Cut your United Illuminating bills, lock in Connecticut's strong state incentives, and protect against rising electricity rates. Local solar expertise, right here in Cheshire.
Cheshire is one of Connecticut's most attractive markets for solar — a high-income suburban community with strong home values, growing electric bills, and residents who can benefit from Connecticut's state incentive programs that remain active even without the federal tax credit.
United Illuminating residential customers in Cheshire pay roughly $0.0834/kWh as of May 2026, among the highest utility rates in the Northeast. An 8–10 kW solar system can offset 70–90% of a typical Cheshire home's electric bill.
Even with the federal residential tax credit expired as of January 1, 2026, Connecticut state programs deliver $50,000+ in value over 25 years for a typical solar installation.
UI customers in Cheshire qualify for the RRES program — your solar system earns credits at the full retail electricity rate when you sell power back to the grid. At current UI rates of $0.0834/kWh, this is significantly more valuable than older net metering programs. Credits appear as bill credits monthly.
CT's ESS program pays $250/kWh for qualifying battery storage systems, up to $13,500 for large residential installations. A typical 10–13 kWh home battery earns $2,500–$3,250 upfront. Combine with solar and you get backup power during outages plus bill management flexibility.
Connecticut exempts all solar energy equipment from the 6.35% state sales tax. For an 11 kW system at approximately $2.98/watt ($32,780 gross), that exemption saves approximately $2,082 upfront — no paperwork required at the point of purchase.
Connecticut's 100% property tax exemption for solar installations means adding solar to your Cheshire home does NOT increase your assessed value for property tax purposes. In a town where median home values exceed $315K, this protects against thousands in annual tax increases.
Loans at 4.49%–6.99% APR for solar installations up to $75,000, terms of 5–12 years. Green Bank financing makes solar accessible without large upfront cash outlay. The Smart-E loan program is administered through participating CT lenders.
Here's a realistic picture of what solar looks like for a Cheshire homeowner, based on current UI rates and CT incentives:
Cheshire is served by United Illuminating (UI), not Eversource. UI's 2026 residential rate is approximately $0.0834/kWh. Solar systems in UI territory earn RRES bill credits at the full UI retail rate — making solar particularly valuable in UI service areas.
The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25C) expired January 1, 2026 for residential installations. However, Connecticut state programs — RRES, ESS battery incentive, sales tax exemption, property tax exemption, and Smart-E loans — still deliver substantial financial benefits. A typical Cheshire homeowner still sees $50,000+ in 25-year value.
No. Connecticut's 100% property tax exemption for solar energy systems means the added value from your solar installation does NOT increase your assessed property value. In a town with median home values over $315,000, this is a meaningful protection.
Under RRES, you will receive monthly bill credits for excess power your system generates. A properly sized system will minimize your net usage. You may pay only a small connection fee ($15–$25/month) plus any residual usage during low-production months.
Yes. Connecticut receives approximately 4–4.5 peak sun hours daily — comparable to much of the Northeast. Solar panels in Cheshire produce roughly 75–85% of their rated output in winter and 100–115% in summer. Snow coverage is brief and panels recover output quickly.
Most residential solar installations in Connecticut take 1–3 days to install after permits are secured. Permit timelines in Cheshire typically run 2–4 weeks through the local building department. Total project timeline: approximately 6–10 weeks from signed contract to full activation.
Find out exactly what solar would save you — no obligation, no pressure. We look at your specific roof, UI rate, and usage to give you real numbers.