Yes, solar usually pays off in United Illuminating territory, because Connecticut power is among the most expensive in the country. As of July 2026, MySolarFY estimates that an 8 kW rooftop system in New Haven produces about 10,293 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts), worth roughly $2,720 in first-year bill value on United Illuminating’s RRES Netting tariff, valuing Connecticut’s 30.47-cent retail power net of the 2026 Solar Energy Adjustment of $0.0402 per kWh. That is a planning estimate, not a guarantee; your own usage, roof, and rate class move the number.
- Connecticut residential power averages about 30.47 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), among the highest in the country, so the bill United Illuminating solar offsets is a large one.
- United Illuminating runs under Connecticut’s RRES program, which replaced retail net metering for new residential systems on January 1, 2022, and makes you choose a Netting or a Buy-All tariff (PURA RRES program, as of 2026).
- The 2026 Buy-All rate is $0.3289 per kWh, locked for 20 years, the same statewide figure United Illuminating and Eversource customers get (United Illuminating RRES, as of 2026).
- On the Netting tariff, a Solar Energy Adjustment of $0.0402 per kWh now applies to all your production for 2026 enrollees, and the separate REC rate is zero (United Illuminating RRES FAQ, as of 2026).
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025 (IRS, as of 2026), so most 2026 buyers cannot claim it.
If you are weighing United Illuminating solar along the Connecticut shoreline, the thing to understand first is that classic net metering is gone for new systems. Connecticut replaced it in 2022 with the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program, or RRES, and that program makes you pick one of two ways to be paid for your solar before you ever switch on. This page explains the Netting and Buy-All choices in plain language, the on-bill charge that changed for 2026, how United Illuminating connects your system, and how to tell whether your roof is a good fit. For the wider state picture, see our guide to Connecticut solar incentives and the RRES tariffs.
United Illuminating at a glance
United Illuminating is the regulated electric delivery utility for Connecticut’s southwest shoreline, and it is the interconnection authority for solar in that territory. Whether you choose Netting or Buy-All, your tariff terms come from Connecticut’s statewide RRES program, administered through United Illuminating.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Service territory | About 17 towns and cities along the coast, including Bridgeport, New Haven, Hamden, Milford, West Haven, Stratford, Fairfield, Shelton, Orange, and Trumbull (United Illuminating) |
| Rate context | Connecticut residential power averages about 30.47 cents per kWh (EIA, March 2026), among the highest in the country |
| Crediting program | The statewide RRES program, which replaced retail net metering for new residential systems on January 1, 2022 |
| Your choice | A Netting tariff (net-metering style) or a Buy-All tariff (sell everything at a fixed rate) |
| Term | Whichever you choose is locked for a 20-year tariff term |
| Before you switch on | United Illuminating must grant Permission to Operate (PTO) first |
The big choice: Netting or Buy-All
Under RRES you pick how you are paid, and the two paths are genuinely different. Connecticut closed traditional net metering to new residential systems on January 1, 2022, and only homeowners who installed before then are still on the old program (United Illuminating RRES, as of 2026). Everyone else chooses one of two RRES tariffs, each locked for 20 years. For a plain-English primer on how export credits work in general, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| RRES tariff (United Illuminating, 2026) | How you are paid | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Netting (net-metering style) | You use your own solar first, then any monthly net excess you export is credited at United Illuminating’s retail rate, including both supply and delivery (UI RRES FAQ) | A Solar Energy Adjustment of $0.0402 per kWh applies to all your production in 2026, and the separate REC rate is $0.000 |
| Buy-All | You sell all the power your panels make to United Illuminating at a fixed $0.3289 per kWh for 20 years, and you buy all your home’s power at the normal retail rate (UI RRES) | The $0.3289 sell rate is locked for 20 years; low-income and distressed-municipality adders can raise it |
Which one wins depends on how much of your own power you use. Netting tends to suit a home that consumes a lot of its solar on site, because that self-used power offsets electricity at the full retail rate, which is high in Connecticut. Buy-All can suit a home that exports most of its production, because the fixed $0.3289 per kWh sell rate is locked for 20 years even as it buys its own power at a retail rate that resets about every six months (United Illuminating RRES FAQ, as of 2026). A good installer models both paths for your specific usage before you commit, since the choice holds for two decades. For a side-by-side of the two tariffs, see our guide to Connecticut’s Netting vs Buy-All choice, and for how the same RRES program looks under the other Connecticut utility, see Eversource Connecticut net metering.
