Quick answer (as of July 2026). Connecticut’s Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) program makes you pick one payment plan for 20 years: Buy-All or Netting. Buy-All sells every kWh your panels make to the utility at a fixed rate, $0.3289 per kWh for 2026 enrollments (the same at Eversource and United Illuminating), with PURA setting each program year’s rate. Netting instead credits your bill near the full retail rate, about 30 cents, minus a Solar Energy Adjustment charge of about 4 cents per kWh. By MySolarFY’s analysis (July 2026), a typical 8 kW Hartford home producing about 10,000 kWh a year earns roughly $3,290 under Buy-All versus about $2,650 under Netting in year one. Buy-All’s fixed rate holds that early lead for years; Netting only overtakes it in the long run if Connecticut’s rising rates push its retail-linked credit high enough.
Updated for 2026 with Connecticut’s current RRES tariff structure, the 2026 PURA-set rates published for this program year, and Eversource’s 2026 supply-rate swings. The whole “netting vs Buy-All” question comes down to one trade: a locked, predictable price versus a credit that rides Connecticut’s high and rising electricity rates.
Connecticut RRES at a glance, in numbers
- Retail electricity rate: about 30 cents per kWh, among the highest in the country. EIA reported 30.47 cents for March 2026 (EIA, as of March 2026).
- Buy-All rate: $0.3289 per kWh for 2026 enrollments, the same at Eversource and United Illuminating, fixed for a 20-year term; PURA resets the rate each program year and the 2025 rate was $0.3195 (Eversource RRES incentives; United Illuminating Rider RRES tariff, effective 1/1/2026).
- Netting Solar Energy Adjustment: $0.0402 per kWh for 2026, a non-bypassable on-bill charge on total solar production under the Netting tariff (Eversource RRES incentives, as of 2026).
- Typical 8 kW production in Hartford: about 10,012 kWh per year (NREL PVWatts, as of 2026, 6 kW model scaled to 8 kW).
- Term you are locked into: 20 years, starting at your utility’s Authorization to Interconnect (Connecticut PURA RRES Program Manual, as of 2026).
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What are the Netting and Buy-All tariffs?
Connecticut replaced classic net metering with RRES, and RRES makes you choose how you get paid. The state closed traditional retail net metering to new residential customers at the end of 2021 and launched the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program in January 2022, run by Eversource and United Illuminating under the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026). A homeowner going solar in 2026 does not sign up for net metering, they enroll in RRES and pick one of two tariffs. For the full program background, our Connecticut net metering explainer walks through what RRES is and who is grandfathered; this page is about the money decision between the two tariffs.
Buy-All sells everything; Netting offsets your home first. Under Buy-All, the utility buys 100 percent of what your panels generate at a single fixed rate, and you keep buying all the power your home uses at the normal retail rate. Under Netting, your solar powers your home in real time first, and only the surplus you export earns a monthly monetary bill credit at your applicable retail rate (Connecticut PURA RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). You make this choice once, and it holds for a 20-year term that starts when your utility issues your Authorization to Interconnect.
The one detail that decides the math: under Buy-All, your per-kWh rate is fixed for the full 20 years. Under Netting, only the incentive portion is fixed; the value of your bill credit tracks the retail rate, so it rises (or falls) as Connecticut’s rates move (Connecticut PURA RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). That single difference, locked versus rate-tracking, is what the rest of this page prices out.
What does Buy-All actually pay in 2026?
Buy-All is the simple one: a fixed price for every kWh, for 20 years. For 2026 enrollments the published Buy-All rate is $0.3289 per kWh, the same for both Eversource and United Illuminating, and once you enroll it is locked for your full 20-year term (Eversource RRES incentives; United Illuminating Rider RRES tariff, effective 1/1/2026). PURA reviews the rate every program year, so your rate is set by the year you enroll; the 2025 rate was $0.3195 per kWh, and 2026 enrollees lock the current $0.3289. Whatever the current program-year figure is, confirm it on your utility’s RRES rate sheet before you sign.
