Rhode Island · Performance incentive · Deep-stack program

RI Renewable Energy Growth (REG) Program

Pays residential solar owners in Rhode Island based on actual output -- see the rate, eligibility, and how it changes payback below.

$0.16-$0.18/kWh
stated benefit
Residential
eligible customers
9.7 yr
Rhode Island baseline payback
3
other Rhode Island programs
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Deep-stack program · mid directory

Rhode Island runs a 4-program DSIRE stack; this performance incentive is one layer on a 9.7-year modeled baseline, not the whole story.

  • Stack4 programs
  • In-state #2/3
  • Type #4/8
  • Baseline9.7 yr

In-state directory place #2 of 3 (mid alphabet). National performance incentive directory #4 of 8. Amounts and eligibility change; verify with the official program page before relying on a dollar figure. Informational only - not financial advice. See our disclaimer.

Program description

National Grid customers earn long-term production payments through the REG program.

Program at a glance

Program type
Performance incentive
Eligible customers
Residential
Stated benefit
$0.16-$0.18/kWh for 15 years
State electricity rate
26¢/kWh
Rhode Island solar score
37/100
Visit the official program page

Solar's trajectory in Rhode Island

The market this incentive operates in: total installed solar capacity in Rhode Island reported to the EIA.

0 MW100 MW200 MW300 MW400 MW500 MW 201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 419 MW
Rhode Island now has about 419 MW of installed solar, the backdrop programs like this one are built on.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, installed solar nameplate capacity As of 2024

Rhode Island's solar incentive stack

How this performance incentive sits among Rhode Island's 3 tracked programs, by type

programs

What this shows Rhode Island tracks 3 incentive types, 1 of them performance-based like this one -- paid on actual output rather than a one-time credit, stacking with the state's other program types.

Source DSIRE incentives registry As of 2024

How this performance incentive layers inside Rhode Island's deep stack

The RI Renewable Energy Growth (REG) Program pays based on actual measured generation rather than a one-time credit, one of Rhode Island's DSIRE-tracked solar incentive programs. Eligibility is scoped to residential customers, with a stated benefit of $0.16-$0.18/kWh for 15 years. DSIRE lists no scheduled sunset, though enabling legislation and appropriations can still be revised year to year.

That's the backdrop this incentive works against. Rhode Island averages 4.2 kWh/m²/day of usable sunlight and residential rates of 26¢/kWh, producing an estimated 7,358 kWh/year and $1,913 of annual utility offset on a typical 6 kW system costing $18,600. That baseline already implies a 9.7-year simple payback and a 25-year modeled net of roughly $29,225 before this incentive - every dollar this performance incentive delivers compresses that payback further.

Rhode Island bundles a deep incentive stack, so this program rarely stands alone. Rhode Island has 4 solar incentive programs indexed in DSIRE, including adjacent options like RI Solar Property Tax Exemption, RI Net Metering. The state's net-metering policy is classified as full, which governs how excess generation is credited and often decides whether a given program is worth claiming for a specific household.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the RI Renewable Energy Growth (REG) Program sit in Rhode Island's deep program stack?
The RI Renewable Energy Growth (REG) Program is a performance incentive available to residential solar customers in Rhode Island. The stated benefit is $0.16-$0.18/kWh for 15 years.
How does this performance incentive work beside Rhode Island's other programs?
National Grid customers earn long-term production payments through the REG program.
Who is eligible for the RI Renewable Energy Growth (REG) Program?
The program is available to residential customers in Rhode Island. Check the official program page for current eligibility requirements and deadlines. In-state directory place #2 of 3 (mid alphabet).
How does this incentive affect solar ROI in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has an estimated 9.7-year payback for a 6 kW system before incentives, with about $1,913/year in modeled savings. A performance incentive like this lowers upfront cost or raises annual return, shortening that payback. Run the calculator for a figure based on your own bill.
Which other Rhode Island programs stack with this one?
Rhode Island has 4 solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE, including RI Solar Property Tax Exemption, RI Net Metering. State programs are designed to stack on top of any available federal solar tax credit rather than replace it.

Incentive data from the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency); state solar economics from NREL and the U.S. EIA. See our methodology · Rhode Island solar data · ROI calculator · All incentives.