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Solar Battery Storage in Connecticut
I install FranklinWH batteries with new solar and on existing systems across Connecticut. I size every battery from your bills and the circuits you want running, and I tell you what the 2026 incentives pay.
2026 Quick Facts
- $30 per kWh to enroll, or $130 on grid edge circuits
- $300 to $550 per kW each year for 10 years
- Old up-to-$16,000 offer ended April 1, 2026
- CT batteries average about $1,153 per kWh before incentives
The Short Answer
What Does a Home Battery Do in an Outage?
Grid-tied solar shuts off when the grid goes down. Without a battery, your house goes dark on a sunny day like every other house on the street.
A battery stores solar power or grid power and runs your house during the outage. Your panels then recharge it 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 from your bills and the circuits you want backed up.
Plan your own backup list with my battery backup planner.
What the State Pays
Connecticut Energy Storage Solutions Incentives in 2026
Energy Storage Solutions is Connecticut’s home battery incentive. The CT Green Bank, Eversource and United Illuminating run it under rules set by PURA. It pays you two ways.
| Incentive | Before April 1, 2026 | From April 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront or enrollment | Up to $16,000 | $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 each year for 10 years |
Many websites still show the old up-to-$16,000 figure. It no longer applies to new enrollments.
Grid edge circuits
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. I check your address before you sign.
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.
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 | $450 | $1,950 |
| Performance pay at 5 kW average and $300 per kW | $1,500 per year | $1,500 per year |
| 10-year total | $15,450 | $16,950 |
Try your own numbers in my Energy Storage Solutions calculator, and read the full program guide in Connecticut Solar Battery Guide 2026.
Cost
How Much Does a Home Battery Cost in CT?
- Connecticut batteries average about $1,153 per kWh before incentives, or about $15,566 for 13.5 kWh (EnergySage, July 2026).
- One FranklinWH aPower 2 averages about $17,655 installed on the EnergySage marketplace. Two units run about $35,300.
- 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.
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.
Fit Check
Who a Home 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.
How It Works
How I Install a Battery, Step by Step
- Design: I size the battery and confirm your circuit type.
- Application: my team submits the Energy Storage Solutions application through the program portal.
- Install: we install the battery and pass the town inspection.
- Enrollment: the utility approves interconnection and enrolls your battery.
- Payments: enrollment and performance payments follow the program schedule.
Already have solar?
We add FranklinWH batteries to most existing systems after checking your inverter, main panel and utility agreement. No solar yet? Pair the battery with residential solar so your panels recharge it every sunny day.
Financing
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. Compare options on my financing page.
FAQ
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.
Do you add batteries to existing solar systems?
Yes. We add FranklinWH batteries to most existing systems after checking your inverter, main panel and utility agreement.
Does the Smart-E loan cover a battery?
Yes. The CT Green Bank Smart-E loan covers batteries, with loans up to $50,000 for owner-occupied one to four unit homes.
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