Is Solar Worth It in Connecticut? (2024 Homeowner's Guide)

Watch Below: Why Are Solar Batteries Important and Will CT Pay You To Install One?

How to Figure Out if Solar Panels Are Worth It in Connecticut

The large majority of homeowners in Connecticut will find that solar is an excellent investment that provides a massive return over time, as the average solar customer in the state sees utility bill savings that pay off their systems in just 8 years — 3 years faster than the national average — and then save an average of $58,012 after that point. However, installing panels isn’t right for everyone, so you’ll need to calculate if your home would benefit before you convert. Below, we’ll discuss the most significant factors to consider to determine the value of solar for your home.

What’s Your Home Electricity Consumption?

One of the easiest ways to tell if solar will work for your home is to look at your average monthly energy consumption. The more power you consume, the more solar panels can potentially save you in energy fees and the more valuable they will be.

Generally speaking, homes that consume at least 500 kWh in an average month will be well-suited for solar panels. The typical Connecticut home uses 711 kWh, so most residents will find that solar panels will be worth the investment.

With that being said, Connecticut homeowners pay so much for electricity — 26.78 cents per kWh compared to the national average of 16.79 cents — that even homes that consume well below 500 kWh monthly will still likely benefit from solar panel installation. You can check your past energy bills for usage history to see where your home falls.

How Much Is It To Go Solar in Connecticut?

The price of solar in Connecticut is higher than average, sitting around $3.49 per watt compared to the national average of $3.33. However, most Connecticut residents only need a 7.5-kW system due to below-average energy needs, whereas the typical solar panel system size in the US is 9 kW. As such, the average total for solar in Connecticut is $26,175, or $18,323 after the 30% federal solar investment tax credit is considered.

Solar panels provide the most value in areas with high energy needs or high electricity rates. Although Connecticut uses less power than the national average, the electricity price is nearly double the national average — 26.78 cents per kWh as opposed to the national average of 16.79 cents.

Most homeowners in the area will find that solar panels are well worth the investment for this reason, even though solar equipment is a bit more expensive than it is elsewhere. That’s because every kWh your panels generate is worth nearly twice as much as it would be in most other states.

What’s the Payback Period for Solar in Connecticut?

A useful metric for calculating how valuable solar panels will be for your home is the solar panel payback period, which tells you how long it will take for your energy savings to offset the price of solar panels for your home. The average payback period in Connecticut is just 8 years, with most residents paying off their panels between 5 and 11 years. For comparison, the national average payback period is 12 years, with a normal range of 9 to 15 years.

A faster payback period means you can start seeing net savings more quickly, and in Connecticut, where electricity prices are so high, those net savings are going to be substantial. The average electric bill in the state is $190.41 per month, well above the national average of $139.06. That means with an appropriately-sized system, you could save nearly $200 every single month.

A reputable solar installer can estimate your payback period for you, or you can use a solar calculator for a slightly less accurate estimate. If your estimated payback period is higher than 11 years, your panels will take longer than average to pay for themselves, and your return on investment (ROI) will be a little lower than the norm in Connecticut. Still, given the high electricity rates in the area, chances are your ROI will still be substantial. Keep in mind that the state average is just over $58,000, so even 50% of the average savings would be huge in Connecticut.

What Are Average Buy-Back Rates in Connecticut?

Many states have mandated a net metering policy or an energy buy-back program, both of which help homeowners reduce their expenses for incoming energy from the grid by overproducing power with their panels and selling it back to their utility providers.

Connecticut does mandate net metering for all public utilities with a program it calls Residential Renewable Energy Solutions, which replaced the traditional net metering policy that was in place before.

You’ll have to opt into one of two arrangements:

• Netting tariff: you earn credits determined by the retail rate of the energy you produce, plus $0.0318 per kWh in Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for Eversource customers.
• Buy all tariff: You earn $0.2943 per kWh your panels produce.

The net metering policy you have access to will depend on your electricity provider, so you’ll have to check with them to see what’s available.

If you have a less-than-ideal policy that gives you a below-retail rate for excess energy, you might want to consider installing a solar battery to help reduce energy fees. This will bump up your installation expenses by between $10,000 and $20,000 in most cases, but storage solutions almost always pay for themselves because of the high electricity rates in the state.