What the numbers look like: an 8 kW New Haven example
Here is a MySolarFY estimate for a typical 8 kW system in New Haven, so you can see how the two tariffs compare in dollars (July 2026). It is a planning example, not a quote, and your usage, roof, shading, and installer pricing will change every figure.
| MySolarFY estimate (8 kW, New Haven, July 2026) | Netting tariff | Buy-All tariff |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated annual production (NREL PVWatts, ZIP 06511) | About 10,293 kWh | About 10,293 kWh |
| How 2026 production is valued | Retail 30.47 cents/kWh minus the $0.0402/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment, about $0.2645 per kWh | Fixed $0.3289 per kWh, locked for 20 years |
| Estimated first-year value | About $2,720 in bill offset | About $3,385 in sell revenue (gross, before you buy your home’s power at retail) |
| Estimated installed cost before incentives (about $2.77/W, EnergySage CT, 2026) | About $22,200 | About $22,200 |
| Estimated simple payback (first-year value held flat) | About 8 years | About 6 to 7 years |
| Over the 20-year term | Value tends to rise as Connecticut retail rates climb | The $0.3289 sell rate stays locked, so it does not rise with retail rates |
Assumptions, so you can check the math: about 10,293 kWh a year from an NREL PVWatts run for New Haven (ZIP 06511, 8 kW), Connecticut’s 30.47-cent residential rate (EIA, March 2026), the 2026 RRES Solar Energy Adjustment of $0.0402 per kWh, and a Connecticut installed price of about $2.77 per watt before incentives (EnergySage, 2026). The 30% federal 25D homeowner credit ended after December 31, 2025, so it is not part of these figures. The payback is a simple estimate that does not model rate inflation, financing, or the monthly service charge, and Buy-All’s faster year-one payback is set against a rate that never rises. This is why a good installer models both tariffs on your own usage before you commit.
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The 2026 Solar Energy Adjustment, and why your Netting math changed
If you compare an older Connecticut solar quote with a 2026 one, this charge is why the numbers moved. For homeowners enrolling in the Netting tariff in 2026, United Illuminating applies a Solar Energy Adjustment of $0.0402 per kWh to all the power your system produces, not just what you export (United Illuminating RRES FAQ, as of 2026). It shows up as a charge on your bill, and 2026 is the first year it rose sharply compared with earlier RRES vintages. The separate REC rate that once added a small payment on the Netting tariff is set to $0.000 for 2026, so it no longer offsets the adjustment.
Note: this is exactly why you ask an installer to model 2026 rates, not last year’s. The Solar Energy Adjustment does not make solar a bad deal against Connecticut’s 30-cent power, but it does change the Netting-versus-Buy-All comparison, and it is a real line on the bill. Ask for a quote that uses the current 2026 RRES figures and shows your estimated bill after solar, the adjustment included.
Connecticut incentives a United Illuminating customer can stack
Beyond the RRES tariff, Connecticut adds two tax breaks and a battery program. One important note up front: Connecticut does not offer a state income tax credit for residential solar, so do not expect one. For the statewide picture, see our Connecticut solar incentives hub, and our guide to solar incentives for how these fit together.
| Incentive | What it gives you | The Connecticut detail |
|---|---|---|
| Sales and use tax exemption | 100% exemption from Connecticut sales tax, about 6.35%, on solar equipment (DSIRE) | Applied at purchase under CGS 12-412(117); your installer normally handles it |
| Property tax exemption | The added home value from a qualifying solar system is exempt from local property tax (DSIRE) | Statewide under CGS 12-81(57), but not strictly automatic: many assessors expect a short exemption claim, so file it |
| Energy Storage Solutions (battery) | A statewide battery incentive for United Illuminating and Eversource customers (PURA Energy Storage Solutions) | For systems enrolling on or after April 1, 2026, it pays a smaller one-time enrollment incentive plus a 10-year performance-based incentive; the larger legacy upfront incentive was discontinued |
| State income tax credit | None | Connecticut has no personal income tax credit for residential solar; the value comes from the RRES tariff and the tax exemptions |
The battery program changed in April 2026, so read the date on any quote. Connecticut’s Energy Storage Solutions program still rewards pairing a battery with solar, but the structure shifted (PURA Energy Storage Solutions, as of 2026). Systems enrolling on or after April 1, 2026 receive a smaller one-time enrollment incentive and a larger performance-based incentive paid over ten years, rather than the bigger upfront payment older quotes describe. Higher tiers apply for low-income, underserved, and grid-edge customers, and your battery has to be on the program’s eligible-equipment list.
How to connect solar to United Illuminating
Connecting a home system follows Connecticut’s interconnection process, administered by United Illuminating, and the rule that matters most is that you cannot turn the system on until United Illuminating grants Permission to Operate (United Illuminating interconnections, as of 2026). The general path is:
- RRES and interconnection application. You or your installer file the application with United Illuminating before installation, choosing the Netting or Buy-All tariff and including the system design and inverter data.
- Utility review. United Illuminating reviews the package. Standard residential systems generally move faster than large or grid-constrained projects.
- Approval to install. You receive approval to build, but not yet to operate. Do not energize the system until the next steps are done.
- Install and inspect. The system is installed by a licensed contractor and passes your local electrical inspection.
- Meter and Permission to Operate. United Illuminating sets the correct meter for your tariff and issues Permission to Operate. Your system only starts earning under RRES once it is approved to run.
A licensed installer normally manages this whole process, including your RRES tariff election and the interconnection paperwork.
What changed federally, and what it means for the Connecticut shoreline
The federal homeowner credit is gone, but Connecticut’s programs are not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a United Illuminating customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). Note that some Connecticut tax pages still describe the federal credit as available through 2032, but that is out of date for homeowner buyers. For the full timeline, see what the end of the federal solar tax credit means in 2026. What carries the math now is the RRES tariff and the Connecticut tax exemptions, set against some of the highest power rates in the country.