One caution on Buy-All: it is a fixed price in a state where prices move a lot. Eversource’s standard-service supply rate alone went from 9.748 cents per kWh in the second half of 2025 to 12.641 cents on January 1, 2026, then eased to 11.577 cents on July 1, 2026 (EnergizeCT rate board, as of July 2026). A rate locked for 20 years is a real benefit when it is above retail today, but it does not climb with those swings the way a retail-linked credit does.
How does the Netting tariff credit compare?
Netting looks like the net metering you remember, minus a small charge. Your panels offset the electricity your home is using in real time, and any net surplus you export earns a monthly monetary credit at your applicable retail rate, which in a high-rate state like Connecticut makes each offset kWh valuable (Connecticut PURA RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). The Connecticut twist is a non-bypassable Solar Energy Adjustment charge on generation, $0.0402 per kWh for 2026 Netting enrollments, so the effective value lands a few cents under the headline retail rate (Eversource RRES incentives, as of 2026). At roughly 30.47 cents retail minus that 4.02-cent charge, Netting is worth close to 26.5 cents per kWh today, and because it tracks the retail rate, it moves up as Connecticut’s rates climb.
Confirm two things with your utility before you pick Netting. First, the current-year Solar Energy Adjustment figure, because PURA sets it each program year. Second, how unused monthly credits carry forward, since carryover terms can change and the primary documents do not promise a year-end cash payout for leftover credits (Connecticut PURA RRES Program Manual, as of 2026).
The real math: Buy-All vs Netting on a typical 8 kW Hartford home
Here is the head-to-head, computed on real Connecticut data. The table below is MySolarFY’s own estimate for a typical 8 kW system in Hartford producing about 10,012 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts), using the 2026 Buy-All rate ($0.3289), a roughly 30.47-cent retail rate (EIA, March 2026), and the 2026 Netting Solar Energy Adjustment ($0.0402 per kWh). These are estimates to show the shape of the decision, not a quote for your roof.
| Measure (typical 8 kW Hartford home, ~10,000 kWh/yr) | Buy-All | Netting |
|---|---|---|
| Effective value per generated kWh, year one | $0.3289 (fixed for 20 years) | about $0.2645 (retail ~$0.3047 minus $0.0402 charge) |
| Estimated payout, year one | about $3,290 | about $2,650 |
| How the rate behaves over 20 years | Locked and flat | Tracks the retail rate, rises as rates climb |
| Best paired with | Low daytime use, a lease or PPA, wanting certainty | An owner with high daytime use or a battery, expecting rising rates |
Inputs and sources: 8 kW production (NREL PVWatts, 2026), retail rate (EIA, March 2026), 2026 Buy-All and Netting figures (Eversource RRES incentives; United Illuminating Rider RRES tariff, 1/1/2026). MySolarFY estimate; your numbers depend on your roof, usage, and the current PURA rates.
In year one, Buy-All wins by about $640. Over 20 years, it depends on where Connecticut rates go. Because Buy-All is locked while Netting rides the retail rate, the answer flips based on how fast you think rates rise. The next table runs the 20-year totals under two rate scenarios.
| 20-year estimate (~10,000 kWh/yr) | Buy-All (locked $0.3289) | Netting (retail minus $0.0402) |
|---|---|---|
| If Connecticut retail stays flat at ~30 cents | about $65,900 | about $53,000 |
| If Connecticut retail rises about 3% a year | about $65,900 | about $71,200 |
| Year Netting’s per-year value passes Buy-All (at 3% a year) | $0.3289/kWh, flat | around year 9 |
| Year Netting’s cumulative total passes Buy-All (at 3% a year) | $0.3289/kWh, flat | around year 16 |
MySolarFY estimate, nominal dollars, computed from the inputs above; not adjusted for inflation, degradation, or your specific usage. It assumes every generated kWh earns the tariff value shown, which is a simplification a detailed quote would refine. Two different “crossovers” matter here and are easy to confuse: at about 3 percent annual rate growth, Netting’s yearly payout passes Buy-All’s around year nine, but Buy-All’s bigger early lead means Netting’s 20-year running total does not pass Buy-All’s until around year sixteen.
