A Norwalk homeowner opened two solar proposals this fall. One showed a 30 percent federal tax credit on the first page. The other did not. The second one was right. A Norwalk solar sales proposal written in November 2026 should show the Connecticut program the customer will actually use, its real term, and no residential federal credit for a system the homeowner buys.
Connecticut's 2026 solar law also changed the long-term picture. The Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program, which had been set to end after 2027, now runs through December 31, 2035. That gives installers a more stable story to tell. It does not give them permission to stretch it.
What the RRES extension changed
Under the 2026 law, as reported when it passed:
- Extended term. The residential and non-residential renewable energy tariffs run through December 31, 2035 instead of ending after 2027.
- Caps from 2028. Starting in 2028 the program has a 180 MW annual aggregate target and an $85 million annual budget cap.
- Storage exemption. Residential solar paired with storage is exempt from those caps if PURA determines the combined systems benefit all ratepayers.
- 20-year terms. The tariffs compensate exported energy over 20-year terms.
Our Connecticut RRES installer guide explains the program structure, including the choice between the netting option and the buy-all option. A proposal shows the option the customer chose, not both blended together.
Check which utility serves the address
Norwalk has a detail that out-of-town installers miss. Most of the city is served by Eversource. Parts of the city are served by municipal electric utilities: South Norwalk Electric and Water, and the Third Taxing District in East Norwalk. RRES is an Eversource and United Illuminating program. A customer on a municipal utility is on that utility's own rules.
Confirm the utility from the customer's bill before you build the proposal. A Norwalk proposal that assumes Eversource RRES for a Third Taxing District customer is wrong on page one.
Why the federal homeowner credit is off the page
The residential clean energy credit under section 25D does not apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the 2025 federal tax law. A homeowner who buys a system in 2026 cannot claim it. A proposal that still shows it is overstating the savings, and the customer will find out at tax time.
Third-party ownership is a different question, handled by the owner and its tax advisor. If a proposal is for a lease or power purchase agreement, describe the customer's payment, not a credit the customer does not receive.
What a Norwalk solar sales proposal should show
Athol Energy builds solar sales proposals for installers in Connecticut and across the Northeast. We do not sell to the homeowner. We build the numbers the installer's rep presents, and we keep them to what can be cited. For a Norwalk residential proposal this fall:
- Utility and program. Eversource RRES, or the municipal utility's rules, written in words.
- Tariff option. Netting or buy-all, with the rate basis for the enrollment year.
- Term. 20 years for RRES, shown on the payback chart.
- Incentives. State and utility incentives the customer actually qualifies for. No 25D line for a homeowner purchase in 2026.
- Storage. If a battery is included, show it separately with its own cost and value.
- Size. The same DC and AC size that goes on the interconnection application and the permit set.
- Assumptions date. "Rules in effect November 5, 2026."
The what a solar sales proposal should include post covers layout. Homeowners who ask about cheaper options may bring up the new plug-in law. Our post on Connecticut plug-in solar explains how to answer.
The permit side in Fairfield County
A clean proposal still needs a clean permit set. Fairfield County towns review carefully, and the code basis is the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code with the 2020 NEC. The Greenwich CT solar permit post covers what a nearby town looks for. Write pathway widths as numbers, show the busbar calculation, and match the equipment to the proposal.
Questions about Connecticut solar proposals
Is Connecticut's RRES program still open?
Yes. The 2026 law extended it through December 31, 2035. From 2028 it has a 180 MW annual target and an $85 million annual budget cap, with an exemption for storage-paired residential systems if PURA finds a net benefit.
Can a 2026 proposal show the 30 percent federal tax credit?
Not for a homeowner purchase. The section 25D residential credit does not apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2025.
Does every Norwalk home qualify for RRES?
No. RRES applies to Eversource and United Illuminating customers. Parts of Norwalk are served by municipal utilities, South Norwalk Electric and Water and the Third Taxing District, which have their own rules.
If your Connecticut proposals still carry last year's federal credit line or skip the utility check, fix the template now. Connecticut solar design and proposals from Athol Energy keep the program, term, and size correct. Contact us.