Is Solar Right for Your CT Home? Why 2025 Matters - We Share Real Thoughts...

Here’s the truth: some Connecticut homes are perfect for solar—and some aren’t. Roof angle, shade, age, and your utility’s rules can make or break the numbers. That’s why our message is two-fold: (1) 2025 is an unusually good year to make a go/no-go decision, and (2) we’re happy to give you an honest, no-strings review of your home so you can either move forward with confidence or choose to hold off on your solar project, no matter which company you are using.

Why the timing is urgent (the 2026 rule change)

Two things are changing that can tilt the math against new residential solar starting January 1, 2026:

• A new nonbypassable charge will be built into Connecticut’s Netting solar tariff “at a rate equal to at least 3.25¢/kWh,” with the state requiring adjustments so Buy-All pays a similar overall value. That’s written into Public Act 25-173 (the big 2025 energy bill). Enroll in 2025 and you avoid the new 2026 Netting charge structure for your 20-year term.  

• For 2025 Netting projects, Eversource added a smaller, on-bill Solar Energy Adjustment of $0.005/kWh (½ cent) on total production—fixed for 20 years once you enroll. (UI shows the same figure in its 2025 tables.)  

Bottom line: locking in a 2025 enrollment generally means friendlier terms for 20 years than starting in 2026. If you’re on the fence, it’s smart to get your site evaluated now. 

Who’s a great fit for solar in Connecticut?

• Sunny roof with lots of south/southwest exposure and minimal midday shade (tree canopies are often the #1 deal-breaker).

• Roof in good shape (ideally <10–12 years old or recently replaced).

• Simple rooflines (fewer dormers/valleys = cleaner layout, better production).

• Reasonable interconnection with Eversource or UI under the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) program (Netting or Buy-All).  

Who might not be a good fit (for now)

• Heavily shaded homes or north-facing roofs.

• Aging roofs that will need replacement soon (it’s better to reroof first, some companies will pay for all or most of a re-roof).

• Complex or small roof areas that can’t hold enough panels to make the numbers work.

• Homes with unique wiring/metering constraints that add cost without adding savings.

The benefits (when your home fits)

• Lower, more predictable bills and a hedge against future rate swings.

• 20-year locked terms under your selected tariff once you enroll.  

• Battery readiness: CT’s Energy Storage Solutions incentives can reduce battery costs and add backup resilience.  

• Local impact: more clean generation on our grid over the long term (RRES is designed to scale residential clean energy).  

The trade-offs (let’s be real)

• Up-front or financed cost and today’s loan rates can stretch payback.

• Winter production dips and occasional snow coverage, thought it takes more than an inch or two to really effect things.

• Aesthetic considerations and roof penetrations (licensed installers mitigate this).

• Policy complexity: Connecticut’s rules are clear but nuanced—Netting vs. Buy-All, metering, and line-item adjustments (like the Solar Energy Adjustment in 2025 or the 2026 nonbypassable charge for Netting).  

  
  

Netting vs. Buy-All (super short version)

• Netting: Your home uses your solar first; excess is credited at the retail rate, plus applicable REC/adder rules—but 2025 Netting adds a $0.005/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment, and 2026 Netting adds a ≥3.25¢/kWh nonbypassable charge under the new law.  

• Buy-All: You sell all solar to the utility at a fixed, PURA-approved rate and buy your household usage as usual; the law directs PURA to keep Buy-All’s value substantially similar to Netting.  

Not every home is right—and that’s okay

No matter what anyone tells you, solar isn’t a fit for every roof. And that’s exactly why we’re offering to help with no strings attached. We’ve spent years in the CT market and can quickly assess shade, roof age/layout, and utility program details. If your home pencils out, great—you can take our findings and choose the company you like. If it doesn’t pencil out, we’ll say so—and keep you from being taken advantage of.

Want a free, honest read on your home? Reach out and we’ll give you a straightforward thumbs-up or thumbs-down along with next steps, no pressure.

Just email us: thefarmingtonvalley@gmail.com with a good way to contact you and we will help you decide what's actually best.

Sources for the program/fee details mentioned above:

• Eversource 2025 Residential incentives page (shows the $0.005/kWh Solar Energy Adjustment for Netting and 20-year lock-ins).  

• UI’s 2025 incentive table (also shows the –$0.005/kWh production adjustment for Netting).  

• PURA’s Residential Renewable Energy Solutions overview (program structure and updates).  

• Public Act 25-173 (SB 4, 2025)—connects a ≥3.25¢/kWh nonbypassable charge to Netting beginning Jan 1, 2026, and requires Buy-All to be kept substantially similar in value.