Homeowner guide
Connecticut electrical rebates and credits in 2026
Short version. Three things homeowners still hear about are over: the federal $600 panel credit (§25C, ended 12/31/2025), the federal EV charger credit (§30C, ended 6/30/2026) and the universal $1,000 Eversource/UI wiring rebate (income-limited from 1/1/2026). What still pays: $100 managed-charging enrollment plus up to $120 or $300 a year, a $1,500 charger/wiring rebate for income-qualified households, Smart-E loans at 6.99%, and a $40 Home Energy Solutions visit.
Ended
| Program | What it was | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal §25C — panel/electrical component item | 30% up to $600 for a 200A+ panelboard, subpanel, branch circuits or feeders installed with a qualifying improvement | Not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025 | P.L. 119-21 §70505; IRS FS-2025-05 |
| Federal §30C — home EV charger | 30% up to $1,000 in eligible census tracts | Not allowed after June 30, 2026 | P.L. 119-21 §70504; IRS FS-2025-05 |
| Eversource/UI universal $1,000 EV wiring rebate | Upfront rebate toward Level 2 wiring for any residential customer | From January 1, 2026, upfront rebates limited to ≤300% FPL or HPLO households (SB4, signed July 1, 2025) | Eversource program-changes page; 2026 program manual |
Still available
EV managed charging (Eversource and United Illuminating)
- $100 one-time enrollment incentive (telematics or qualified Level 2 smart charger; not for customers taking the upfront rebate).
- Baseline: $10/month, capped at $120/year. Advanced: $25/month, capped at $300/year.
- $1,500 upfront charger and/or wiring rebate — household income ≤300% of Federal Poverty Level or a High Poverty, Low Opportunity address. Paid invoice and 24-month commitment required.
Full mechanics in the EV charger guide.
Smart-E Loan (Connecticut Green Bank)
- Fixed 6.99% APR for 5, 7 or 10 years; 7.49% for 12; 7.99% for 15. Up to $50,000, unsecured, no money down, no prepayment penalty. Heat pump projects ≤$25,000 at 1.99% through December 31, 2026.
- Owner-occupied 1–4 family; minimum FICO 580; debt-to-income under 50%; no bankruptcy or foreclosure in 7 years.
- Eligible measures include EV charging stations, battery storage and elevating/relocating service equipment. A standalone panel upgrade is not a listed measure; it can be financed as related work within 25% of the loan on an eligible project.
- Lenders (Sept 2025 list): Coreplus CU, Ion Bank, Mutual Security CU, Nutmeg State Financial CU, Riverbank FCU.
Home Energy Solutions (Energize CT)
$40 co-pay for the initial visit effective April 1, 2026; includes a health and safety check, blower-door test, air sealing (no cost up to 7 hours), and efficiency measures. Free for income-eligible households (≤60% state median income). Not an electrical rebate, but the safety check flags panel and wiring issues and the report is useful when you request estimates.
Federal HEAR (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates) — not launched
The IRA's HEAR program includes up to $4,000 toward a panel upgrade for households under 150% of area median income. CT DEEP's page (July 2025) and Energize CT's FAQ (January 1, 2026) both state rebates are not available until the program launches, with a hoped-for early-2026 launch contingent on DOE approval. No launch had been announced on those pages as of this guide's date. We will update this page when it changes.
What this means for a 2026 project
- Price the panel upgrade at full cost. There is no federal credit and no state rebate to net against it today.
- If you are adding an EV charger, enroll in managed charging the week it's energized: $100 + up to $300/year is real money over a 24-month commitment.
- If your household is at or below 300% FPL, the $1,500 rebate can cover most of the wiring — pick a charger from the utility's qualified list first.
- Financing a heat pump? Fold the panel upgrade into the Smart-E loan as related work.
Ready for a real number?
Planning ranges are not quotes. A licensed Connecticut electrician prices your panel after seeing it.
Request a free estimate →Sources (checked 2026-09-10)
- Public Law 119-21 §§70504–70505 (§30C and §25C terminations) — https://www.congress.gov/119/plaws/publ21/PLAW-119publ21.htm — page dated 2025-07-04
- IRS FS-2025-05 FAQ on P.L. 119-21 — https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb — page dated 2025-08-21
- IRS — Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (§25C) page — https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/energy-efficient-home-improvement-credit — page dated 2026-04-28
- Connecticut EV Charging Program Manual (Eversource/UI), rev. May 18, 2026 — https://www.eversource.com/docs/default-source/save-money-energy/ct-ev-comprehensive-program-manual.pdf?sfvrsn=9b958f62_8 — page dated 2026-05-18
- Eversource — Connecticut EV program changes (SB4) — https://www.eversource.com/residential/save-money-energy/clean-energy-options/electric-vehicles/charging-stations/connecticut-ev-program-changes — no date on page
- CT Green Bank — Smart-E Loans — https://www.ctgreenbank.com/programs/smart-e-loans-low-interest/ — no date on page
- CT Green Bank — Smart-E eligible upgrades — https://www.ctgreenbank.com/home-solutions/smart-e-loans/eligible-upgrades/ — page dated 2026-07-23
- CT Green Bank — participating lenders — https://www.ctgreenbank.com/home-solutions/find-a-lender/ — page dated 2025-09-15
- Energize CT — Home Energy Solutions — https://www.energizect.com/energy-evaluations/HES — no date on page
- Energize CT — 2026 residential rebates sheet (PDF) — https://energizect.com/media/19011/download?inline= — page dated 2026-01-01
- CT DEEP — IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs — https://portal.ct.gov/deep/energy/inflation-reduction-act-home-energy-rebate-programs — page dated 2025-07
- Energize CT — IRA FAQ — https://www.energizect.com/IRA-FAQ — page dated 2026-01-01