Connecticut retired classic net metering, so Eversource credits home solar through the state’s Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) program. You pick a Netting tariff (use your own solar and offset the retail bill, exporting the excess) or a Buy-All tariff (Eversource buys all your output at about $0.3289/kWh, fixed for 20 years). According to MySolarFY’s analysis (July 2026), a typical 8 kW Hartford system produces about 10,000 kWh a year on NREL PVWatts, which at Connecticut’s roughly 30.5 cent Eversource rate offsets about $3,050 a year and pays back in roughly 8 to 9 years. The 30% federal 25D homeowner credit ended after December 31, 2025.
Estimate only, not a guarantee. Assumes an 8 kW system, about $3.30 per watt installed, the 30% federal 25D credit no longer available (it ended after December 31, 2025), Connecticut’s 30.47 cents/kWh residential rate (EIA, March 2026) and PVWatts production for Hartford. Your production, cost, and payback vary.
- Connecticut residential power runs about 30.47 cents per kWh all-in, among the highest in the country, so the bill Eversource solar offsets is large (EIA, as of March 2026).
- Eversource credits solar under RRES, not net metering: you pick a Netting tariff (use your own solar, export the excess at the retail rate) or a Buy-All tariff (Eversource buys all your output at about $0.3289/kWh fixed for 20 years) (CT PURA).
- The Buy-All rate is set for 2026 enrollments and resets each year, but once you enroll it is locked for 20 years (CT PURA).
- To connect, you need Permission to Operate (PTO) from Eversource before switching the system on, after an interconnection application and inspection.
- Eversource is Connecticut’s largest electric utility, serving more than 1.2 million customers across most of the state; United Illuminating serves the New Haven and Bridgeport shoreline.
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 (IRS).
If Eversource is your electric utility in Connecticut, this is how rooftop solar pays you back in 2026. Connecticut retired classic net metering, so Eversource now credits home solar under the state’s Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program, and you choose between two tariffs. Connecticut also has some of the highest power prices in the country, which is what makes solar worth it here. This page explains what Eversource pays, how to connect, and how to tell if your home is a good fit.
Eversource Connecticut at a glance
Eversource administers the residential solar program in its Connecticut territory, so the rules below are what you deal with when you go solar on an Eversource account.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Service territory | Most of Connecticut’s 169 towns; more than 1.2 million electric customers |
| Solar program | Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES), which replaced net metering in 2022 |
| Your two options | Netting tariff or Buy-All tariff, chosen at enrollment |
| Buy-All rate (2026) | About $0.3289/kWh, fixed for 20 years once you enroll |
| Netting tariff | Exports credited at the retail rate, with a small Solar Energy Adjustment on production |
| Before you switch on | Eversource must grant Permission to Operate (PTO) |
| Source | CT PURA RRES program |
Why this matters at Eversource’s rates. Connecticut’s all-in residential price is among the highest in the country, so each kilowatt-hour your roof makes offsets an expensive Eversource kilowatt-hour. That high rate, not a state rebate, is the main reason solar pays here, and it is why the choice between the two RRES tariffs is worth getting right. Estimate your roof’s likely output with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator, since your production sets both your bill savings and your tariff payments.
How does Eversource pay you for solar: Netting or Buy-All?
You enroll in one RRES tariff for a 20-year term, so the choice matters. Here is how the two compare on an Eversource account.
| Netting tariff | Buy-All tariff | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | You use your solar on-site and export the excess | Eversource buys all your production; you buy back what you use |
| What you are paid | Exports credited at the retail rate, minus a small production adjustment | About $0.3289/kWh for 2026 enrollments, fixed 20 years |
| Best when | You use a lot of power during daylight hours | Your usage and production do not line up, or you want a fixed price |
| Rate after enrollment | Locked for 20 years | Locked for 20 years |
| Source | CT PURA | CT PURA |
Reading the two tariffs. Netting rewards self-consumption, since the power you use directly avoids Eversource’s high retail rate and only the excess is exported. Buy-All hands Eversource everything your system makes at a fixed price and bills you for what you use, which can suit a home whose daytime usage is low. The RRES rates reset for each new program year, so a 2026 enrollment locks 2026 numbers, and the payment goes to the customer of record on the solar account. Ask your installer to model both on your actual usage. For a full side-by-side on the tariff choice, see the Netting vs Buy-All math for Connecticut. For how export credits work in general, see how net metering credits your solar exports, and to weigh the math, see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it.
| System size | 8 kW |
| Annual production (NREL PVWatts, Hartford) | About 10,000 kWh |
| Estimated installed cost (about $3.30/W) | About $26,400 |
| Federal 25D credit | $0 (the 25D credit ended after December 31, 2025) |
| Connecticut residential rate (EIA, March 2026) | 30.47 cents/kWh |
| Estimated annual bill offset (Netting) | About $3,050 |
| Simple payback | Roughly 8 to 9 years |
MySolarFY estimate as of July 2026, assumptions shown; not a guarantee. Under the Buy-All tariff instead, Eversource buys your full output at about $0.3289/kWh (roughly $3,289 a year on 10,000 kWh) while you pay the retail rate for the power you use, so the net result depends on your own consumption. Your production, cost, and payback vary; ask an installer to model both tariffs on your actual usage.
