Adam Cooke | Connecticut's Honest Solar Guy
Home / Residential Solar Installation in Connecticut
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Serving All of Connecticut
Residential Solar Installation in Connecticut
I design home solar on your real Eversource or UI bills, show you cash, loan and lease side by side, and tell you when solar does not fit. One team handles design, permits, install and turn-on.
2026 Quick Facts
- RRES Buy-All pays $0.3289 per kWh for 20 years
- Owned systems add $0.032 per kWh
- No property tax or sales tax on home solar
- Typical CT system: 12.09 kW at about $2.68 per watt
The Short Answer
Is Home Solar Worth It in Connecticut in 2026?
Yes, for most homeowners with a sunny roof and a steady electric bill. The 30 percent federal tax credit ended for owned systems installed after December 31, 2025. Connecticut still pays solar owners through the RRES program, and home solar stays exempt from property tax and sales tax.
I am Adam H. Cooke, Managing Partner of Premier Improvements. I have worked in solar and roofing for 7 years, and I live in Berlin, CT. I run the same math with every homeowner, and I tell you when the numbers say wait.
Read the full breakdown in Is Solar Still Worth It in Connecticut in 2026?.
What the State Pays
Connecticut Solar Incentives That Stack in 2026
The federal credit is gone for owned systems. The state programs are not. These incentives stack on a home solar system this year.
| Incentive | What it pays or saves | How you claim it |
|---|---|---|
| RRES Buy-All | $0.3289 per kWh for 20 years, plus $0.032 per kWh on an owned system | My team files the RRES application with Eversource or UI |
| RRES Netting | Production offsets your use, with a 4.02 cents per kWh charge on all production | Same application, with Netting selected |
| Property tax exemption | Panels do not raise your assessment | Written application to your town assessor by November 1 after installation |
| Sales tax exemption | No sales tax on solar equipment or installation labor | My team collects Form CERT-140 |
| Smart-E loan | Up to $50,000 at 6.99 to 7.99 percent APR | Apply through a CT Green Bank approved contractor |
PURA resets RRES rates each year, and you lock the rate in effect on the day your application is received. I confirm the rate on your application date before you sign. Compare both tariffs in RRES Netting vs Buy-All Explained.
Cost
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in CT?
EnergySage reported a typical Connecticut system in October 2026 at 12.09 kW and about $2.68 per watt, or $32,379 on average. Your price depends on your roof, your usage and your equipment.
- System size: 12 months of your bills set it. A small bill means a small system.
- Roof condition: an asphalt roof older than 10 years goes first, or in the same project.
- Shade: heavy shade lowers production. A ground-mounted system solves this on some properties.
- Payment: cash, a Smart-E loan or a lease change your return. Run them in my cash vs loan vs lease calculator.
Want a first look at your own roof? Try my 3D solar estimator. Every number I show you is an estimate, not a guarantee.
What You Get
The Equipment I Install on Connecticut Homes
No mystery brands and no bait-and-switch. Your proposal names the exact equipment.
Tier 1 Panels
Enphase Microinverters
IronRidge Racking
Aurora Solar Design
Warranties
Solar Warranties That Hold Up
| Warranty | What it covers | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Premier solar equipment warranty | Parts, labor and shipping | 25-year minimum |
| Roof penetration, new roof with solar | Leaks where racking attaches | 25 years |
| Roof under the array, solar on an existing roof | Roof under the array | 10 years |
| Premier workmanship | Our labor and wiring | 10 years |
Read every term before you sign with anyone. My roof and solar warranty guide shows what each one covers and what voids it.
Fit Check
Who Home Solar Fits and Who It Does Not
Solar fits you when
- Your roof gets steady sun with little shade.
- Your roof is in good shape, or you replace it with the solar as one roof and solar project.
- You pay Eversource or UI a real electric bill every month.
- You plan to stay for years, or you want an owned upgrade that transfers with the house.
Solar does not fit you yet when
- Heavy shade covers the roof most of the day.
- Your asphalt roof is more than 10 years old and you do not want to replace it.
- Your electric use is low. The property tax exemption applies only when expected production does not exceed the home’s use.
- You plan to move soon and want a lease. A buyer has to qualify for and take over the contract.
Own or Lease
Owning vs Leasing Solar in Connecticut
Ownership wins for most homes I see. Connecticut has no program that installs free solar panels. Ads that promise free solar describe a lease or PPA.
| Question | Owned (cash or Smart-E loan) | Lease or PPA |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns the panels | You | The finance company |
| RRES customer-owned adder | $0.032 per kWh on either tariff | Not yours |
| Property tax exemption | Yes | Yes, leased systems qualify |
| Yearly price increase | None on cash or a fixed loan | The escalator printed in the contract |
| When you sell | Transfers with the house | Buyer applies to take over, or you buy it out |
If you choose a lease, get the yearly escalator and the year 25 rate in writing. Run every contract through my solar contract checklist first.
How It Works
How I Install Home Solar, Step by Step
- Your bills: I start with 12 months of Eversource or UI bills. Real usage sets the system size.
- Your roof: I design the array in Aurora Solar and check the shingles. Older than 10 years, I price roof and solar together.
- Your options: I model Buy-All and Netting, then show cash, Smart-E loan and lease prices side by side.
- Your proposal: you get the exact equipment in writing. No sign-today price.
- Permits and paperwork: my team files the building permit, the RRES application and the utility interconnection.
- Install and turn-on: we install, meet the town inspector and coordinate permission to operate with your utility.
Want backup power too? Add a battery in the same project. See solar battery storage in Connecticut.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do solar panels cost in Connecticut?
EnergySage reported a typical Connecticut system in October 2026 at 12.09 kW and about $2.68 per watt, or $32,379 on average. Your price depends on your roof, your usage and your equipment.
Is solar worth it in CT without the federal tax credit?
Yes, for most owned systems on a sunny roof. RRES Buy-All pays $0.3289 per kWh for 20 years for systems enrolling in 2026, and owned systems add $0.032 per kWh.
Does Connecticut still 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.
Are solar panels free in Connecticut?
No. Connecticut has no program that installs free solar panels. Free solar offers are leases or PPAs, where a finance company owns the panels and you pay for the power.
Do I need a new roof before I go solar?
Yes, when your asphalt roof is more than 10 years old. A Smart-E loan lets up to 25 percent of the loan cover non-energy work like the roof.
Keep Reading
More Ways I Help Connecticut Homeowners
Connecticut's Honest Solar Guy
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Send me 12 months of electric bills and I will run the real numbers on your home. Book a free 30-minute call, or reach me through my contact page. No pressure and no sign-today price.