What is the solar score for Connecticut?

Connecticut has a solar score of 41/100 (Moderate), ranking #9 of 51. The composite blends solar irradiance (4.1 kWh/m²/day, 40%), incentive density (30%), and modeled payback (30%).

How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves in Connecticut?

The estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Connecticut is 8.9 years, ranking #3 of 51 for speed to break-even. At a $18,300 system cost and $2,047/year modeled savings, that implies +$32,875 net over 25 years before rate escalation.

How much does a solar system cost in Connecticut?

A 6 kW residential system in Connecticut averages $18,300 before incentives, or $3.05 per watt. Connecticut has 4 tracked state and utility incentive programs that can lower net cost.

How much electricity do solar panels produce in Connecticut?

A 6 kW system in Connecticut produces an estimated 7,183 kWh/year, based on average irradiance of 4.1 kWh/m²/day. Actual output varies with roof orientation, shading, and panel efficiency.

What solar incentives are available in Connecticut?

Connecticut offers 4 solar incentive programs including tax exemption, loan program, rebate, and more. Net metering here is classified as full.

Does Connecticut have net metering for solar?

Connecticut's net-metering policy is classified as "full." Homeowners receive full retail credit for excess solar exported to the grid.

State solar profile · #9 of 51

Solar in Connecticut: fast payback · high rates

Name: Connecticut Solar Data, Cost, Incentives & ROI
Creator: PlainSolarData
Published: 2024-10-01
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Connecticut clears a modeled 8.9-yr break-even (#3 of 51) at 28.5¢/kWh and 4.1 kWh/m²/day, with 4 DSIRE programs in the stack.

4.1
kWh/m²/day irradiance: 28.5¢
avg electricity rate: 8.9 yr
payback (#3): 4
incentive programs

41 Moderate

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Form 860 capacity strip

Nameplate CT · Connecticut score #9/51

Connecticut | 41/100 | 8.9 yr payback | 323 MW

RATE 41/100
PAY #9/51
CAP 4.1 kWh
PROG 28.5c/kWh
NEM 8.9 yr
PHOTO 323 MW
BOOK 4 programs
VS-AVG near Massachusetts

Stamps derive from this state's NREL irradiance, EIA Form 860 / Electric Power Monthly nameplate, and DSIRE incentive row (score, rank, sun, rate, payback, capacity, programs, peer), not a quote or site assessment. Modeled figures use a typical 6 kW system; your roof, shading, and utility tariff decide the real return. See our disclaimer. Verify with EIA Form 860 → · Read with methodology → · Net-metering guide → · Personalized estimate → · All state rows → · States ranked → · Payback vs U.S. avg (14.2 yr): 5.3 yr faster

CT

9
MA

9
ME

9
RI

10
NH

10
AZ

10

What this shows Connecticut sits at 8.9 years among nearest payback peers (5.3 yr faster vs the 14.2-yr U.S. average).

Fast-band 25-year ROI · Connecticut

$18,300

system cost

$2,047/yr

modeled savings

8.9 yr

break-even

+$32,875

25-year net

At $18,300 and $2,047/yr, Connecticut is already in the faster third of modeled paybacks. Roof, shading, and tariff still move the real number. Run a personalized estimate →

Installed solar capacity in Connecticut, 2013–2024

Total solar nameplate capacity in Connecticut reported to the EIA, utility-scale and reported distributed systems. The number of reporting facilities grew 79x (1 to 79) between 2013 and 2024, and the average site size held near 4 MW per site, a steady installation profile.

Connecticut now has about 323 MW of installed solar capacity across 79 reported facilities.

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

Connecticut: modest sun, still fast payback

Irradiance 4.1 kWh/m²/day (below the 4.8 national mean) vs 8.9-yr payback (fast band vs 14.2-yr mean). Crosshairs mark those means.

Connecticut (highlighted): 4.1 kWh/m²/day, 8.9-yr modeled payback - faster than the national average.

Source: PlainSolarData model, NREL irradiance + EIA rates As of 2024

Solar & grid details

Net-metering policy: full
Renewable portfolio standard: Mandatory (44% by 2030)
Installed cost / watt: $3.05/W
Annual production (6 kW): 7,183 kWh
Installed capacity (EIA 2024): 323 MW
Notable programs: CT Green Bank Solar Loan, ZREC Program

Top incentive programs

4 programs available for Connecticut residents

Tax exemption CT Solar Property Tax Exemption · Full property tax exemption Loan program CT Green Bank Smart-E Loan · Low-interest financing Rebate CT Residential Solar Investment Program · Upfront incentive, varies by class SREC / renewable credit Connecticut ZREC/LREC Program · Contract price varies

All Connecticut solar incentives (4)

Tax exemption

CT Solar Property Tax Exemption

Full property tax exemption

Connecticut fully exempts residential solar systems from property tax.

Loan program

CT Green Bank Smart-E Loan

Low-interest financing

Connecticut Green Bank offers subsidized smart-E loans for solar and storage installations.

Rebate

CT Residential Solar Investment Program

Upfront incentive, varies by class

Eversource and UI customers can receive upfront solar incentives through the RSI program.

SREC / renewable credit

Connecticut ZREC/LREC Program

Contract price varies

Zero-emission and low-emission renewable energy certificates provide long-term revenue.

Other fast-payback peers for Connecticut

Two non-geographic peer sets for Connecticut: composite score neighbors and payback-year neighbors (deduped so each row links a distinct comparison).

Similar composite solar score

Nearest nationwide matches on the NREL/EIA/DSIRE blend (41/100 here).

Massachusetts · score 41/100
Utah · score 40/100
New York · score 38/100
Colorado · score 45/100

Similar modeled payback

Nearest payback-year peers nationwide (8.9 yr modeled here).

Maine · 9.3 yr payback
Rhode Island · 9.7 yr payback
New Hampshire · 9.8 yr payback

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published composite scores and modeled 6 kW payback years; rankings above use the same fields but sort the full corpus.

Solar resource from NREL; electricity rates and installed capacity from the U.S. EIA; incentive programs from DSIRE. See our methodology.

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher. · Updated July 2026