Solar Incentives in New Haven
Federal credit: ended after 2025
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit under IRC Section 25D ended for installations completed after December 31, 2025. Public Law 119-21 terminated the credit for expenditures after that date. IRS: Residential Clean Energy Credit; Public Law 119-21, section 70506.
Under Section 25D(e)(8)(A), an expenditure is treated as made when the original installation is completed. Signing a contract or paying before the cutoff does not preserve the credit for an installation completed later. IRS: completion-date rule, FAQ 7.
Connecticut RRES and your utility
Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) compensates residential solar generation through utility tariffs. Launched in January 2022 as a six-year program, it replaced legacy net metering and the Residential Solar Incentive Program (RSIP). It was established under Public Act 19-35, codified at CGS 16-244z. PURA: RRES program.
United Illuminating (UI) serves New Haven in New Haven County, Connecticut, and administers RRES for its customers there. Eversource also administers RRES in its own territory. Confirm the utility on your electric bill before applying. UI: service territory; PURA: RRES program.
Buy-All: all system generation is exported to the grid, and you buy the electricity used in your home from UI. Netting: generation can serve your home first, with bill credits for electricity exported to the grid. These are separate RRES tariff options. UI: residential solar tariffs.
Connecticut property-tax exemption
CGS 12-81(57)(A)(i) exempts qualifying renewable electricity systems for private residential use. Conditions include installation on or after October 1, 2007, a single-family or two-to-four-unit dwelling, and estimated annual generation no greater than the property's estimated annual load. Tariff participation or third-party ownership alone does not disqualify a system. CGS 12-81(57)(A)(i) and (E).
A written exemption application must be filed with the local assessor under CGS 12-81(57)(E). New Haven's published personal-property declaration identifies Form M-44 for Class I renewable energy exemptions. CGS 12-81(57)(A)(i) and (E); New Haven: declaration referencing M-44.
Ask the New Haven assessor: Which current Form M-44 should I file for my residential solar system, what supporting records are required, how should I submit it, and what deadline applies to my assessment year? We could not confirm the City's current residential filing instructions or deadline; confirm them directly before relying on an exemption. New Haven assessor: forms and applications.
Connecticut sales-tax exemption
CGS 12-412(117)(A) exempts sales and use of solar electricity-generating systems, related equipment, and services relating to their installation. Ask your installer and tax adviser to identify which items in your proposal qualify and how the exemption is documented. CGS 12-412(117).
Battery storage: Energy Storage Solutions
Energy Storage Solutions is a battery-storage program for Eversource and UI customers, administered by the Connecticut Green Bank and the utilities under PURA oversight. Ask the program administrator whether your battery, installer and proposed enrollment qualify under the current rules. Energy Storage Solutions.
Questions for each ownership arrangement
Purchase
Ask the installer to document system ownership and the recipient of each proposed program benefit.
Loan
Ask the lender and installer to explain ownership, repayment obligations and each incentive assumption separately.
Lease
Ask the lessor who owns the equipment, who receives tariff benefits, and what maintenance and transfer terms apply.
Power purchase agreement (PPA)
Ask the PPA provider how electricity purchases are measured, who owns the equipment, and who receives program benefits.
Before comparing proposals, read how quote matching works and bring these questions to the installer. For help finding information on this site, contact Solar Panels New Haven.
Solar incentive questions
Can I claim the federal credit for solar completed in 2026?
No. Section 25D ended for installations completed after December 31, 2025. An earlier contract or payment does not preserve the credit for a later installation.
IRS: Residential Clean Energy Credit; IRS: completion-date rule, FAQ 7.
Which programs should I review for a New Haven home?
Review UI's RRES tariffs, Connecticut's qualifying solar property-tax and sales-tax exemptions, and Energy Storage Solutions for batteries. Ask UI, the New Haven assessor and your tax adviser to confirm your eligibility.
UI: residential solar tariffs; CGS 12-81(57)(A)(i) and (E); CGS 12-412(117); Energy Storage Solutions.
What is the difference between Buy-All and Netting?
Under UI's Buy-All option, all generation goes to the grid and the home buys its electricity from UI. Under Netting, solar can supply the home first and exported electricity receives bill credits. Ask UI to explain the current tariff terms for your application.
Does a loan, lease or PPA preserve a homeowner's federal credit?
No payment arrangement preserves Section 25D for an installation completed after December 31, 2025. Ask a lender about loan obligations, a lessor about lease terms, or a PPA provider about electricity-purchase terms; ask each who receives any Connecticut program benefits.
How do I claim the residential property-tax exemption?
Ask the New Haven assessor for the current residential Form M-44, supporting-document requirements, submission method and filing deadline for your assessment year. The statute requires a written application to the local assessor. This site's review did not confirm the City's current residential filing details.
CGS 12-81(57)(A)(i) and (E); New Haven: declaration referencing M-44; New Haven assessor: forms and applications.
Is legacy net metering the same as RRES?
No. PURA describes RRES as the replacement for legacy net metering and RSIP, launched in January 2022. Ask UI which program applies to your existing system or new application.
Will a tariff option eliminate my electric bill?
Ask UI to explain which charges remain under your proposed tariff and ask the installer to show how household usage and exported generation are treated. Do not assume that enrolling eliminates your bill.