One federal exception remains, and it is not yours to claim. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, is claimed by the business that owns a leased or PPA system, not by the homeowner. On a leased system you do not file for a federal credit yourself; the company that owns the panels does. The 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025, so do not let a sales pitch tell a 2026 cash or loan buyer otherwise.
How to choose a solar installer in United Illuminating territory
The Bridgeport and New Haven area is a competitive solar market, so you have plenty of licensed installers to choose from. Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria:
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- A valid Connecticut home improvement or electrical contractor license for solar work.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Real experience with United Illuminating interconnection and Permission to Operate, and a clear recommendation on Netting versus Buy-All for your home.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote that uses current 2026 RRES figures, the Solar Energy Adjustment included.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Cities we serve across Connecticut: compare what solar costs in Bridgeport, New Haven, and Waterbury.
Check which solar programs are available at your address →
Looking at the specifics? See Connecticut’s 2026 net-metering rules.
Frequently asked questions
How does United Illuminating net metering work in 2026?
Connecticut replaced traditional retail net metering for new residential systems on January 1, 2022 with the RRES program, so a United Illuminating customer now chooses one of two 20-year tariffs (PURA, as of 2026). The Netting tariff is the net-metering-style option: you use your own solar first, and any monthly net excess you export is credited at United Illuminating’s retail rate. Only homeowners who installed before 2022 are still on the old net metering program. Whichever tariff you pick, you also pay the normal monthly service charge, so a solar bill is rarely zero.
What is the difference between the Netting and Buy-All tariffs?
They are two ways to be paid under RRES. With Netting you consume your own solar and export the surplus, and the monthly net excess is credited at United Illuminating’s retail rate, but a Solar Energy Adjustment of $0.0402 per kWh applies to all your production in 2026 (United Illuminating RRES FAQ, as of 2026). With Buy-All you sell every kilowatt-hour your panels make to United Illuminating at a fixed $0.3289 per kWh for 20 years and buy all your home’s power at the retail rate. Netting tends to suit homes that use a lot of their own solar; Buy-All suits homes that export most of it. An installer should model both for your usage.
What is the Solar Energy Adjustment on the Netting tariff?
It is an on-bill charge of $0.0402 per kWh that United Illuminating applies to all the power your system produces, not just what you export, for homeowners enrolling in the Netting tariff in 2026 (United Illuminating RRES FAQ, as of 2026). It rose sharply for the 2026 program year compared with earlier RRES vintages, and the separate REC rate that once added a small credit is set to zero for 2026. It does not erase the value of solar against Connecticut’s high rates, but it does change the Netting-versus-Buy-All math, which is why you want a quote built on current 2026 figures.
How much is the Buy-All rate from United Illuminating?
For 2026 enrollees the Buy-All rate is $0.3289 per kWh, locked in for a 20-year term (United Illuminating RRES, as of 2026). That figure is set statewide, so Eversource customers get the same rate. Low-income households and homes in economically distressed municipalities can qualify for adders of $0.055 and $0.0275 per kWh respectively. Remember that under Buy-All you still buy all your home’s electricity at United Illuminating’s normal retail rate, which resets about every six months, so the program is a sell-all and buy-all arrangement rather than a bill-offset.
What solar incentives does Connecticut offer in 2026?
Connecticut gives residential solar a 100% exemption from the state sales tax, about 6.35%, and a property tax exemption so the added home value from the system is not taxed locally (DSIRE, as of 2026). The property tax exemption is statewide but not strictly automatic, so file the exemption claim your assessor expects. Connecticut also runs the Energy Storage Solutions battery program for United Illuminating and Eversource customers, which for systems enrolling on or after April 1, 2026 pays a smaller enrollment incentive plus a 10-year performance incentive. Connecticut does not have a state income tax credit for solar.
What happened to the federal solar credit for United Illuminating customers?
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a homeowner buying with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). Some Connecticut tax pages still list the federal credit as available through 2032, but that is out of date for homeowner buyers. 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 tariff and tax exemptions were not affected.
Do I qualify for RRES if I lease or sign a PPA?
The RRES tariff follows your United Illuminating account, so the customer of record is enrolled whether you own, lease, or sign a PPA. The difference is who keeps the value: on a lease or PPA the third-party company that owns the system generally takes the tariff payments, while your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. If you want the RRES income in your own name, owning the system through cash or a loan is the path that captures it.
Reviewed by the SolarFY Editor. Reviewed: July 2026. Figures were verified against the linked United Illuminating, PURA, EnergizeCT, DSIRE, EIA, and IRS sources as of July 2026; RRES tariff rates, the Solar Energy Adjustment, the Energy Storage Solutions incentive, and electricity rates reset over time, so confirm current terms with United Illuminating and PURA before you decide. Our $2,720 first-year estimate uses our own NREL PVWatts production run and the EIA Connecticut residential rate net of the RRES Solar Energy Adjustment; see how we calculate our estimates and meet the SolarFY editorial team. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about MySolarFY 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; on a lease or PPA the RRES tariff payments go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. 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.
