Connecticut homeowners weighing solar want real numbers, not a sales pitch, so this page gathers the ones that matter in one place, each dated and sourced. The average residential electricity rate here is about 30.5 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), and a typical 7 kW rooftop system produces about 8,761 kWh a year. Below you will find installed cost, simple payback, per-city production, how each utility handles net metering, and the current state incentives, updated for 2026.
Updated for 2026.
Key statistics: Connecticut solar at a glance (2026)
Key numbers (Connecticut, 2026)
- Average residential rate: 30.5 cents per kWh
- Typical system size: 7 kW
- Typical annual production: 8,761 kWh per year
- Typical installed cost: $2.85 to $3.50 per watt
- Estimated system cost: $19,950 to $24,500
- Simple payback: about 9 years
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (July 2026), a typical 7 kW system in Connecticut produces about 8,761 kWh a year, offsetting power that costs about 30.5 cents per kWh. These are our own compiled figures for Connecticut; see Methodology below for exactly how each was produced. For the statewide rules behind these numbers, see our Connecticut solar guide, and for the utility-by-utility rate breakdown see our Connecticut electricity rates guide.
| Metric | Value | Source (dated) |
|---|---|---|
| Average residential rate | 30.5 cents per kWh | EIA, as of March 2026 |
| Typical system size | 7 kW | MySolarFY, typical residential array |
| Typical annual production | 8,761 kWh per year | NREL PVWatts v8, as of July 2026 |
| Typical installed cost | $2.85 to $3.50 per watt | MySolarFY cost range, as of July 2026 |
| Estimated system cost | $19,950 to $24,500 | MySolarFY, 7 kW, as of July 2026 |
| Simple payback | about 9 years | MySolarFY analysis, as of July 2026 |
Every figure is dated and attributed. Rate is the EIA residential average for Connecticut; production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run for a 7 kW array; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates for planning, not a quote. Confirm current terms before you decide.
Solar cost and payback by city in Connecticut
Production and payback vary within a state because the solar resource and the local rate shift by location. The table below models a 7 kW system for representative Connecticut cities using NREL PVWatts v8.
| City | System size | Annual production | Est. system cost | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 7 kW | 8,761 kWh per year | $22,000 | about 9.6 years |
| New Haven | 7 kW | 8,854 kWh per year | $22,000 | about 9.5 years |
| Stamford | 7 kW | 9,070 kWh per year | $22,000 | about 9.3 years |
| Bridgeport | 7 kW | 9,298 kWh per year | $22,000 | about 9 years |
Production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run per city ZIP; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates that hold today’s rate flat and ignore financing. A written quote for your roof beats any table.
Comparing neighbors? Our Rhode Island solar data and statistics page runs the same figures for the state next door.
Utility rate and net metering comparison
Your utility sets the delivery rate and administers net metering, which is the credit you earn for the power your roof sends back to the grid. See how net metering credits your solar exports for the mechanics.
| Utility | Residential rate | Net metering treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Eversource | Largest CT utility (northern and central CT); residential supply plus delivery | Statewide RRES program: pick Netting (excess generation credited at the full retail rate, with a separate $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment charge on total production for 2026 enrollees) or Buy-All (all production sold at $0.3289/kWh fixed for 20 years, REC included). One tariff, 20-year term. |
| United Illuminating (UI) | Serves southern coastal CT, including New Haven and Bridgeport | Same statewide RRES program administered with Eversource: Netting or Buy-All, mutually exclusive, 20-year term. Homeowner chooses one at enrollment. |
Net metering rules are set by state law and the utility commission, not the installer. Confirm your utility’s current tariff before you size a system.
For a deeper look at either utility, see our Eversource Connecticut solar guide and our United Illuminating solar guide. Choosing between the two RRES tariffs is the biggest decision a Connecticut homeowner makes, so we break it down in Connecticut Netting vs Buy-All.
Connecticut solar incentive stack (2026)
State programs, net metering, and any rebates or SREC market make up the Connecticut incentive stack. These go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels keeps the incentive while the net-metering bill credit follows your account.