Note: Connecticut’s residential rates have climbed for years, and the state sits among the priciest in the nation (EIA, as of March 2026). If you believe that trend continues, Netting’s rate-tracking credit is a hedge that tends to win over 20 years. If you value certainty, or you have low daytime usage, or you are on a lease or PPA, Buy-All’s fixed rate is the safer, simpler pick. There is no universally “better” tariff, only the one that fits your rate outlook and how you use power.
See the two paths
Which tariff fits your home?
Match the tariff to how you use power and how you pay for the system. The decision matrix below turns the math above into a plain read on which plan tends to fit which household. It is guidance, not a guarantee, so ask any installer to model both tariffs on your actual usage.
| Your situation | Leans toward | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You own the system (cash or loan) and use a lot of power during the day, or add a battery | Netting | You avoid buying high-priced retail power, and the credit tracks Connecticut’s rising rates |
| Your home is empty during peak sun and you export most of what you make | Buy-All | A fixed rate on 100 percent of generation beats a small self-use offset |
| You want a predictable, fixed number for 20 years | Buy-All | The rate is locked at enrollment and does not move |
| You expect Connecticut rates to keep climbing | Netting | A retail-linked credit rises with those rates; a locked rate does not |
| You go with a lease or PPA (no up-front cost, where eligible) | Buy-All (often the default) | The third-party owner typically enrolls the system in Buy-All and keeps the tariff income |
Sources: tariff mechanics (Connecticut PURA RRES Program Manual, as of 2026); Connecticut rate context (EIA, as of March 2026). If you want the utility-specific view, see our guides to going solar with Eversource in Connecticut and going solar with United Illuminating, or the city view for a New Haven home.
What Connecticut does NOT have in 2026
Knowing what is gone is as important as the tariff you pick, because it changes the whole payback picture. A few incentives that homeowners often assume exist do not apply to a 2026 Connecticut install:
- No 30 percent federal residential tax credit. The 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). Our guide to the federal solar tax credit change explains what that means for buyers now.
- No upfront state cash rebate. Connecticut’s old Residential Solar Investment Program rebate closed when RRES took over; the state’s residential support now comes only through the 20-year RRES tariff, not an upfront check (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026).
- No traditional one-to-one retail net metering for new customers. That closed at the end of 2021; RRES with its Netting or Buy-All choice replaced it (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026).
- No homeowner SREC market to sell into. Unlike New Jersey or Massachusetts, Connecticut does not run a residential solar renewable energy certificate market you sell certificates into each year; your solar’s value comes through the RRES tariff instead (DSIRE Connecticut, as of 2026).
What Connecticut does keep: two tax breaks. Residential solar equipment is exempt from Connecticut’s sales and use tax, and a qualifying system is exempt from the added property tax on the value it brings, so going solar does not raise your assessment (DSIRE Connecticut, as of 2026). Those exemptions plus your RRES tariff are what actually pay a 2026 Connecticut buyer.
Who keeps the RRES income depends on how you pay
If you want the Buy-All checks or Netting credits to be yours, own the system. A cash purchase or a solar loan keeps the tariff income in your pocket. A lease or power purchase agreement 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. 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 January 1, 2026).
How to vet a Connecticut installer for the RRES decision
The RRES enrollment and the Netting-versus-Buy-All choice are exactly 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 proper electrical licensing.
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- A written workmanship and equipment warranty.
- Proven experience with RRES enrollment and interconnection with your utility, Eversource or United Illuminating, and a willingness to model both Netting and Buy-All on your real usage.
- A production estimate and a transparent quote that does not count the federal homeowner credit that ended after December 31, 2025.
For a full checklist, see our guide on how to compare solar installers, and for how we source and check every figure on this page, see our data and methodology and how MySolarFY works. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
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If you are looking at a $0-down deal, see how Buy-All and Netting shape a lease or PPA in our guide to no upfront cost solar in Connecticut.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Buy-All or Netting tariff better in Connecticut?
