Rebates

Energize Connecticut, funded by Connecticut's public benefits charge, provides home energy efficiency rebate programs to customers of Connecticut Light and Power Company, United Illuminating Company, Connecticut Natural Gas, Southern Connecticut Gas, and Yankee Gas customers. In order to participate the customer can contact their utility or contact 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873) for more information.

The Home Energy Solutions program is divided into three categories- Core Services, Income Eligible, and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR. All three Home Energy Solutions program begins with a free energy assessment of the home. The contractor will provide an energy audit of the home including energy-efficiency measures, energy

The Energize CT program has an offering designed to encourage the construction of energy efficient homes. The Residential New Construction Program offers incentives targeted at increasing energy efficiency in several important stages in the construction process. Certified HERS raters work with customers' building teams throughout construction. Program incentives vary based upon the final HERS scores, and whether dwelling is a single or multi-family residence.

The program is administered by participating utilities, including Eversource Energy, United Illuminating (UI), Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG). Interested customers are required to complete the "Initial Plan" section of the application and

The Energize Connecticut (CT) program is a joint initiative between the CT Energy Efficiency Fund, CT Green Bank, the State of CT and local/state electric and gas utilities designed to provide businesses and residents of CT access to resources needed to save energy. Within this program are rebates offered for Eversource, United Illuminating (UI), CT Natural Gas (CNG), and Southern CT Gas Company (SCG) customers.

Electric customers of Eversource and UI are eligible for electric equipment rebates funded by the Combined Public Benefits Charge, while customers of CNG, SCG, and Eversource receive rebates funded through a conservation charge included in

NOTE: Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the DOE and BCAP websites.

The Connecticut Office of the State Building Inspector establishes and enforces building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and energy code requirements by reviewing, developing, adopting and administering the state building code. Compliance is determined through construction documents submitted to the relevant local building official showing detailed building data and features, and equipment systems governed under the code. Variances and

Connecticut’s 1998 electric restructuring legislation established the Renewable Energy Investment Fund.*  The Renewable Energy Investment Fund was later renamed the Clean Energy Fund, which the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA)** -- a quasi-governmental investment organization -- was given the authority to administer. In operation since 2000, the Clean Energy Fund has aimed to develop, invest in, and promote, sustainable energy sources. A surcharge on Connecticut ratepayers' utility bills provides the funding for the Clean Energy Fund, and the charge currently stands at "not less than" $0.001 per kWh (1 mill per kWh).

CEFIA was given a significant amount

Connecticut Green Bank offers green energy solutions to home, building and multifamily property owners, residential and commercial contractors, towns and cities, and even capital providers. Learn more about their programs here. A list of incentives for each property owner is included below. For more information on the Connecticut Green Bank visit the DSIRE Connecticut Clean Energy Fund program listing.

Homeowners

• Smart-E Loan: No money down, low-interest financing with flexible terms to help you upgrade your home’s energy performance. Almost any home improvement project that reduces energy use and lowers costs may qualify.
• Residential Solar Investment Program (RSIP): he

The State of Connecticut have renewable energy development initiatives including a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and renewable energy procurement targets. By 2030, this state plans to meet 48% of their electrical demand using renewable energy. See the website for details.

History

In April 2004, Connecticut's governor signed an executive order directing state government agencies and universities to purchase an increasing amount of electricity generated by renewable resources. Under terms of the order, the state government has a goal to increase "Class I" renewable energy purchases to 20% of electricity used in 2010, 50% in 2020 and 100% in 2050. The

Note: Effective March 29, 2023, the CHEAPR program is a point-of-sale (POS) rebate. Customers can receive their CHEAPR rebate at the dealer.

The Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) offers incentives for Connecticut residents who purchase or lease fuel cell electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or battery electric vehicles. The incentive value will vary depending on the fuel type. Adders are available for qualified individuals under Rebate+ New and Rebate+ Used; to qualify, a customer must either 1) reside in an Environmental Justice Community or Distressed Municipality, 2) participate in a qualifying state or federal program (e.g. SNAP or

NOTE: Year 3 of the competitive solicitation for the program ended on February 2015, next round is anticipated to be opened on April, 2015. 

In July 2011, Connecticut enacted legislation amending the state's Renewables Portfolio Standard and creating two new classes of renewable energy credits (RECs): Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credits (ZRECs) and Low Emission Renewable Energy Credits (LRECs).

