Updated June 2026 with Connecticut’s current RRES tariffs, the 2026 Buy-All rate, and the net-metering grandfathering cutoff.
If you are looking up Connecticut net metering in 2026, the first thing to know is that the state replaced classic net metering with a new program, and you now choose how you get paid. Connecticut closed traditional retail net metering to new residential customers at the end of 2021 and replaced it with the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) program. Under RRES you pick one of two tariffs, Netting or Buy-All, and the rate you pick is locked in for 20 years. This page explains what changed, how each tariff pays, what the 2026 Buy-All rate is, and how to decide which one fits your home and your utility, Eversource or United Illuminating.
- Connecticut replaced net metering with RRES, and you choose one of two tariffs, locked for 20 years. A 2026 install picks the Netting tariff or the Buy-All tariff and keeps that rate for a 20-year term (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026).
- The 2026 Buy-All rate is $0.3289 per kWh, for both Eversource and United Illuminating. Under Buy-All the utility pays that fixed rate for every kWh your system generates, for the full 20-year term (United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, as of 2026).
- Connecticut power is among the priciest in the country, which is what makes solar pay. Residential electricity averages about 30.47 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026).
- Traditional net metering is closed to new homeowners. Systems that applied to interconnect before January 1, 2022 keep legacy net metering; everyone since enrolls in RRES (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026).
- PURA resets the rates every year, and your year sets your rate. The Buy-All and Netting rates are reviewed annually, so the rate you lock depends on the year you enroll, then holds for 20 years (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026).
- The federal homeowner credit is no longer part of the math. The 30 percent federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so Connecticut’s own program is what pays you now (IRS, as of January 1, 2026).
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Does Connecticut still have net metering?
Not in the classic sense. Connecticut closed traditional retail net metering to new residential customers on December 31, 2021, and replaced it with the RRES program in January 2022. The Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program is run by the state’s two electric utilities, Eversource and United Illuminating, under the direction of the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), and it took the place of both old net metering and the earlier Residential Solar Investment Program (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026). So a homeowner going solar in Connecticut in 2026 does not sign up for net metering, they enroll in RRES.
If you already had solar, you likely kept your old deal. Systems that applied to interconnect before January 1, 2022 were grandfathered and keep their legacy net-metering arrangement, so this change is about new installations (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026). For how classic net metering works in general, see our explainer on net metering; the rest of this page is about the Connecticut program that replaced it.
How RRES works: the Netting tariff vs the Buy-All tariff
RRES gives you a one-time choice between two ways to be paid, and you live with it for 20 years. When you enroll, you pick either the Netting tariff or the Buy-All tariff, and that choice plus the rate is locked in for a 20-year term that starts when your utility issues your Authorization to Interconnect (United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). The two tariffs work in fundamentally different ways.
| Feature | Netting tariff | Buy-All tariff |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Your solar offsets your home’s use first; net exported energy earns a monthly bill credit | You sell 100 percent of what you generate to the utility, and buy 100 percent of what you use at the retail rate |
| What you are paid | A monthly monetary credit at your applicable retail rate (a 2026 Solar Energy Adjustment of about -$0.0402/kWh applies) | A fixed $0.3289 per kWh for 2026 enrollees, every kWh generated |
| Rate term | Locked for 20 years from Authorization to Interconnect | Locked for 20 years from Authorization to Interconnect |
| Best for | Homes that use a lot of their own solar power during the day | Homes that export most of their production, or that want a fixed, predictable income |
What the Buy-All tariff pays in 2026
Under Buy-All, the math is refreshingly simple: every kWh you generate earns $0.3289, locked for 20 years. For projects enrolling in 2026, both Eversource and United Illuminating pay the same $0.3289 per kWh for all generation, and that rate is fixed for your entire 20-year term (United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). You then buy the electricity your home uses at the normal retail rate, which averages about 30.47 cents per kWh in Connecticut (EIA, as of March 2026). Because the 2026 Buy-All rate sits slightly above the retail rate, Buy-All can be attractive for a system that produces more than the home uses during the day.