It depends on how you use power and where you think rates are heading. Buy-All pays a fixed rate for every kWh you generate ($0.3289 per kWh for 2026 enrollees, locked for 20 years), which suits low daytime usage, a lease or PPA, or anyone who wants certainty (Eversource RRES incentives, as of 2026). Netting credits your bill near the retail rate and rises as Connecticut’s rates climb, which tends to win over the long run for an owner with high daytime use or a battery. By MySolarFY’s estimate, Buy-All is about $640 ahead in year one on a typical 8 kW home; if rates rise about 3 percent a year, Netting’s yearly payout passes Buy-All around year nine and its 20-year running total passes Buy-All around year sixteen. Ask your installer to model both on your real usage.
What is the Connecticut Buy-All rate in 2026?
For 2026 enrollments the Buy-All rate is $0.3289 per kWh, the same for Eversource and United Illuminating (Eversource RRES incentives; United Illuminating Rider RRES tariff, effective 1/1/2026). PURA sets a new rate each program year, so the figure depends on the year you enroll; the 2025 rate was $0.3195 per kWh. Whatever rate you enroll at is then locked for your full 20-year term.
What is the netting tariff in CT?
The Netting tariff lets your solar offset the electricity your home is using first, and any net surplus you export earns a monthly monetary credit on your bill at your applicable retail rate (Connecticut PURA RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). A non-bypassable Solar Energy Adjustment charge ($0.0402 per kWh for 2026 enrollments) applies to generation, so the effective value sits a few cents under the retail rate. Because the credit tracks Connecticut’s high retail rate, Netting rewards using your own power and acts as a hedge if rates keep rising. It is one of the two RRES tariffs, chosen once and held for 20 years.
Is solar worth it in Connecticut?
For many homeowners, yes, because Connecticut has some of the highest electricity rates in the country, about 30 cents per kWh, so each kWh your panels offset or sell is worth more than in most states (EIA, as of March 2026). A typical 8 kW Hartford system makes about 10,012 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts, 2026), which the RRES tariff turns into roughly $2,650 to $3,290 of value in year one under Netting or Buy-All by our estimate. The catch is that the 30 percent federal residential tax credit ended after December 31, 2025, so 2026 payback rests on the RRES tariff and Connecticut’s tax exemptions, not the old federal credit. Run your own address to see real numbers.
Can I switch between Netting and Buy-All later?
Treat the choice as permanent. When you enroll in RRES you pick one tariff, and that choice plus the rate is locked for a 20-year term that begins at your Authorization to Interconnect (Connecticut PURA RRES Program Manual, as of 2026). Because it is a one-time, 20-year decision, it is worth modeling both options on your real usage before you sign, and confirming the current-year rates with your installer or utility. If your situation could change, for example you plan to add a battery or an electric vehicle, factor that in before you choose.
Did Connecticut keep net metering, and am I grandfathered?
Not for new customers. Connecticut closed traditional retail net metering to new residential systems on December 31, 2021 and replaced it with the RRES program in January 2022 (Connecticut PURA, as of 2026). If you applied to interconnect before January 1, 2022, you were grandfathered and keep your legacy net-metering arrangement, so this change applies to new projects. A 2026 install enrolls in RRES and picks Netting or Buy-All. Our Connecticut net metering explainer covers grandfathering in more detail.
Did the federal solar tax credit end for Connecticut homeowners?
Yes. 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. The separate commercial credit (Section 48E) can apply to a leased or PPA system and is claimed by the company that owns it, not by you.
Reviewed by the SolarFY Editor, MySolarFY’s editorial team (reviewed July 2026). Figures were verified against the linked Connecticut PURA RRES Program Manual, PURA program page, EnergizeCT rate board, EIA, IRS, and DSIRE sources as of July 2026. The RRES Buy-All and Netting rates and the Solar Energy Adjustment are set by PURA and reviewed every program year, so confirm the current figures with PURA and your utility before you decide; the dollar figures on this page are MySolarFY estimates for a typical system, not a quote. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about how MySolarFY works and our data and methodology.
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.