We should also mention that net metering policies have historically been in decline in the U.S. Most notably, in 2024, California, which has long been the most solar-friendly state in the country, decreased NEM credits by around 75% with NEM 3.0. This was a huge deal, and many states are expected to see a similar drop or a discontinuation of the program altogether. If you find that you don’t have access to a good net metering program when you’re ready to go solar, you can install batteries to get access to effective net metering, which will provide lower savings but still maximize savings based on your situation.

How Much Sun Does Your Roof Receive?

Solar panels only produce energy when they receive sunlight, so the more sun your roof receives, the more valuable panels will be for your home. On average, Connecticut residents experience 194 sunny days per year, which is just below the national average of 205 sunny days. This is often plenty of sun to justify installing panels, especially since each sunny day provides more value in terms of offsetting energy fees. There are some factors specific to your home that you need to consider as well. For example, the direction of your roof matters, as south- and west-facing roofs will get the most direct sunlight in the US. If you have shading on your roof from trees or nearby buildings, this will also make solar panels less valuable to you, especially if the shading occurs during peak sunlight hours.

What’s the Outlook on Solar in Connecticut?

Solar is more popular in Connecticut now than ever before, in part because of the recent launch of the Connecticut Property Assessed Clean Energy Program (C-PACE), which makes solar more accessible for commercial solar customers. However, residential solar panel installations have also steadily risen in prevalence over the past decade, as have utility-scale solar applications.

The solar policies in Connecticut aren’t the best, but the state as a whole is generally solar-friendly, and the state legislature lowers the barrier to entry for homeowners looking to install solar panels. As a result, the solar market in the state is growing rapidly and is expected to continue to expand.

With that being said, we do expect the net metering policy in Connecticut to decline in the future and eventually be phased out. Other states are seeing the same thing happen. If and when that does happen, solar batteries will be far more beneficial and potentially even a requirement to see long-term savings in Connecticut.

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Benefits of Solar Energy in Connecticut

Going solar in Connecticut provides massive savings in most cases, but you might be wondering where those savings come from. Below, we’ll discuss the primary benefits of installing solar panels and how they can positively affect your home.

Electricity Bill Savings

The most significant benefit of Connecticut solar panels is the reduction on your electric bills you’ll experience. The average CT resident uses only 711 kWh per month but pays a massive $190.41 each month for energy. This is the second-highest electric bill in the country, second only to Hawaii. If you can eliminate your electric bills — which many homeowners who go solar do — you can save around $2,284 per year. At that rate, you’ll pay off your system in just 8 years and enjoy an incredible savings of $58,012 over the lifespan of your equipment after the panels have paid for themselves! In reality, these savings could be even higher. Electricity rates have historically increased, and that trend is expected to continue. By going solar, you can effectively lock in your electricity rate for the 25+ years your panels are expected to perform.

Lower Taxes & Access to Other Incentives

The state and federal governments incentivize solar conversion by offering solar incentives to homeowners. One of the most substantial incentives is the federal solar investment tax credit, also called the ITC. The ITC is a credit to your federal income tax liability for the year you install and turn on your panels. It’s for 30% of your total solar photovoltaic (PV) system expense, which, in Connecticut, averages out to $7,853. There are some additional solar incentives available in Connecticut:

• Net Metering: Connecticut mandates net metering for public utilities, which means most homeowners will have the opportunity to offset energy bills by overproducing with their panels.
• Solar Loan Programs: Connecticut aims to make solar more accessible and affordable by providing access to state-funded and state-backed solar loans with reasonable interest rates and loan terms.
• Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems: The property tax exemption prevents your property taxes from spiking in response to the bump in home value your panels provide.
• Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Solar and Geothermal Systems: This sales tax exemption prevents you from having to pay the average 6.35% state sales tax on your solar equipment and installation.

Home Resale Value Increase

Solar panels bump up your property value, which is one of the most appealing upsides to installing panels for many homeowners. National data from Zillow suggests that the typical home will increase by around 4.1% in value with solar panel installation.³ The average home value in Connecticut is $381,620, meaning the typical jump in value will be around $15,646. Coupled with the property tax exemption in CT, this is an incredible incentive. Unfortunately, this value increase is only applicable if you acquire your panels with a cash purchase or solar financing. You won’t get the same benefit if you sign a solar lease or a power purchase agreement (PPA).

Clean, Renewable Energy

Some homeowners will go solar for the environmental benefits of converting to clean energy rather than the financial incentives. Regardless of your motivation, converting to solar power will reduce your carbon footprint and contribution to pollution. You’ll also increase your energy independence and limit your reliance on fossil fuels and on your power company.