ZREC

The state's two investor-owned electric utilities, United Illuminating (UI) and Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) must enter into 15-year contracts for RECs from zero-emission "Class I" renewable energy facilities (on the customer side of the meter) larger than 100 kilowatts (kW)

The Clean Energy Communities program, offered by the Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, offers incentives for communities that pledge their support for energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy.

In order to participate in the program, a municipality must meet three requirements:

1. The municipality must make the Municipal Energy Efficiency Pledge and reduce municipal building energy consumption 20% from baseline levels by 2018.

2. Commit to the Municipal Clean, Renewable Energy Pledge and purchase 20% of municipal buildings’ energy use by 2018 from renewable sources;

3. Achieve milestones in support of energy efficiency and

Electric motor vehicles registered in the state of Colorado have a reduced triennial fee of $57.

Energize Connecticut offers rebates for various energy efficient upgrades for commercial and residential customers. The Rebate requirements, amounts and average costs are all listed on the website above.

Energy Efficiency Loans are available through the Capital for Change, Inc. to owners of one- to four-family homes . Some programs have established income limits and location requirements. Interest rates vary in accordance with the borrower's family size and income, and the loan may be repaid over up to 12 years. For certain programs, single-family homes can receive a 0% interest rate if the family has below a 50% Median Income.

Applications for these programs are available from the program web site above. In addition to the application, the borrower must submit copies of the past two years' federal tax

Connecticut Sustainable Energy Funds

Connecticut's original electric-industry restructuring legislation (Public Act 98-28), enacted in April 1998, created separate funds to support energy efficiency and renewable energy.* The efficiency fund is known as the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF), and the renewables fund is known as the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF). The mission of the Energy Efficiency Fund is to advance the efficient use of energy, to reduce air pollution and negative environmental impacts, and to promote economic development and energy security.

The Energy Efficiency Fund is funded by a surcharge of $0.003 per kilowatt-hour (3 mills per

Connecticut homeowners and customers of Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) and United Illuminating Company (UI) may apply for financing for eligible energy efficiency upgrades through the Home Energy Solutions Program. Eligible homes include single- and two-family homes and condos as well as vacation (second) homes. Capital for Change administers the program. For more information refer to the program's website.
       

 

Public Act No. 06-187, enacted in 2006, required the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, in consultation with several other state agencies, to adopt building construction regulations for state facilities. The construction standards must be consistent with or exceed the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver rating for new commercial construction and major renovation projects, or receive a two-globe rating under the Green Globes USA design program, or other equivalent standard. The regulations state that the base minimum energy performance for all building projects must be 21% better than the Connecticut State Building Code or ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004, whichever

Note: The MW approved through this program will be counted towards the state's energy storage targets.

The Energy Storage Solutions Program provides incentives to residential and commercial customers to install energy storage systems. The program is administered by the Connecticut Green Bank, though the incentives are provided through the state's utilities, Eversource and United Illuminating. The program will run for nine years, from 2022 through 2030.

The program has a cap of 580 MW, spread across three tranches. Tranche 1 is open for the first three years of the program -- 2022 through 2024. The Tranche 1 capacity

Note: Eversource will open the Year 7 Small ZREC Tariff Program on Monday, April 1, 2019 at 1 p.m. Eastern. Therefore, the two-week window (as described in the posted Rules & Process for Submitting Applications for the Small ZREC Tariff below) will close at 1 p.m. Eastern on Monday, April 15, 2019.

In July 2011, Connecticut enacted legislation amending the state's Renewables Portfolio Standard and creating two new classes of renewable energy credits (RECs): Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credits (ZRECs) and Low Emission Renewable Energy Credits (LRECs). A Zero Emission Renewable Energy Facility is one that produces no emissions, such

Groton Utilities offers rebates to customers who purchase or lease electric vehicles. Groton Utilities offers a $2,000 rebate for the first 20 EV purchases, and a $1,000 rebate for the first 20 EV leases by Groton Utilities and Bozrah Light & Power customers. The program also provides an additional rebate up to $600 for an approved Level 2 charging station. For more information, visit the program website.

Groton Utilities offers a variety of rebates to residential customers for the purchase and installation of energy efficient equipment. All items must meet or exceed efficiency standards included in the program guidelines. Customers should view the program web site listed above for more application and equipment information.  For customers with electrically heated homes, Groton Utilities offers the Home Energy Savings Program which provides incentives for efficiency measures such as air sealing, duct testing and sealing, hot-water saving measures, rebates for appliance replacements, installation of CFLs, and insulation upgrades. 

