation costs, current electric rates, the RRES netting tariff (including the new $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment), and state incentives. Here is what the data shows.
No Federal Tax Credit in 2026
The Section 25D residential solar ITC expired December 31, 2025. All payback calculations on this page reflect $0 federal credit. Companies still advertising a "30% tax credit" for homeowner purchases are misleading you.
United Illuminating towns average faster payback due to higher electric rates ($0.28/kWh). Best: Hamden and Shelton at 7.6 years.
Eversource towns at $0.27/kWh show slightly longer payback on average. Best: Glastonbury at 7.6 years due to larger systems.
Even without the ITC, CT homeowners save $42,000–$61,000+ over 20 years depending on system size and town.
Greenwich, Westport, and West Hartford install larger systems (12-14 kW), generating $50K-$61K in total savings despite higher per-watt costs.
Eversource serves approximately 75% of CT — most of Hartford County, Fairfield County (excluding Bridgeport/Milford area), and eastern Connecticut. Electric rate: ~$0.27/kWh.
| Town | System Size | Cost/Watt | Total Cost | Payback | Annual Savings | 20-Year Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 11 kW | $2.92 | $32,120 | 8.2 yrs | $3,910 | $45,980 |
| West Hartford | 12 kW | $2.88 | $34,560 | 7.8 yrs | $4,420 | $53,880 |
| Glastonbury | 12.5 kW | $2.85 | $35,625 | 7.6 yrs | $4,610 | $56,510 |
| Simsbury | 12 kW | $2.90 | $34,800 | 7.9 yrs | $4,380 | $53,320 |
| Manchester | 10.5 kW | $2.85 | $29,925 | 7.8 yrs | $3,830 | $46,280 |
| Middletown | 11 kW | $2.88 | $31,680 | 8 yrs | $3,940 | $46,920 |
| Norwalk | 11.5 kW | $3.15 | $36,225 | 8.6 yrs | $4,210 | $47,870 |
| Danbury | 11 kW | $2.92 | $32,120 | 8.1 yrs | $3,940 | $46,680 |
| Torrington | 10 kW | $2.80 | $28,000 | 8 yrs | $3,500 | $42,000 |
| Bristol | 10.5 kW | $2.82 | $29,610 | 7.9 yrs | $3,740 | $45,240 |
| Meriden | 10.5 kW | $2.78 | $29,190 | 7.7 yrs | $3,790 | $46,350 |
| Groton | 10.5 kW | $2.90 | $30,450 | 8.1 yrs | $3,760 | $44,640 |
| New London | 10 kW | $2.88 | $28,800 | 8.2 yrs | $3,530 | $41,960 |
| Greenwich | 14 kW | $3.20 | $44,800 | 8.5 yrs | $5,270 | $60,600 |
| Westport | 13 kW | $3.15 | $40,950 | 8.4 yrs | $4,910 | $57,230 |
| Fairfield | 12 kW | $3.10 | $37,200 | 8.3 yrs | $4,350 | $50,880 |
| Waterbury | 10.5 kW | $2.78 | $29,190 | 7.8 yrs | $3,740 | $45,620 |
United Illuminating serves the greater New Haven and Bridgeport metro areas. Higher electric rate (~$0.28/kWh) means faster payback for most towns.
| Town | System Size | Cost/Watt | Total Cost | Payback | Annual Savings | 20-Year Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven | 10.5 kW | $2.98 | $31,290 | 7.8 yrs | $4,010 | $48,870 |
| Stamford | 12 kW | $3.05 | $36,600 | 7.9 yrs | $4,630 | $55,960 |
| Bridgeport | 10 kW | $3.20 | $32,000 | 8.5 yrs | $3,760 | $43,800 |
| Milford | 11 kW | $2.95 | $32,450 | 7.7 yrs | $4,220 | $51,710 |
| Hamden | 11 kW | $2.92 | $32,120 | 7.6 yrs | $4,230 | $52,480 |
| Guilford | 11.5 kW | $2.95 | $33,925 | 7.7 yrs | $4,410 | $54,040 |
| Shelton | 11 kW | $2.92 | $32,120 | 7.6 yrs | $4,220 | $52,300 |
| Trumbull | 11.5 kW | $2.95 | $33,925 | 7.7 yrs | $4,380 | $53,530 |
United Illuminating customers pay ~$0.28/kWh while Eversource CT customers pay ~$0.27/kWh. Higher rates mean faster payback because each kWh your solar produces offsets more expensive grid electricity. This single factor accounts for the 2-4 month payback difference between utility territories.
Larger systems have lower per-watt costs (volume pricing) and generate more annual savings. A 14 kW system in Greenwich costs more upfront but generates $5,270/year in savings, while a 10 kW system in Torrington saves $3,500/year. The payback ratio is what matters — and bigger systems often win.
CT solar installation costs range from $2.78/W (Meriden, Waterbury) to $3.20/W (Greenwich, Bridgeport). Lower-cost towns benefit from competitive installer markets and simpler permitting. Coastal and affluent towns carry premium pricing due to labor costs and permitting complexity.