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How to connect solar to Eversource in Connecticut
Connecting a home system to Eversource follows a set order, and the key rule is that you cannot turn the system on until Eversource says so. The general path is:
- Interconnection application. You or your installer submit an application to Eversource. Residential systems under 25 kW use a simplified Level 1 process.
- Review and approval. Eversource checks the system against its interconnection requirements and approves it.
- Install and inspect. The system is installed and passes local electrical and building inspection.
- Meter set. Eversource installs or programs a bidirectional meter that measures both the power you use and the power you export.
- Permission to Operate (PTO). Eversource issues PTO. You must not energize the system before this step.
- Enroll in an RRES tariff. You sign up for the Netting or Buy-All tariff, which is a separate, required step tied to your interconnection.
A licensed installer handles most of this for you, but it is worth knowing the order so a quote that promises an instant switch-on sets off a flag. For the questions to ask, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
Why Eversource bills are high, and what that means for solar
Connecticut’s electricity prices are among the highest in the country, and an Eversource bill is more than just the power you use. Alongside generation and delivery, Eversource bills include a separate Public Benefits Charge, a state-mandated line item that funds energy-assistance, efficiency, and renewable programs, and that drew heavy public attention in 2024 and 2025 when it grew to a large share of some bills. For a solar owner, the takeaway is simple: the higher your rate, the more each kilowatt-hour of solar production is worth, which is why Connecticut remains a strong solar state even though the federal homeowner credit has ended. To see how solar lowers your monthly cost, read how solar lowers your electricity bill.
A quick federal note. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so an Eversource customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS OBBB FAQ). Connecticut’s RRES tariffs and its state tax exemptions were not affected. A separate commercial credit (Section 48E) can apply to a leased or PPA system, but the business that owns the panels claims it, not the homeowner; the 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
How to choose a solar installer in Eversource territory
Most of Connecticut is Eversource territory, so you have a deep market of licensed installers. Rather than chasing a “best” list, screen any installer against objective criteria:
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- Proper Connecticut licensing and any required local electrical and building permits.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Real experience with Eversource interconnection and the RRES tariffs, so the paperwork and PTO go smoothly.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote that models both RRES tariffs on your usage.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Zooming out? Start with Connecticut solar incentives and the RRES tariffs for the statewide picture, then get the specifics in Connecticut’s 2026 net-metering rules and the Netting vs Buy-All comparison. For your town, see local solar guides for Norwalk, Greenwich, West Hartford, Manchester solar, and Danbury in this service area.
Frequently asked questions
How does Eversource credit solar in Connecticut?
Eversource credits home solar under the state’s Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program, which replaced net metering in 2022. You choose a Netting tariff, where you use your own solar and export the excess at the retail rate with a small production adjustment, or a Buy-All tariff, where Eversource buys all your production at a fixed rate and you buy back what you use (CT PURA). You pick one tariff for a 20-year term, and the payment goes to the customer of record on the solar account.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit?
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. An Eversource customer who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it. A separate commercial credit (Section 48E) can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. Connecticut’s RRES tariffs and tax exemptions were not affected. See our guide on what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
How much does Eversource pay for solar under Buy-All?
For systems enrolling in 2026, the Buy-All rate is about $0.3289 per kWh, and Eversource buys everything your system produces at that price while you buy back what you use at the retail rate (CT PURA). The rate resets for each new program year, but once you enroll it is locked for 20 years. Because the number changes annually, confirm the current Buy-All rate with Eversource or your installer before you sign, and have them compare it against the Netting tariff for your usage.
How do I connect solar to Eversource in Connecticut?
You or your installer submit an interconnection application to Eversource, the system is reviewed and approved, it is installed and passes local inspection, Eversource sets a bidirectional meter, and then Eversource issues Permission to Operate. You cannot turn the system on until you have PTO. You also enroll in a Netting or Buy-All tariff as a separate step tied to the interconnection. Systems under 25 kW use a simplified Level 1 process, and a licensed installer normally manages the paperwork for you.
Why are Eversource bills so high, and what is the Public Benefits Charge?
Connecticut has some of the highest residential electricity prices in the country, running in the high-20s to low-30s cents per kWh all-in. Part of an Eversource bill is the Public Benefits Charge, a state-mandated line item that funds energy assistance, efficiency, and renewable programs, and it drew heavy attention in 2024 and 2025 as it grew. For a solar owner this cuts the other way: the higher your rate, the more each kilowatt-hour of solar you produce is worth, which is what makes Eversource territory a strong place for solar.
Do I qualify for Eversource solar credit if I lease or sign a PPA?
The RRES tariff is paid to the customer of record on the solar account, and Connecticut’s sales-tax and property-tax exemptions follow ownership of the equipment and the property. If you lease or sign a PPA, the third-party company typically holds the arrangement, and your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. If you want the tariff and the tax exemptions in your own name, owning the system through cash or a loan is the path that captures them. Confirm the specifics with your installer, since lease and PPA terms vary.
Reviewed July 2026 by the SolarFY editorial team, following our data and methodology. Figures were verified against the linked Connecticut (CT PURA, Eversource), EIA, and IRS sources as of July 2026; RRES tariff rates and bill charges reset over time, so confirm current terms with Eversource and PURA 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, 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. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
