The Connecticut RRES program, short for Residential Renewable Energy Solutions, replaced net metering in 2022 and pays Eversource and United Illuminating solar customers for 20 years. You choose Buy-All, which pays $0.3289 per kWh for every kWh your system makes in 2026, or Netting, where your production offsets what you use with a 4.02 cents per kWh charge on all production. Owned systems add $0.032 per kWh on either tariff.
I am Adam H. Cooke, Managing Partner of Premier Improvements. My team files RRES applications for our customers, and I model both tariffs on each household’s real bills before anyone picks one. Here is how the program works in plain English.
Key Facts
- RRES replaced net metering in 2022 for Eversource and UI customers.
- You choose one of two 20-year tariffs: Buy-All or Netting.
- The 2026 Buy-All rate is $0.3289 per kWh. Netting carries a 4.02 cents per kWh charge on all production.
- Customer-owned systems add $0.032 per kWh on either tariff.
- Systems top out at 25 kW, and you lock the rate in effect on the day your application is received.
- Public Act 26-127 sets successor tariffs to start July 1, 2028.
What Is the Connecticut RRES Program?
RRES is Connecticut’s 20-year payment program for home solar. It is the biggest Connecticut solar incentive in 2026. PURA, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, sets the rules and resets the rates each year.
The 2026 rates in this guide come from PURA’s 2026 program review as reported by CT DEEP and EnergySage. Property tax and sales tax exemptions, Smart-E loans and battery incentives stack on top. I track every one in my Connecticut solar incentives guide.
Does CT Have Net Metering?
Not for new solar customers. RRES replaced net metering in 2022. The Netting tariff works closest to the old model. Your solar production offsets what you use, and the utility charges 4.02 cents per kWh on all production.
RRES Buy-All vs Netting Side by Side
| 2026 rate | Buy-All | Netting |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | The utility buys every kWh your system makes at a fixed rate | Your production offsets what you use, with a charge on production |
| Base rate | $0.3289 per kWh | 4.02 cents per kWh charge on all production |
| Customer-owned adder | +$0.032 per kWh | +$0.032 per kWh |
| Low-income adder | +$0.055 per kWh | +$0.035 per kWh |
| Distressed municipality adder | +$0.0275 per kWh | +$0.0175 per kWh |
| Term | 20 years | 20 years |
| System size limit | 25 kW | 25 kW |
| Rate lock | Rate in effect on the day your application is received | Rate in effect on the day your application is received |
How the Adders Work
Adders raise your rate when you meet a condition. The three adders are:
- Customer-owned: $0.032 per kWh on either tariff when you own the system with cash or a loan.
- Low-income: $0.055 per kWh on Buy-All, or $0.035 per kWh on Netting.
- Distressed municipality: $0.0275 per kWh on Buy-All, or $0.0175 per kWh on Netting.
Notice that both the low-income and distressed municipality adders pay more on Buy-All. I check every adder you qualify for before I run your numbers.
The 25 kW Cap and the Rate Lock
RRES systems top out at 25 kW. The typical Connecticut system EnergySage reported in October 2026 was 12.09 kW, about half that cap, so most homes fit with room to spare.
You lock the rate in effect on the day your application is received, and you keep it for 20 years. PURA resets rates each year, so the filing date matters. Confirm the rate on your application date before you sign.
Does Eversource Buy Back Solar Power?
Yes, under the Buy-All tariff. Eversource buys every kWh your system makes at a fixed rate for 20 years, $0.3289 per kWh for systems enrolling in 2026, plus $0.032 if you own the system. Under the Eversource Netting tariff, your production offsets what you use instead, with the 4.02 cents per kWh charge on all production.
The United Illuminating Solar Program
UI customers enroll in the same RRES program and choose from the same two tariffs. My team coordinates inspections with your town and with Eversource or UI, whichever serves your home.
Which Tariff Fits Which Household?
Buy-All pays a steady rate for every kWh and suits most owned systems. Netting suits homes that use most of their solar power during the day.
Buy-All Fits You When
- You own the system with cash or a Smart-E loan.
- Your house sits empty most weekdays while the panels produce.
- You want one predictable rate on every kWh for 20 years.
- You qualify for the low-income or distressed municipality adder, which pays more on Buy-All.
Netting Fits You When
- Someone works from home and runs loads during daylight hours.
- You use most of your solar power during the day.
- You care more about offsetting your own bill than about selling every kWh.
I model both on your real usage before you choose. The tariff you pick goes on your RRES application, so check that it matches what you agreed to. That step sits on my solar contract checklist. If you still wonder whether solar pays at all after the federal credit ended, read Is Solar Still Worth It in Connecticut in 2026?
Connecticut Solar Property Tax Exemption
Connecticut law exempts residential solar on one to four unit homes from property tax, including leased systems, when expected production does not exceed the home’s use.
- Who files: you, with your town assessor.
- Deadline: a written application by November 1 after installation.
- If you miss it: you lose that year’s exemption.
- Renewal: none needed unless the system changes.
I show every customer how to file before November 1. The exemption also helps at resale, because the panels do not raise your assessment. More on that in my guide to selling a home with solar.
Sales Tax Exemption and Form CERT-140
Solar panels, racking, inverters, monitoring and batteries bought with a solar system are exempt from Connecticut sales tax, and so is installation labor. Your installer collects Form CERT-140. My team handles it on every job.
What Happens After July 1, 2028?
Public Act 26-127, signed in July 2026, reauthorizes Connecticut’s solar programs and directs PURA to design a successor program. Successor tariffs are set to start July 1, 2028.
- Under the legislative bill analysis, Buy-All then goes only to low-income customers and affordable multifamily housing.
- Electrek reports that solar paired with battery storage faces fewer limits than solar alone.
- Systems enrolled now keep their 20-year rate.
Battery Incentives in Brief
The Energy Storage Solutions program, run by the CT Green Bank, Eversource and UI, pays $30 per kWh to enroll, or $130 per kWh on grid edge circuits. It adds $300 per kW each year for 10 years for active dispatch, up to $550 for low-income and underserved customers. The old up to $16,000 upfront offer ended for new enrollees on April 1, 2026. Read my full Energy Storage Solutions guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CT have net metering?
Not for new customers. The RRES program replaced net metering in 2022. Its Netting tariff offsets your use with your production and charges 4.02 cents per kWh on all production.
Does Eversource buy back solar power?
Yes, on the Buy-All tariff. Eversource buys every kWh at $0.3289 per kWh for 20 years for systems enrolling in 2026, plus $0.032 per kWh for customer-owned systems.
What is the Connecticut RRES Buy-All rate in 2026?
$0.3289 per kWh for 20 years. Customer-owned systems add $0.032 per kWh, and low-income customers add $0.055 per kWh.
How do I get the Connecticut solar property tax exemption?
File a written application with your town assessor by November 1 after installation. Leased systems qualify too, and no renewal is needed unless the system changes.
This guide is an estimate, not a quote or a guarantee. Program rules and rates change, so confirm current rates before you sign.
Not sure which tariff fits your home? I will model Buy-All and Netting on your real Eversource or UI bills and show you the 20-year difference. Book a free 30-minute call, send a question through my contact page, or browse my solar FAQ. No pressure and no sign-today price.