The RRES netting tariff credits excess solar at the retail rate, but new 2026 enrollees pay a $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment on ALL production (~$472/year for 11 kW system). Legacy customers pay only $0.005/kWh. This adds approximately 6-8 months to payback for new enrollees.
The 6.35% sales tax exemption saves ~$2,000 on a typical system, effectively reducing upfront cost. The property tax exemption ensures your increased home value is not taxed. Combined, these incentives knock about 5-7 months off the payback period.
Glastonbury (Eversource)
High-value homes. Excellent south-facing roof exposure.
7.6 yrs
$56,510 / 20yr
Hamden (United Illuminating)
Quinnipiac University area. Slightly lower install costs in UI territory.
7.6 yrs
$52,480 / 20yr
Shelton (United Illuminating)
Valley community. Good mix of residential roof types.
7.6 yrs
$52,300 / 20yr
Meriden (Eversource)
Affordable housing stock keeps total system costs lower.
7.7 yrs
$46,350 / 20yr
Milford (United Illuminating)
Suburban UI territory. Good roof conditions. Strong savings potential.
7.7 yrs
$51,710 / 20yr
Guilford (United Illuminating)
Affluent shoreline town. Excellent solar irradiance.
7.7 yrs
$54,040 / 20yr
Trumbull (United Illuminating)
Suburban community. Larger homes with good roof exposure.
7.7 yrs
$53,530 / 20yr
West Hartford (Eversource)
Affluent suburb, larger homes = bigger systems and savings.
7.8 yrs
$53,880 / 20yr
Manchester (Eversource)
Mix of housing stock. Competitive installer pricing.
7.8 yrs
$46,280 / 20yr
Waterbury (Eversource)
Economically distressed — ESS underserved tier ($450/kWh — legacy pre-April 2026) available.
7.8 yrs
$45,620 / 20yr
Get 3+ Quotes
Installation costs vary $0.20-$0.40/W between installers in the same town. Three quotes can save $2,000-$4,000 on your total cost.
Right-Size Your System
Oversizing wastes money on excess production that earns reduced credits under RRES. Match your system to annual consumption.
Consider Battery Storage
The CT ESS program offers $250-$600/kWh (legacy pre-April 2026 tiers) incentives. A battery maximizes self-consumption, reducing the RRES Solar Energy Adjustment impact.
Use Smart-E Loan Wisely
Smart-E solar loans at 6.99-7.99% APR through CT Green Bank. Shorter term = less interest paid. Cash purchase still yields fastest payback.
Act Before RRES Changes
PURA adjusts RRES tariff rates annually. Locking in current rates protects against future Solar Energy Adjustment increases.
Optimize Roof Orientation
South-facing roofs produce 15-20% more than east/west. Full south exposure can knock 6-12 months off payback.
Payback calculations use: 2026 installation costs from installer surveys and EnergySage data, current Eversource CT ($0.27/kWh) and United Illuminating ($0.28/kWh) residential rates, CT average solar production of 1,175 kWh/kW/year, RRES netting tariff with $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment for new 2026 enrollees, 6.35% sales tax exemption applied to total cost, and 2% annual utility rate escalation. No federal tax credit is included (Section 25D expired Dec 31, 2025). 20-year savings include projected rate increases.
The average solar payback period across Connecticut towns ranges from 7.6 to 8.6 years in 2026. United Illuminating territory towns tend to have slightly faster payback (7.6-8.5 years) due to higher electric rates ($0.28/kWh vs $0.27/kWh for Eversource). These calculations assume no federal tax credit, since Section 25D expired December 31, 2025.
United Illuminating (UI) charges approximately $0.28/kWh compared to Eversource at $0.27/kWh. This 1-cent difference translates to approximately $115-$145 more in annual savings for a typical 11 kW system, shaving 2-4 months off the payback period. Both utilities participate in the RRES program with the same netting tariff structure.
The Section 25D residential solar tax credit expired December 31, 2025 under the OBBBA. This means payback periods are now 2-3 years longer than they were in 2024-2025. A typical 11 kW system that would have paid back in 5-6 years with the 30% ITC now takes 7.6-8.6 years. State incentives like the sales tax exemption (6.35%) and property tax exemption partially offset this.
The fastest solar payback towns in CT are Hamden (7.6 years), Shelton (7.6 years), Glastonbury (7.6 years), and Milford (7.7 years). Hamden and Shelton benefit from UI's higher electric rates, while Glastonbury benefits from lower installation costs relative to system size. Towns with larger average systems and competitive installer pricing tend to see faster payback.
Yes. The RRES netting tariff credits excess solar production at the retail electricity rate. However, new 2026 enrollees face a $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment on ALL solar production — an 8x increase from the prior $0.005/kWh. For a typical 11 kW system, this costs approximately $472/year and extends payback by about 6-8 months compared to legacy RRES customers.
Current CT solar incentives include: RRES netting tariff (retail-rate credits), 6.35% sales tax exemption (~$2,000 saved on typical system), 100% property tax exemption (permanent), ESS battery incentive ($250-$600/kWh (legacy pre-April 2026 tiers)), and Smart-E Loan financing through CT Green Bank (6.99-7.99% APR for solar). Section 48E PPA/lease options may offer below-retail rates until July 4, 2026.