Visit the program web site for more information and specific requirements

Capital for Change in partnership with the electric and gas utilities offers variety of low interest loans to finance energy efficiency upgrades. The program offers On-Bill Repayment financing, where the loan amount can be paid through a surcharge on the monthly electricity bill. The loans are not transferable, and there currently is no collateral requirement. 

Eligibility

Customers of Eversource (formerly CL&P) and United Illuminating are eligible for the program. Applicants must own a single or two-family home (including condos and vacation homes). 

HES Payment Plan

Provides 0% APR financing for amounts $500 to $3,000 for a period of 36 months. To

In December 2007, the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) now called the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved new interconnection guidelines for distributed energy systems up to 20 megawatts (MW) in capacity. Connecticut's interconnection guidelines apply to the state's two investor-owned utilities -- Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) and United Illuminating Company (UI) -- and are modeled on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) interconnection standards for small generators.*

Connecticut's interconnection guidelines, like FERC's standards, include provisions for three levels of systems:

• Certified, inverter-based systems no larger than 10 kilowatts (kW) in capacity (application fees: $100);
• Certified systems

As of July 2011, Connecticut authorizes municipalities to pass a local ordinance to exempt "Class I" renewable energy projects from paying building permit fees. Class I renewable energy projects include energy derived from solar power, wind power, fuel cells (using renewable or non-renewable fuels), methane gas from landfills, ocean thermal power, wave or tidal power, low-emission advanced renewable energy conversion technologies, certain newer run-of-the-river hydropower facilities not exceeding five megawatts (MW) in capacity, and sustainable biomass facilities. (Emissions limits apply to electricity generated by sustainable biomass facilities.)

Public Act 15-194, effective October 1st 2015, requires each municipality to incorporate residential solar

Note:  In 2010, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which has authority over mortgage underwriters Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, directed these enterprises against purchasing mortgages of homes with a PACE lien due to its senior status above a mortgage. Most residential PACE activity subsided following this directive; however, some residential PACE programs are now operating with loan loss reserve funds, appropriate disclosures, or other protections meant to address FHFA's concerns. Commercial PACE programs were not directly affected by FHFA’s actions, as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not underwrite commercial mortgages. Visit PACENation for more information about PACE financing

Connecticut municipalities are authorized, but not required, to offer a property tax exemption lasting up to 15 years for qualifying cogeneration systems installed on or after July 1, 2007 (see Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-81 (63)). Municipalities that adopt an ordinance to provide such an exemption may require a payment in lieu of taxes from the property owner.

Beginning in October 2013, a municipality may also adopt an ordinance to exempt commercial or industrial Class I renewable resources*, certain hydropower facilities**, or solar thermal or geothermal renewable energy resources. Only facilities installed between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2013

Note:  In 2010, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which has authority over mortgage underwriters Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, directed these enterprises against purchasing mortgages of homes with a PACE lien due to its senior status above a mortgage. Most residential PACE activity subsided following this directive; however, some residential PACE programs are now operating with loan loss reserve funds, appropriate disclosures, or other protections meant to address FHFA's concerns. Commercial PACE programs were not directly affected by FHFA’s actions, as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not underwrite commercial mortgages. Visit PACENation for more information about PACE financing

The Low-Income Multifamily Energy (LIME) Loan supports energy improvement projects for low- and moderate-income properties. Connecticut Green Bank has partnered with Capital for Change (C4C) to provide unsecured multifamily energy financing for owners seeking to improve the energy performance, economics, and health and safety of their properties. Loans are repaid from energy cost savings for terms up to 20 years. Loans may be for acquisition, bridge funding, construction/rehabilitation financing, or permanent terms.

Eligibility

The program is open to multifamily properties that are partnerships, trusts, LLCs, sole proprietors, public housing authorities, non-profits, condo/co-op associations, etc. Must be 5 units or more

Long-term financing is available to retail end-use customers for the installation of customer-side distributed resources. Customer-side distributed resources are defined by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-1 as "(A) the generation of electricity from a unit with a rating of not more than sixty-five megawatts on the premises of a retail end user within the transmission and distribution system including, but not limited to, fuel cells, photovoltaic systems or small wind turbines, or (B) a reduction in the demand for electricity on the premises of a retail end user in the distribution system through methods of conservation and load management, including

Inclusive Prosperity Capital’s Navigator Pre-Development Energy Loan is a simple, unsecured pre-development loan that funds customized analysis and design of energy improvements for multifamily properties using owner-selected and managed technical service providers.

Eligibility

The program is open to multifamily housing properties with 5 units or more. Income eligible and market rate properties can participate (Private and non-profit owners, public housing authorities, senior/assisted living communities, condominium/co-op associations, etc.)

