Connecticut solar incentives work differently than in most of the country.
Instead of relying on net metering (credit for extra solar power you send to the grid) alone, Connecticut created a statewide solar tariff. A tariff is a set of official rates and rules. This one gives eligible homeowners two ways to get paid for the power their solar panels make.
Connecticut also runs a separate statewide battery incentive program.
If you are thinking about solar or storage in 2026, knowing how these programs work can make a big difference.
What Is Connecticut's RRES Program?
RRES stands for Residential Renewable Energy Solutions.
The program launched in January 2022. For new systems, it replaced Connecticut's old net-metering program. It also replaced the former Residential Solar Investment Program.
PURA, the state's utility regulator, oversees RRES. Eversource Energy and United Illuminating (UI) run it.
The program pays eligible homeowners for their solar power and its renewable-energy value.
Who Can Participate in RRES?
The exact rules depend on the utility and the project.
United Illuminating currently lists eligibility rules that include:
- Being a current or future UI electric customer
- Owning or living in a 1–4 family property
- Installing a system of 25 kW or less
- Not already receiving benefits under certain older residential solar programs
- Completing or scheduling a qualifying home-energy assessment
Systems with batteries can also take part.
Eversource runs the matching RRES program in its own service area.
What Are the Two RRES Options?
Homeowners choose between Buy-All and Netting.
Each option pays for solar power in a different way.
Option 1: How Does Buy-All Work?
Under Buy-All, all of the solar power your system makes is measured on its own.
The utility buys that power at the approved tariff rate.
You keep buying all of your household power as usual.
For qualifying applications in 2026, the currently published Buy-All base rate is $0.3289 per kWh (kilowatt-hour, the unit on your bill). The rate is the same in both Eversource and United Illuminating areas.
Once approved, the rate is locked for a 20-year term.
Are There Extra RRES Adders?
Yes.
Some customers can earn extra pay for each kWh.
For 2026 applications, UI currently lists a $0.055/kWh Low-Income Customer Adder under the Buy-All tariff. It also lists a $0.0275/kWh Economically Distressed Municipality Adder.
Netting has its own separate adders.
Eligibility rules apply.
For households that qualify, these adders can make the numbers much better.
Option 2: How Does Netting Work?
Under Netting, your solar power serves your home first.
Extra power you send to the grid earns a credit based on the retail rate.
For 2026, UI currently lists the Netting export rate as the current retail rate. It is figured using the Standard Service rate (the utility's default supply price).
New 2026 Netting customers also pay a Solar Energy Adjustment of $0.0402/kWh. It applies to total solar production — not just exports. It lasts for the length of the tariff. So it belongs in any Netting comparison.
This option works the way most people picture rooftop solar: make power, use it at home, send the extra to the grid.
Buy-All or Netting: Which Is Better?
Neither one is always better.
Buy-All can create a steady income stream based on how much your panels produce.
Netting lets solar directly cut the power you buy from the grid.
The better fit depends on your energy use, solar production and when your home uses power. It also depends on utility rates, adder eligibility, financing and your long-term ownership goals.
A sound solar analysis should compare both where available.
What Happened to Connecticut's Old Net-Metering Program?
Customers who installed qualifying solar before January 1, 2022 may stay on the old net-metering program.
New projects generally go through RRES instead.
That matters when you talk with a neighbor.
Your neighbor's five-year-old solar setup may not be the same program open to you today.
What Happened to the 30% Federal Solar Credit?
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for new home systems placed in service after December 31, 2025.
The 30% credit applied to qualifying systems installed from 2022 through the end of 2025. It is not available for new property placed in service after that.
The same is true for qualifying home battery storage costs.
So a 2026 proposal should not automatically show a 30% federal tax credit as a benefit to you.
That means Connecticut's state and utility programs matter more in the 2026 math.
Connecticut's Battery Incentive Program Is a Major Opportunity
Connecticut's Energy Storage Solutions program offers incentives for qualifying home batteries.
It launched in 2022. It aims to support both home backup power and grid reliability.
Connecticut Green Bank, Eversource and United Illuminating run the program, with PURA oversight.
What Are Connecticut's 2026 Battery Incentives?
For applications submitted on or after April 1, 2026, the program combines enrollment incentives and performance incentives.
Current residential enrollment rates are:
- Standard customer: $30/kWh
- Grid-Edge customer: $130/kWh
Current performance incentive rates, paid per kW each year over a 10-year term, are:
- Standard residential: $300/kW
- Underserved residential: $450/kW
- Low-income residential: $550/kW
Performance incentives are based on what your battery actually delivers during dispatch events (times the grid calls on batteries for power). They are not based simply on the battery's size.
Why Did Connecticut Change the Battery Program in 2026?
Starting April 1, 2026, the program moved away from large upfront incentives. It now leans toward stronger performance incentives paid over time.
The goal is to reward batteries that actually send power to the grid when demand is high.
That matters to you because the highest possible incentive and the amount you actually earn can be different.
Performance depends on battery availability, how much power it can discharge, customer opt-outs, solar recharging, weather and system design.
Will the Utility Drain My Battery Before a Storm?
The Energy Storage Solutions program says batteries are not dispatched when a storm is on the horizon.
The goal is to keep batteries available for backup power in those situations.
That is a key concern if you are buying storage mainly for outage protection.
Why Connecticut's Battery Program Matters
Battery storage is often hard to justify on bill savings alone.
Connecticut changes that math by paying enrolled systems for grid services.
A qualifying homeowner may get value in several ways: backup power, using more of their own solar power, the enrollment incentive and long-term performance incentives.
That doesn't automatically make every battery worth it.
But it makes storage much more interesting than in many other states.
Can You Combine Solar and Battery Storage?
Yes.
Solar and storage solve different problems that work well together.
Solar makes power during daylight hours.
A battery can save some of that power for later. When set up the right way, it can also provide backup power.
If you worry about Connecticut storm outages, solar plus a battery may give you both energy production and backup.
What Should You Ask Before Signing?
- Am I being enrolled in RRES? Know which program applies.
- Is this Buy-All or Netting? The economics are different.
- What 2026 tariff rate is being used? Get the number.
- Do I qualify for an income or distressed-municipality adder? Don't assume — verify eligibility.
- Does the proposal show a federal 30% tax credit? A new home installation completed in 2026 should not automatically include it.
- Is battery storage enrolled in Energy Storage Solutions? If so, understand the obligations.
- What portion of the battery incentive is upfront? The 2026 structure places more value on performance over time.
- What performance is assumed? Projected incentive revenue isn't the same as guaranteed incentive revenue.
Connecticut Solar Incentives Still Require a Good Project
Connecticut has meaningful solar and battery support.
But incentives do not fix:
- Heavy shading
- A failing roof
- Bad financing
- Inflated equipment pricing
- Unrealistic solar production
- An inefficient home
- Oversized equipment
Programs should improve a good home-energy decision — not replace one.
Explore Your Connecticut Energy Options
Ashborn Partners helps homeowners compare solar, battery storage, HVAC and whole-home efficiency. We do it all in one personalized home-energy review.
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