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Solar in Connecticut
At 24.32¢ per kWh and 1252 kWh of production per kW each year, a household paying $200 a month needs a 7.41 kW system. Paid in cash, it returns its $20,153 cost in 8.8 yr.
What we don't know yet
Two prices, two answers
Payback 8.8 yr — at competitive quoted prices ($2.72/W, EnergySage 2026): net cost $20,153, 25-year net $46,443.
Payback 14.7 yr — at typical reported prices ($4.60/W, LBNL 2023): net cost $34,082, 25-year net $32,514.
The gap is methodology, not staleness: the first what you get if you shop around for competitive quotes; the second what the average buyer actually paid, as recorded in permit and incentive data. Every table below uses quoted prices. Why we show both.
By monthly bill
| Your bill | Use / yr | System | Panels | Net cost | Payback | 25-yr net (cash) | Lease, year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100/mo | 4,342 kWh | 3.47 kW | 9 | $9,433 | 9.4 yr | $18,787 | $317 |
| $150/mo | 6,809 kWh | 5.44 kW | 14 | $14,793 | 9 yr | $32,615 | $497 |
| $200/mo | 9,276 kWh | 7.41 kW | 19 | $20,153 | 8.8 yr | $46,443 | $677 |
| $300/mo | 14,211 kWh | 11.35 kW | 29 | $30,873 | 8.6 yr | $74,097 | $1,037 |
Cash, loan or lease — at $200 a month
| How you pay | 25-year net | Upfront | Year 1 | Payback / cash flow | Federal credit to you |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $46,443 | $20,153 | $2,106 | 8.8 yr | $0 |
| Loan $156/mo · 6.99% APR · 20 yr | $29,126 | $0 | $232 | cash-flow neutral from year 1 (+$232/yr) | $0 |
| Lease / PPA | $18,997 | $0 | $677 | immediate (+$677 in year 1) | $0 |
The 30% federal credit goes to the system owner, not to you. It is reflected in the rate you are offered. The owner claims it at 30% under IRC 48E.
The inputs, and where they came from
| Input | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residential electricity rate | 24.32¢/kWh | U.S. EIA API v2, electricity/retail-sales, residential sector, 2026-06 |
| Specific yield | 1252 kWh/kW/yr | NLR (formerly NREL) PVWatts v8 API, 1 kW reference system (state:CT) |
| Installed cost | $2.72/W | EnergySage Marketplace real-quote average, as of Sep 2026; page updated 2026-08-28 · LBNL Tracking the Sun 2023 median: $4.6/W, reference only |
| Export compensation | full retail net metering · 100% | Full retail net metering — not yet verified against the tariff |
| Federal credit, purchase | 0% | IRC 25D (expired) |
| Federal credit, third-party owner | 30% | IRC 48E (Clean Electricity Investment Credit) |
| State incentives | $0 | No upfront statewide credit or rebate for a typical owner-occupier (verified) |