Program Description

For projects being designed to achieve high-performance building standards like Passive House, 80% of all pre-development costs are eligible, including permitting, legal, and environmental fees. For other projects, 80% of pre-development

The Sherpa Pre-Development Energy Loan offers an affordable, low-risk, one-stop solution to analyze, design and arrange financing for green energy upgrades. Connecticut Green Bank has partnered with New Ecology Inc., an expert multifamily technical services provider and nationally-recognized non-profit, to act as an owner’s representative to help scope, design and arrange financing for energy improvement projects.

Eligibility

The program is open to multifamily housing properties with 5 units or more. Income eligible and market rate properties can participate (Private and non-profit owners, public housing authorities, senior/assisted living communities, condominium/co-op associations, etc.)

Program Description

The Sherpa loan program has three stages

NOTE: In May 2018, S.B. 9 signed into law and made significant changes to the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard and Net Metering policies. The law ends net metering to new customers when the Virtual Net Metering, Low Emission Renewable Energy Credit, and Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credit programs end on January 1, 2022. The existing net metering customers will be grandfathered until December 2039. Starting January 1, 2022, new customers will be able to select a buy-all, sell-all option, or net billing option under the new Net-Tariff program. The Public Utilities Regulator Authority (PURA) has finished implementing the new program

Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) provides residential customers with rebates on the ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances and energy efficient HVAC equipment. Eligible appliance purchases include refrigerators/freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, and heat pump/storage water heaters. The program is limited to one rebate per appliance per residential electric utility account.  Rebates are also available for central AC systems and heat pumps; incentive amounts vary according to equipment size and efficiency level. 

In addition, NPU customers may be eligible to participate in the free-of-charge Residential Home Energy Savings Program. This program entails a home visit by a NPU technician who may conduct a blower

Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) provides residential natural gas customers rebates for upgrading to energy-efficient equipment in eligible homes. NPU offers rebates of between $250 - $3000 for natural gas furnaces, boilers, and water heaters which are installed in single-family or two-family homes. Minimum efficiency requirements (listed above and available on the program application) must be met in order to be eligible for rebates.  NPU also offers a rebate program for its electric customers.  Visit the utility's website for more information. 

 

Norwich Public Utilities offers its customers a rebate of up to $1,500 for the purchase or lease of new or used all-electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. There is also a rebate of up to $4,000 for the purchase and installation of charging equipment. For more information, visit the program website.

Connecticut provides a property tax exemption for "Class I" renewable energy systems* and hydropower facilities** that generate electricity for private residential use. The exemption is available for systems installed on or after October 1, 2007, that serve farms, single-family homes or multi-family dwellings limited to four units. In addition, "any passive or active solar water or space heating system or geothermal energy resource" is exempt from property taxes, regardless of the type of facility the system serves. Public Act No. 22-25 added electric vehicle charging stations, refueling equipment for fuel cell vehicles, and zero-emission school buses as eligible technologies beginning

Established in 1998 and subsequently revised several times, Connecticut's renewables portfolio standard (RPS) requires each electric supplier and each electric distribution company wholesale supplier to obtain at least 24% of its retail load by using renewable energy by January 1, 2020. The RPS also requires each electric supplier and each electric distribution company wholesale supplier to obtain at least 4% of its retail load by using combined heat and power (CHP) systems and energy efficiency by 2010. In 2018, Public Act No. 18-50, according to Substitute Senate Bill 9, extended the renewable portfolio standard to year 2030, demanding at least

NOTE: In May 2018, S.B. 9 signed into law and made significant changes to the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard and Net Metering policies. The law ends net metering to new customers when the Residential Solar Investment Program ends on January 1, 2022. The existing net metering customers will be grandfathered until December 2039. Starting January 1, 2022, new customers will be able to select a buy-all, sell-all option, or net billing option under the new Net-Tariff program. The Public Utilities Regulator Authority (PURA) has finished implementing the new program as the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Program. Non-residential customers can participate

In March 2012, the Connecticut Green Bank* unveiled the Residential Solar Investment Program (RSIP) with a goal to support 30 megawatts of residential solar photovoltaics (PV) by 2022 through Public Act 11-80. The original goal was met in June 2014. In June 2015, Public Act 15-194 expanded the Program to support up to 300 MW of new residential solar PV by 2022. The 300 MW is an effective cap of the total solar PV that the program can support. The program is set to expire on 2022, or when new solar PV installations reach total capacity of 300MW. 