The table below illustrates the Buy-All payment at the 2026 rate, using your annual production as the input. This is what the utility pays you for your generation; you still pay your own electric bill separately.
| Your annual production | Buy-All payment per year (at $0.3289/kWh) | Buy-All over a 20-year term |
|---|---|---|
| 6,000 kWh | about $1,973 | about $39,468 |
| 8,000 kWh | about $2,631 | about $52,624 |
| 10,000 kWh | about $3,289 | about $65,780 |
| 12,000 kWh | about $3,947 | about $78,936 |
These are illustrations at the 2026 rate, not a quote. Your actual production depends on your roof, shading, and system size, so estimate yours with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator, and remember the 20-year total assumes the $0.3289 rate you lock at enrollment, which only applies to 2026 enrollees (United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). To weigh this income against your install cost, our guide on whether solar panels are worth it walks through payback.
How the Netting tariff credits your bill
Netting looks more like the net metering you remember, with one Connecticut twist. Under the Netting tariff your solar first offsets the electricity your home is using in real time, and any net energy you export earns a monthly monetary credit at your applicable retail rate, which is why a high-rate state like Connecticut makes each offset kWh valuable (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026). The Connecticut twist is a Solar Energy Adjustment, about -$0.0402 per kWh in 2026, that applies to your generation under the Netting tariff, so the effective value per kWh is a little below the headline retail rate (United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). In rough terms, that nets to an effective value near 26.5 cents per kWh in 2026, the roughly 30.47-cent retail rate minus the 4-cent adjustment, which is still high by national standards and is why Netting tends to suit homes that use most of their own power (EIA; United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, as of 2026).
One detail to confirm with your utility: how leftover credits carry. Because credit carryover and any expiration treatment can change with the tariff, check the current Eversource or United Illuminating RRES tariff for how unused monthly credits roll forward before you choose Netting (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026). The practical takeaway is that Netting rewards using your own solar power when you make it, so it tends to fit homes with strong daytime usage.
Netting or Buy-All: which should you choose?
The right tariff depends on how much of your own power you use, and on where you think rates are heading. Buy-All pays a fixed, predictable $0.3289 per kWh for everything you generate, which removes the guesswork and rewards a system that produces more than the home consumes; the tradeoff is that you remain a full retail customer on everything you use. Netting ties your benefit to the retail rate and rewards self-consumption, which can be a natural hedge if you expect Connecticut’s already-high rates to keep climbing, but it carries the Solar Energy Adjustment and depends on your usage pattern.
Note: You choose your RRES tariff once, and it is locked for 20 years, so it is worth modeling both before you sign. The rates also reset every year for new enrollees, so the 2026 numbers on this page are the rate you would lock by enrolling in 2026; a later year would carry a different rate (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026). Ask any installer to run your home both ways, Netting and Buy-All, using your real usage.
Eversource or United Illuminating: same program, your own utility
RRES is a statewide program, but you enroll through whichever utility serves you. Both Eversource and United Illuminating run RRES, set up your interconnection, and apply your chosen tariff, and for 2026 both pay the same $0.3289 Buy-All rate (United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). The rates are set per utility and can differ in other years, for example in 2023 the Buy-All rate was $0.3189 at Eversource and $0.3195 at United Illuminating, so always confirm the figure for your utility and your enrollment year. For the utility-specific details, see our guides to going solar with Eversource in Connecticut and going solar with United Illuminating, and for a city view, what solar looks like for a New Haven home.
The other Connecticut solar money: tax breaks and the federal change
Connecticut also takes two taxes off the table, and one federal credit is now gone. Residential solar equipment is exempt from Connecticut’s sales and use tax, and a qualifying system is exempt from added property tax, so going solar does not raise your assessment (DSIRE Connecticut, as of 2026). Those exemptions, and the full statewide incentive picture, are covered on our Connecticut solar guide, so this page stays focused on the RRES tariffs. On the federal side, the 30 percent federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a homeowner going solar in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of January 1, 2026); for the national picture, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026. For how a neighboring state handles the same question, see how Massachusetts handles net metering and SMART.