What to Look Out For When Considering Solar in Connecticut

Even once you confirm that solar panels are a viable investment in Connecticut, there are still quite a few things you’ll need to consider before you dive into the conversion process. We’ll discuss some important factors below.

Upfront Fees

Every homeowner will need to consider the upfront fees of going solar, especially since the per-watt price for solar equipment in Connecticut is higher than the national average. You can keep your initial investment to a minimum by choosing affordable solar panel brands, avoiding add-on products like solar batteries and choosing a solar loan option that doesn’t require a significant — or any — down payment.

Payback Period

If you only use a single calculation to determine the value of solar panels on your property, the payback period is probably the best option. You can use a solar calculator to estimate your payback period, but having an experienced solar panel installation company do the math for you is your best option. If your payback period in Connecticut is longer than 11 years, just know that it will take you longer than average to pay off your system, and your ROI will be lower in the end. However, thanks to the high electricity rates in CT, even a longer payback period usually still leads to significant savings over time.

Net Metering Policies in Connecticut

Net metering is an excellent way to offset the price of energy you pull from the grid — like at night or on cloudy days — by sending excess power to the grid during periods of overproduction. Net metering is currently guaranteed in Connecticut to be offered by public utility companies, but the program specifics will depend on your provider. Sub-optimal policies usually don’t make converting not worth the money, but a battery storage option might be best if you’re looking for the most energy savings.

These policies are also changing rapidly throughout the country, so always check with your power company before pulling the trigger on solar.

Pending Policies & Changes to Incentives

The solar market in Connecticut is rapidly expanding, and the solar industry as a whole is improving and changing regularly. As such, some incentives discussed above may improve over time or could become unavailable. You’ll be passing up significant savings if you wait for better incentives or rebates to come along, but you should check for any updates to policies or programs before installing solar panels.

Weather & Climate in Connecticut

The weather in New England is generally conducive to installing and benefiting from solar panels. Connecticut as a whole receives 194 sunny days per year, which is just below the average and means plenty of sunlight for most homeowners to enjoy massive savings on their utility bills. Some solar customers are concerned with the abundant cloudy days, heavy precipitation and the chance of extreme weather. While solar panels will be less efficient on cloudy days, there is plenty of opportunity for your panels to use the available sunlight to offset electric rates. With a positive net metering program, cloudy days shouldn’t be an issue. Similarly, rain will just serve to keep your panels clean and at peak production for better weather. Extreme weather — including tropical storms and hurricanes — isn’t too much of a problem, but choosing a solar panel installer that provides a nice warranty certainly can’t hurt.

Companies Pushing Solar Leases or PPAs

Finally, you need to be on the lookout for solar installers that don’t have your best interests at heart or try to push you into less beneficial arrangements. For example, some companies advertise “free panels.” The panels aren’t really free, and these companies are just trying to get you to sign a solar lease or power purchase agreement. Solar leases aren’t usually beneficial, as they come with a much lower return on investment, don’t increase your property value and don’t let you take the federal tax credit. Unfortunately, there are some solar scams occurring throughout Connecticut, which typically take the form of companies posing as representatives of electric companies or pushing less-than-ideal arrangements and over-promising savings or incentives. The CT Mirror published an article about scams where customers end up paying massive prices for their equipment only to find that the energy savings promised aren’t there.⁴ It’s crucial that you only work with vetted and reputable solar companies with a history of success in your area.

Wrap Up: Is Solar Worth it in Connecticut?

Installing solar panels is well worth the initial investment for most Connecticut homeowners, especially given that the state sees the second-highest energy bills in the country and the third-highest electricity rates that can be offset by solar power systems. However, solar isn’t right for everyone, so you’ll need to determine if panels will benefit you and your home before committing. You’ll want to consider several things to figure out if solar is a worthwhile investment, including your estimated panel payback period, the amount of sunlight your roof gets, your average monthly energy bill, the direction your roof faces, and more. We strongly recommend contacting a reliable solar company to help you decide if solar is a good option.

See also: Calculate how much you can save by going solar

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Related Topics

• What Are the Most Reliable Solar Installers in Connecticut?
• What Connecticut Solar Incentives Are Available in 2022?
• Find Cost Savings on Solar in Connecticut

The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.