Connecticut’s Energy Storage Solutions program pays homeowners two ways in 2026. You get a one-time enrollment incentive of $30 per kWh, or $130 per kWh on grid edge circuits, plus $300 to $550 per kW each year for 10 years for letting the utility draw on your battery during peak events. The old up-to-$16,000 upfront offer ended for new enrollees on April 1, 2026.
I’m Adam H. Cooke, Managing Partner of Premier Improvements. I have spent 7 years in solar and roofing across Connecticut, and I install FranklinWH batteries with new solar and on existing systems. This guide covers what the program pays now, what a battery does in an outage and whether one makes sense for your home.
Key Facts
- Energy Storage Solutions is run by the CT Green Bank, Eversource and United Illuminating, under rules set by PURA.
- Enrollment incentive since April 1, 2026: $30 per kWh, or $130 per kWh on grid edge circuits.
- Performance incentive: $300 to $550 per kW each year for 10 years.
- Active dispatch only. Expect up to 10 winter events and roughly 30 to 60 summer events per year.
- Connecticut batteries average about $1,153 per kWh before incentives (EnergySage, Jul 2026).
- The federal 25D credit ended for batteries installed after December 31, 2025.
Do Solar Panels Work When There’s a Power Outage?
Not on their own. Grid-tied solar shuts off when the grid goes down, so it never sends power onto lines that utility crews are repairing. Without a battery, your house goes dark on a sunny day like every other house on the street.
A battery changes that. It stores solar power or grid power and runs your house during the outage. Your panels then recharge the battery every sunny day. Here is what one 15 kWh FranklinWH aPower 2 handles.
- As a rough estimate, a refrigerator, lights, internet and a furnace blower for about a day.
- 10 kW of continuous power and 15 kW of peak power for 10 seconds.
- 185 A of motor starting current, enough to start a 5-ton central air unit.
- Central air, a well pump and electric heat drain it faster. I size every system from your bills and the circuits you want backed up.
What Is the Energy Storage Solutions Program in CT?
Energy Storage Solutions is Connecticut’s home battery incentive. The CT Green Bank, Eversource and United Illuminating have run it since January 2022. The program pays you to install a battery and share it with the grid during peak demand.
What Changed on April 1, 2026
The program replaced its large upfront payment with a smaller enrollment incentive and moved new customers to active dispatch. Many websites, including some utility pages, still show the old “up to $16,000” figure. That number no longer applies to new enrollments.
| Incentive | Before April 1, 2026 | From April 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront or enrollment | Up to $16,000, higher per kWh for low-income and underserved communities | $30 per kWh, or $130 per kWh on grid edge circuits |
| Performance | Passive or active dispatch options | Active dispatch only, $300 to $550 per kW for 10 years |
How the 2026 CT Battery Storage Incentives Work
Enrollment Incentive
You earn $30 per kWh of battery capacity, paid once. Homes on grid edge circuits earn $130 per kWh. A grid edge circuit ranks in the top 10 percent for outages per customer in major storms since July 1, 2012, or in the top 10 percent for the longest major storm outages. The program publishes circuit maps, and I check your address before you sign.
Performance Incentive
Each year for 10 years, the program pays $300 per kW based on your battery’s average seasonal contribution during events. Low-income and underserved customers earn up to $550 per kW.
Active Dispatch Events
During peak demand, the utility signals your battery to discharge. Expect up to 10 winter events and roughly 30 to 60 summer events per year. The utilities do not call events when a severe storm is forecast, so your battery stays charged for backup when you need it most.
Example: What One FranklinWH aPower 2 Earns
This example uses the published 2026 rates. Actual pay follows the energy your battery delivers during events, so treat it as an illustration, not a quote.
| Item | Standard circuit | Grid edge circuit |
|---|---|---|
| Battery size | 15 kWh | 15 kWh |
| Enrollment incentive | 15 x $30 = $450 | 15 x $130 = $1,950 |
| Performance pay, assuming 5 kW average delivered during events at $300 per kW | $1,500 per year | $1,500 per year |
| 10-year total | $15,450 | $16,950 |
Low-income and underserved customers earn performance rates up to $550 per kW per year. Try the numbers on your own home with my Energy Storage Solutions calculator.
Who Is Eligible
- Eversource or United Illuminating electric customers.
- A battery from a program-approved manufacturer. I confirm your model on the approved list.
- Installation by an eligible contractor.
- Agreement to active dispatch during called events.
How to Apply
- We design the battery system and confirm your circuit type.
- We submit the Energy Storage Solutions application through the program portal.
- We install the battery and pass the town inspection.
- The utility approves interconnection and enrolls your battery.
- Enrollment and performance payments follow the program schedule.
Is a Solar Battery Worth the Money?
Start with the price. Connecticut batteries average about $1,153 per kWh before incentives, or about $15,566 for 13.5 kWh (EnergySage, Jul 2026). One FranklinWH aPower 2 averages about $17,655 installed on the EnergySage marketplace. Two units run about $35,300.
Here is my honest read. In the example above, 10 years of incentives cover most of the price of one aPower 2, not all of it. You pay the rest for backup power, silence and no fuel to buy. The federal 25D credit no longer applies to batteries installed after December 31, 2025. Batteries bought with solar skip Connecticut sales tax. For a battery added to existing solar, confirm sales tax treatment with the Department of Revenue Services.
Who a Battery Fits
- Homes that lose power in nor’easters and ice storms, especially on grid edge circuits.
- Homes that need the fridge, the well pump and the heat running through an outage.
- Owners who have solar or plan to add it, so the panels recharge the battery.
- Homeowners who want backup without generator noise, fuel or engine service.
- Low-income and underserved customers, who earn performance rates up to $550 per kW.
A battery fits less well if you will not accept dispatch events, or if you expect one unit to run electric heat and central air for days. I tell you that up front.
Pairing a Battery With Solar and the Smart-E Loan in CT
Solar recharges the battery every sunny day. Under Public Act 26-127, signed in July 2026, Connecticut’s successor solar program starts July 1, 2028, and solar paired with storage is expected to carry fewer limits than solar alone.
- Smart-E loans from the CT Green Bank run up to $50,000 and cover batteries.
- APR is 6.99 percent for 5, 7 or 10 years, 7.49 percent for 12 years and 7.99 percent for 15 years.
- Up to 25 percent of the loan covers non-energy work, like a new roof under your panels.
- Already have solar? We add FranklinWH batteries to most existing systems after checking your inverter, main panel and utility agreement.
If your roof is older than 10 years, fix that first. Read new roof before solar in CT, see how our Connecticut roofing work pairs with solar and check the warranty guide. Compare loans on my financing page, check storm prep with the storm damage checklist and see the full math in is solar worth it in Connecticut.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Connecticut pay for a home battery in 2026?
New enrollees since April 1, 2026 get $30 per kWh, or $130 per kWh on grid edge circuits, plus $300 per kW each year for 10 years for active dispatch, up to $550 for low-income and underserved customers.
Is the $16,000 battery incentive still available in Connecticut?
No. The up-to-$16,000 upfront incentive ended for new enrollments on April 1, 2026. Some websites still show it.
Will the utility drain my battery before a storm?
No. The utilities do not call dispatch events when a severe storm is forecast, which keeps your battery ready for backup.
Does the Smart-E loan cover a battery in CT?
Yes. The CT Green Bank Smart-E loan covers batteries, with loans up to $50,000 for owner-occupied one to four unit homes.
Want to know what a battery earns on your circuit? I will check your address, size the system and show you the real numbers, with no pressure. Book a free 30-minute call, reach me through my contact page, or read more answers in my solar FAQ.