How to pay for solar in Connecticut, and who keeps the RRES income
How you pay decides who collects the RRES payments. If you want the Buy-All checks or the Netting credits to be yours, you own the system through a cash purchase or a solar loan. A lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) can mean no up-front cost for eligible homeowners, but it is a long-term agreement with monthly payments, not free solar, and the company that owns the panels keeps the RRES tariff income while you get a lower or fixed power price.
| Path | Up-front cost | Who keeps the RRES income | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash purchase | Full system cost | You, the owner | You want the most lifetime value and the fastest payback |
| Solar loan | Little to none, financed | You, the owner | You want ownership without paying cash up front |
| Lease or PPA | $0-up-front where eligible | The third-party owner | You prefer no up-front cost and a simple, fixed monthly bill |
One federal note for lease and PPA shoppers: the homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, and the separate commercial credit (Section 48E) is claimed by the company that owns a leased or PPA system, not by you (IRS, as of 2026).
How to choose a Connecticut installer who sets up your RRES tariff
Connecticut has a competitive installer market, but the RRES enrollment and the Netting-versus-Buy-All decision are where a good installer earns their keep. Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria:
- A valid Connecticut home improvement contractor registration and the proper electrical licensing.
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Proven experience with RRES enrollment and interconnection with your specific utility, Eversource or United Illuminating, and a willingness to model both the Netting and Buy-All tariffs on your real usage.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote that does not count the federal homeowner credit that ended after December 31, 2025. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Connecticut still have net metering in 2026? Not the traditional kind for new customers. Connecticut closed retail net metering to new residential systems on December 31, 2021 and replaced it with the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) program, run by Eversource and United Illuminating under PURA (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026). A 2026 install enrolls in RRES and chooses the Netting tariff or the Buy-All tariff. Homeowners who applied to interconnect before January 1, 2022 were grandfathered and keep their old net-metering arrangement, so this change applies to new projects.
What is the difference between the Netting and Buy-All tariffs? Under the Netting tariff your solar offsets your home’s usage first and your net exported energy earns a monthly bill credit at the retail rate, with a 2026 Solar Energy Adjustment of about -$0.0402 per kWh on generation (United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). Under the Buy-All tariff you sell every kWh you generate to the utility at a fixed rate ($0.3289 per kWh for 2026 enrollees) and buy all the electricity you use at the retail rate. Netting rewards using your own power; Buy-All gives a fixed, predictable income. You choose one, locked for 20 years.
What is the Connecticut Buy-All rate in 2026? For projects enrolling in 2026, the RRES Buy-All rate is $0.3289 per kWh, and it is the same for both Eversource and United Illuminating customers this year (United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). That rate is locked for your full 20-year term once you enroll. PURA reviews the rates every year, so a project enrolling in a different year would lock a different rate, and the two utilities can carry different rates in other years. Always confirm the current figure for your utility before you sign.
How long is the RRES tariff locked in? Your RRES tariff and its rate are locked for a 20-year term, which begins on the date your utility issues your Authorization to Interconnect (United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). That long lock is a real benefit, because it gives you a fixed, known rate for two decades, but it also means the one-time choice between Netting and Buy-All matters, so it is worth modeling both options with your installer before you enroll.
Is the Buy-All or Netting tariff better for my home? It depends on how much of your own solar power you use. Buy-All pays a fixed $0.3289 per kWh for everything you generate, which suits a system that exports a lot or an owner who wants predictable income (United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). Netting rewards using your own power and ties your benefit to Connecticut’s high retail rate, which can hedge against rising rates, but it carries the Solar Energy Adjustment (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026). Ask your installer to run your real usage both ways before you choose.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit for Connecticut buyers? It ended. The 30 percent federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a homeowner going solar in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of January 1, 2026). That makes Connecticut’s own programs, the RRES tariff income plus the state sales-tax and property-tax exemptions, the incentives that actually pay a 2026 buyer. None of those state programs were affected by the federal change.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team (reviewed June 2026). Figures were verified against the linked Connecticut PURA, United Illuminating RRES Program Manual, DSIRE, EIA, and IRS sources as of June 2026; the RRES Buy-All and Netting rates, the Solar Energy Adjustment, and credit-carryover terms are set by PURA and reviewed annually, so confirm the current figures with PURA and your utility before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, tax advisor, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA the RRES tariff income and any tax benefit go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit (Section 25D) that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. RRES rates, credits, savings, and electricity rates vary by utility and enrollment year and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
