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Connecticut Residential Solar Incentives
Offset the cost of your electric bill with energy you generate with solar.
Note: If you applied to install solar before January 1, 2022, you are participating in the Net Metering Program.
Residential Renewable Energy Solutions
Through Renewable Energy Solutions, you can sell the power you generate with your residential solar installation and any renewable energy certificates (RECs) to Eversource. If you applied to install solar before January 1, 2022, you are participating in the Net Metering Program.
- Visit our solar help center for FAQs (leaves Eversource.com)
- Read the program manual (PDF)
- Contact the RRES Team
How it works
To get started, you should contact a licensed solar installer in Connecticut. The installer will work with you to design your system and submit your application to Eversource.
Incentive options
On your application, you'll be able to select from two incentive compensation options: Buy-All and Netting. Each is designed to provide a similar return on investment. You may also qualify for additional income-based incentives.
Buy-All Incentive
With the Buy-All Incentive, you will export all power that your system produces to the electric grid without first supplying power to your home.
If you choose this option:
- We will purchase power from you at a rate approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA)
- You'll receive compensation as either an on-bill credit to offset your monthly bill or a cash payment once per quarter. You may specify a percentage of your compensation to be split between the two options
- You will purchase the electricity you need to power your home directly from Eversource
- Any on-bill credits not used to offset your bill can be cashed out once annually
- Any cash payments (quarterly or annually) must go to a third party that is not the account holder
Current incentive rate
The Buy-All rate for approved applications submitting in 2023 is $0.2943 per kWh, and the Buy-All rate for approved applications submitting in 2024 is $0.3189 per kWh. This rate includes the REC value. Once enrolled, your incentive rate is locked in for a 20-year term.
Meter setup
With the Buy-All Incentive, your power generation and consumption are measured using separate meters installed at your home.
Netting Incentive
With the Netting Incentive, you'll first supply power from the system to your home and only export excess power to the electric grid.
If you choose this option:
- Power produced by your system, but not consumed within the month, is "netted" at the same rate you pay Eversource for electricity
- Net credits are applied to your bill in dollars and will be used to offset future customer, supply and delivery charges
- Any excess credits can be carried over each month and cashed out if you stop electric service
- Once enrolled, your compensation rate (in dollars per kilowatt hour) for net production will fluctuate with the prevailing retail rate over a 20-year term
Current incentive rate
The netting incentive rate is the current retail rate plus a quarterly Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) payment. The REC payment rate for approved projects submitting in 2023 is $0.0318 per kWh, and for approved projects submitting in 2024 is $0.000 per kWh. This rate is set by the state and remains the same for 20 years.
While the 2024 base rate is $0.000/kWh, projects may still receive a REC payment if that project is eligible for adders. See the Additional Income-Based Incentives section for more information.
What are Renewable Energy Certificates?
A REC is generated for each megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity that your system generates regardless of whether you use the energy or it is exported to the electric grid.
Meter setup
With the Netting Incentive, you’ll receive a new meter that measures how much energy you consume and how much is exported to the grid. You'll also receive a second meter to measure the energy produced by your solar installation.
Additional Income-Based Incentives
You may be eligible for an additional incentive if your income is at or below 60% of the state median income or if your solar installation is in an economically-distressed community. You can only receive one additional incentive.
| Additional Buy-all Incentives | Rate for Applications Submitted in 2023 | Rate for Applications Submitted in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| At or below 60% state median income | $.030/kWh | $.055/kWh |
| In an economically-distressed community | $.0175/kWh | $.0275/kWh |
| Additional Netting Incentives | Rate for Applications Submitted in 2023 | Rate for Applications Submitted in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| At or below 60% state median income | $.025/kWh | $.035/kWh |
| In an economically-distressed community | $.0125/kWh | $.0175/kWh |
Participation in Eversource’s Winter Protection Program, New Start, Matching Payment Program, Low Income Discount Rate, or the Home Energy Solutions Income Eligible (HES-IE) program indicates a customer is eligible for the additional income-based incentive.
Average costs, timelines and historical rates from approved applications are available to help you understand program averages.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Renewable Energy Solutions, you must:
- Be a current or future electric customer of Eversource
- Live in a 1-4 family property
- Not be approved for or already receiving an incentive under the Connecticut Green Bank’s Residential Solar Incentive Program
- Be installing a system sized ≤ 25 kW
Systems with battery storage are eligible.
System size limit
Your solar installer will provide you with a system size recommendation based on your highest average annual consumption over the last 5 years.
You may request additional allowance for the standard expected kWh of up to two electric vehicles and a whole-home heat pump system, as listed here:
- Electric vehicle (per vehicle): 3,285 kWh
- Whole-home air source heat pump: 3,608 kWh
- Whole-home ground source heat pump: 2,458 kWh
Additional solar generation
If you already have solar and are installing additional generation at your home, the new system will be separately metered.
Note: solar PV projects can also interconnect under Rate 980 as an alternative to RRES, however this is not typically preferred by residential customers. For more information, see our Rate 980 FAQ.
Typical fees
Your installer will build these fees into their proposal to you.
Application fees
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Distributed Generation Application Fee | $200 |
| Renewable Energy Solutions Application Fee | $129 |
Meter fees
Your installer will help determine which meter type you need.
| Voltage/Meter Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| 120/240v Single Phase | $230 |
| 120/208v Single Phase (Network) | $282 |
Energy Storage Solutions
Customers installing storage with their solar PV system may be interested in the Energy Storage Solutions incentive program. Energy Storage Solutions was designed to help Eversource customers install energy storage at their homes and lowers the cost of a battery by providing both upfront and performance incentives. To learn more, see www.energystoragect.com.
Contractors and Installers
Get information for interconnecting residential and non-residential projects in Connecticut for Renewable Energy Solutions.