RRES Netting tariff
Excess generation is credited at the full retail rate (supply plus delivery). A separate Solar Energy Adjustment charge of $0.0402 per kWh applies to your total production for 2026 enrollees, locked for the 20-year term (up from $0.005 the prior year). You use your own solar on site first. (active for 2026 enrollees) (Eversource and PURA RRES, as of July 2026)
RRES Buy-All tariff
All production is sold to the utility at $0.3289 per kWh fixed for 20 years (the REC is included), and you buy all of your home’s consumption at the retail rate. Mutually exclusive with Netting. (active for 2026 enrollees) (Eversource and PURA RRES, as of July 2026)
CT sales-tax exemption
Residential solar and geothermal equipment is exempt from the 6.35% Connecticut sales and use tax. (active) (CT DRS / DSIRE, as of July 2026)
CT property-tax exemption
The added home value from a residential solar system is exempt from local property tax, so going solar does not raise your assessment. (active) (CT statute / DSIRE, as of July 2026)
The federal homeowner credit has ended, but Connecticut’s programs have not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a Connecticut homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, as of 2026). State net metering and the incentives listed above were not affected by that change. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means and our state solar incentives overview.
Methodology and sources
- Electricity rate: the latest EIA Form residential retail price for Connecticut (EIA retail sales, as of March 2026).
- Production: modeled with NREL PVWatts v8 for a 7 kW south-facing array at the city ZIP (NREL PVWatts v8 documentation, as of July 2026).
- Cost and payback: MySolarFY estimates built from installed cost per watt (informed by the DataForSEO cost SERP for Connecticut) and the EIA rate, holding today’s rate flat and ignoring financing. Payback uses the RRES Netting value of each produced kWh, the roughly 30.5 cent retail rate less the $0.0402 per kWh Solar Energy Adjustment for 2026 enrollees, so a typical 7 kW system offsets about $2,300 a year.
- Incentives and net metering: the Connecticut public utility commission and the DSIRE incentive database (DSIRE, as of July 2026).
- Assumptions: a 7 kW system, standard losses, and a south-facing array. Your roof, usage, and financing change the result, so treat these as planning figures, not a quote.
Citing this data
Citing this data?
Cite as: “MySolarFY, Connecticut Solar Data & Statistics 2026, accessed July 19, 2026.” Data compiled by MySolarFY from EIA (residential electricity rate), NREL PVWatts v8 (modeled production), DSIRE and the Connecticut public utility commission (incentives and net metering), and DataForSEO (cost SERP). Figures are dated in each table above.
Journalists and researchers may quote these statistics with attribution to MySolarFY and a link to https://mysolarfy.com/connecticut-solar-data-statistics-2026/.
See what solar programs are available in your Connecticut ZIP code
Incentives, net-metering credits, installer availability, and electric rates change by utility and location. Enter your ZIP and we will match you with licensed installers who serve your area.
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How to choose a solar installer in Connecticut
Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria: NABCEP certification, a valid state license, a written workmanship and equipment warranty, real experience with your utility’s interconnection, and a transparent quote that uses today’s incentive values. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average solar cost in Connecticut in 2026? A typical residential system in Connecticut runs about $2.85 to $3.50 per watt installed before any incentives (MySolarFY cost range, as of July 2026). A 7 kW system is a common size for a single-family home. Cost varies with roof, equipment, and installer, so use a written quote for your own numbers.
How much electricity does a solar system produce in Connecticut? A modeled 7 kW array produces about 8,761 kWh a year in Connecticut (NREL PVWatts v8, as of July 2026). Production drives both your net-metering credits and your payback, so estimate your specific roof rather than a generic number.
Did the federal solar tax credit end? Yes for homeowners. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a Connecticut homeowner who buys solar in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). State programs and net metering were not affected by that change.
Reviewed by the SolarFY Editorial Team. Figures were verified against the linked EIA, NREL, DSIRE, and Connecticut PUC sources as of July 2026, following our data and methodology standards; rates, incentive values, and net-metering terms can change, so confirm current terms before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. Solar panels are not free and any monthly payments apply. “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 may include an annual escalator and total payments may exceed a cash purchase, and on a lease or PPA the incentives go to the company that owns the system. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
