A Guide to Connecticut's Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Program
Connecticut has emerged as a frontrunner in solar power within the Northeast region. Despite having some of the highest electricity prices, reaching as high as $0.30 per kilowatt hour in 2023, there lies a substantial opportunity for solar savings.
In January 2022, Connecticut introduced the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) program, supplanting the Residential Solar Investment Program. This program provides homeowners with two compensation methods for their solar installations, offering a high degree of flexibility in tailoring a system to meet their future energy requirements. The RRES program underscores Connecticut's dedication to renewable energy and presents considerable advantages to homeowners.
Understanding RRES
The RRES offers customers two ways to compensate for their solar power generated: the ‘Netting Tariff’ or the ‘Buy All, Sell All’ option.
The majority of customers opt for the Netting Tariff, which essentially emulates traditional net metering. However, unlike net metering, credits are issued in dollars rather than kilowatt hours. This feature is particularly advantageous because solar energy cannot offset certain fixed charges in most cases with net metering. Nevertheless, under the netting tariff, it's possible to potentially entirely offset every charge on your bill with the monetary credits issued from Eversource or United Illuminating. The monetary value per kilowatt hour is linked to the retail rate of electricity, meaning the amount credited to your bill per kilowatt-hour can fluctuate over time with the cost of electricity.
The alternative option is the Buy All, Sell All option. Here, 100% of the electricity generated is sent to the grid, and you earn a fixed tariff for the exported energy. This option is less popular because the rate per kilowatt hour generated remains fixed. Consequently, in instances where the utility's electricity cost exceeds the rate for selling power to the grid, you would still have remaining charges with your utility, even if you generated the same amount of kilowatt hours as you consumed.
The Flexibility of RRES
An integral aspect of the RRES is its provisions for homeowners contemplating an electric vehicle or heat pump in the future. Many utility programs for solar impose limitations on estimated solar production based on historical electricity usage. Connecticut takes a notably progressive stance by allowing homeowners to account for future energy needs, enabling them to future-proof their designed systems. This program ranks among the best in the country for crediting solar production, and we encourage CT homeowners to obtain multiple quotes from local installers to identify the system and metering option that best suits their needs.