This residential

In Connecticut, residential weatherization products for residential use only are exempt from the state's sales and use tax. Eligible residential weatherization products include CFLs, programmable thermostats, window film, caulking, window and door weather strips, insulation, water heater blankets, water heaters, natural gas and propane furnaces and boilers that meet the federal Energy Star standard, windows and doors that meet the federal ENERGY STAR standard, oil furnaces and boilers that are not less than 84% efficient and ground-source heat pumps that meet the minimum federal energy efficiency rating. Exemption only applies to in-store sales.

For additional information about this exemption, please

Connecticut enacted legislation in June 2007 (H.B. 7432) that established a sales and use tax exemption for solar energy equipment and geothermal resource systems. H.B. 7432 added passive and active solar water-heating systems, passive and active solar space-heating systems, and solar-electric systems to the list of exempt technologies. The sales and use exemption covers both the equipment related to eligible systems, and labor (services) relating to the installation of eligible systems. The exemption has no expiration date.

Consumers purchasing the eligible equipment or services must present form CERT-140 to the seller at the time of purchase. Certification Form CERT-140 is

Connecticut enacted legislation in May 2010 (H.B. 5435) that established a sales and use tax exemption for equipment, machinery and fuels used to manufacture solar thermal (active or passive) systems, solar electric systems, wind-power electric systems, or geothermal resource systems.

Residents or businesses can choose to invest in, or lease, a renewable energy system installation on the rooftops of their homes or businesses, or on their properties. However, some Connecticut residents and businesses are either not able to, or elect not to, invest in or lease an individual property installation for a variety of reasons (e.g., high installation costs, unsuitable rooftop orientation, shaded property, or because they rent instead of own their properties). Subscription to a shared clean energy facility (SCEF) provides an option that can be used to overcome such barriers, thereby expanding access to renewable energy to more

The Connecticut Green Bank administers the Smart-E Loan program which offers long-term, low-interest financing to CT homeowners looking to upgrade their home's energy performance. Loans are offered at no money down, fixed rates, and with no prepayment penalties for various energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy systems. Smart-E Loans are offered in partnership with participating community banks and credit unions, and approved contractors. 

To be eligible for the loan, the building must be 1-4 units,  be owner occupied, and the homeowner's primary residence, located in CT.

For more information, including a list of eligible measures, participating lenders and approved contractors

S.B. 4, enacted in 2022, added a new provision to the Connecticut statutes governing the rules of homeowners associations. The law establishes that associations "may not adopt or enforce any rules that would have the effect of prohibiting any unit owner from installing a solar power generating system on the roof of such owner's unit, provided such roof is not shared with any other unit owner." However, associations may adopt rules governing the size and manner of affixing, installing or removing a solar power generating system; the unit owner's responsibilities for periodic upkeep and maintenance of such solar power

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) is authorized to issue licenses for solar-thermal work, solar-electric work and wind-electric work. "Solar thermal work" is defined as "the installation, erection, repair, replacement, alteration, or maintenance of active, passive and hybrid solar systems that directly convert ambient energy into heat or convey, store or distribute such ambient energy." Solar electricity work is defined as "the installation, erection, repair, replacement, alteration, or maintenance of photovoltaic or wind generation equipment used to distribute or store ambient energy for heat, light, power or other purposes to a point immediately inside any structure or adjacent to

In July 2011, Connecticut enacted legislation amending the state's Renewables Portfolio Standard and creating two new classes of renewable energy credits (RECs): Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credits (ZRECs) and Low Emission Renewable Energy Credits (LRECs). A Zero Emission Renewable Energy Facility is one that produces no emissions, such as solar, wind, or hydro. Owners of these facilities have an opportunity to sell their ZRECs to the utility at a fixed price for a period of 15 years. 

In coordination with the state's other investor-owned utility, the United Illuminating (UI) Company offers owners of small ZREC projects (less than or equal

NOTE: Next round of solicitation is expected to open on July 1st, 2015.

In July 2011, Connecticut enacted legislation amending the state's Renewables Portfolio Standard and creating two new classes of renewable energy credits (RECs): Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credits (ZRECs) and Low Emission Renewable Energy Credits (LRECs).

ZREC

The state's two investor-owned electric utilities, United Illuminating (UI) and Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) must enter into 15-year contracts for RECs from zero-emission "Class I" renewable energy facilities (on the customer side of the meter) larger than 100 kilowatts (kW) but not larger than one megawatt (MW). Zero-emission Class I