Solar Panel Calculator for Hartford, CT
Estimate the cost, savings and payback of solar panels in Hartford, CT, using local NREL sunshine data, Connecticut prices and electricity rates.
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Hartford gets about 4.61 peak sun hours a day on a south-facing roof, so each kW of panels makes about 1,251 kWh a year. That ranks #80 of the 111 cities on this site. Output peaks in Jun and is lowest in Dec.
Sunshine in Hartford by month
What an 8 kW system makes in Hartford
| Month | Sun hours a day | Output | Bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2.92 | 592 kWh | $163 |
| Feb | 3.95 | 728 kWh | $200 |
| Mar | 4.88 | 944 kWh | $259 |
| Apr | 5.17 | 920 kWh | $253 |
| May | 5.86 | 1,048 kWh | $288 |
| Jun | 6.04 | 1,032 kWh | $283 |
| Jul | 5.96 | 1,032 kWh | $283 |
| Aug | 5.85 | 1,016 kWh | $279 |
| Sep | 5.35 | 920 kWh | $253 |
| Oct | 3.79 | 704 kWh | $193 |
| Nov | 3.13 | 600 kWh | $165 |
| Dec | 2.41 | 488 kWh | $134 |
| Year | 4.61 | 10,008 kWh | $2,749 |
Savings at 27.47¢ per kWh (Connecticut average), with every kWh credited at that price.
Cost and payback by system size
At $2.67 per watt, the Connecticut average, before incentives.
| System | Cost | Year 1 savings | Payback | 25-yr gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,680 | $1,375 | 7.9 yrs | $21,700 |
| 6 kW | $16,020 | $2,062 | 7.9 yrs | $32,550 |
| 8 kW | $21,360 | $2,749 | 7.9 yrs | $43,400 |
| 10 kW | $26,700 | $3,436 | 7.9 yrs | $54,250 |
| 12 kW | $32,040 | $4,124 | 7.9 yrs | $65,100 |
How many panels you need in Hartford
| Monthly use | System | 400 W panels |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.80 kW | 12 |
| 750 kWh | 7.19 kW | 18 |
| 1,000 kWh | 9.59 kW | 24 |
| 1,500 kWh | 14.39 kW | 36 |
| 2,000 kWh | 19.18 kW | 48 |
Covering 100% of a year's use at 1,251 kWh per kW.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Hartford?
At local averages an 8 kW system costs about $21,360 before incentives, saves about $2,749 in its first year and pays back in about 7.9 years.
How many peak sun hours does Hartford get?
About 4.61 a day over the year on a south-facing roof at 20°, from 2.4 in Dec to 6.0 in Jun, according to NREL's PVWatts model.
How much does a 1 kW solar system produce in Hartford?
About 1,251 kWh a year, or 104 kWh a month on average.
Is there a federal solar tax credit?
Not for homeowners who buy their system. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025.
Sources
- NREL PVWatts V8 API (south-facing, 20° tilt, 14% losses, typical-year weather): https://developer.nlr.gov/docs/solar/pvwatts/v8/
- EnergySage, Solar panel cost by state (updated November 6, 2026): https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-panel-cost/
- U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B (residential price, Jan–Aug 2026): https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_b