Clean Energy Programs

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA or the Authority) oversees several Clean Energy Programs established as part of PURA's Equitable Modern Grid initiative and Public Act 19-35.

View PURA's 2024 Clean & Renewable Energy Report. The report provides updates and metrics on electric vehicle, solar, and battery storage deployment, among other information.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Program

The Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Program is a statewide program that provides incentives for electric vehicle supply equipment and accompanying rate design offerings for program participants. Launched in January 2022, the nine-year program is administered by Connecticut's regulated electric distribution companies, Eversource Energy (Eversource) and The United Illuminating (UI) Company.

Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Program

The Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) Program is a statewide program that provides renewable energy tariffs to compensate residential solar owners for the power their systems produce and provide to the local electric grid. Launched in January 2022, the six-year program replaces the legacy net metering program, as well as the residential solar incentive program (RSIP). The program is administered by Connecticut's regulated electric distribution companies, Eversource and UI.

Non-Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Program

The Non-residential Renewable Energy Solutions (NRES) Program is a statewide program that provides renewable energy tariffs to compensate non-residential owners of distributed energy resources like solar for the power their systems produce and provide to the electric grid. Launched in 2022, the NRES Program is a successor program to the Low Emission Renewable Energy Credit and Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credit (LREC/ZREC) and Virtual Net Metering (VNM) programs.

Energy Storage Solutions Program                

Energy Storage Solutions (ESS) is a statewide program that provides residential and commercial customers with incentives to install energy storage at their home or business and to use energy storage to the benefit of the grid and electric customers.

Launched in January 2022, the nine-year program is administered by the Connecticut Green Bank (CGB) along with Connecticut's regulated electric distribution companies, Eversource and UI.

Innovative Energy Solutions (IES) Program                   

The Connecticut Innovative Energy Solutions (IES) Program was established through PURA Docket No. 17-12-03RE05, PURA Investigation into Distribution System Planning of the Electric Distribution Companies – Innovative Technology Applications and Programs, and is designed to identify, pilot, and scale innovative technologies that help enable a decarbonized, affordable, and equitable electric grid for Connecticut.

Shared Clean Energy Facilities (SCEF) Program

The Shared Clean Energy Facilities (SCEF) Program was developed pursuant to Public Act 18-50 and is a statewide program that aims to broaden clean energy participation by providing savings to specific categories of underserved customers, who receive a fixed monthly payment or bill credit.  The SCEF Program solicits up to 50 MW of Class I renewable energy resources annually through a competitive procurement.  Launched in 2020, the eight-year program is administered by the EDCs, in coordination with DEEP.

Legacy Programs

The clean energy deployment programs that exist today are preceded by legacy programs enabled by legislation passed as far back as 1998. These included the Residential Solar Investment Program (RSIP), the Low Emission Renewable Energy Credit (LREC) and Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credit (ZREC) Programs, and the Virtual Net Metering (VNM) Program. These programs offered net metering, bill credits, and incentives, among other supportive mechanisms, to encourage the development of clean and renewable energy projects and markets in Connecticut. Together, these programs led to the deploy of over 800 MW of clean energy between 2012 and today, and helped pave the way for the successor RRES, NRES and SCEF programs.