- New Hampshire residential power runs about 26.92 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), well above the national average, so the bill Eversource solar offsets is expensive.
- Eversource is the largest electric utility in New Hampshire (the former PSNH), serving more than 500,000 customers across more than 200 cities and towns (Eversource).
- Net metering credits exports at close to retail, not a flat one-for-one: the NEM 2.0 tariff pays 100% of the energy and transmission charge plus 25% of the distribution charge, an approximate three-quarters of the retail rate (DSIRE NH net metering).
- Your credits are not being cut: the New Hampshire PUC reviewed net metering in Docket DE 22-060 and chose to keep NEM 2.0, with the current structure grandfathered through the end of 2040 (DSIRE; NH PUC).
- Bill credits roll over with no annual expiration, and New Hampshire has removed its statewide net-metering cap, so a normal home system always has room in the program (DSIRE).
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 (IRS).
If Eversource is your electric utility in New Hampshire, this is how rooftop solar pays you back in 2026. Eversource credits the power you export under New Hampshire’s net-metering tariff, and because the state’s power prices run well above the national average, the bill that solar offsets is large. You may also have read that New Hampshire net metering is “in limbo.” The accurate picture is calmer than the headlines: state regulators reviewed net metering and kept the current rules, and the open question is about the long-term design, not your near-term credits. This page explains exactly what Eversource pays, what is and is not changing, how to connect, and how to tell if your home is a good fit.
Eversource New Hampshire at a glance
Eversource is New Hampshire’s largest electric utility, the company that used to be Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH), and it serves most of the state’s populated areas.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Service territory | More than 200 New Hampshire cities and towns, including much of the southern tier, the Seacoast, and the North Country (the former PSNH area) |
| Electric customers | More than 500,000 in New Hampshire, the largest in the state |
| Net-metering tariff | NEM 2.0 (the Alternative Net Metering Tariff): 100% of energy and transmission plus 25% of distribution |
| Effective export value | An approximate three-quarters of the retail rate, not a fixed or guaranteed percentage |
| Eligibility | Residential and small systems up to 1,000 kW; no statewide enrollment cap |
| Locked until | The end of 2040, then a transition to whatever program exists on January 1, 2041 |
| Other NH utilities | Unitil (Liberty) and the New Hampshire Electric Co-op set their own terms |
| Source | DSIRE NH net metering |
Why solar pays here. At about 26.92 cents per kWh, a New Hampshire home with a $150 to $250 monthly bill offsets expensive grid power with every kilowatt-hour the roof makes (EIA, as of March 2026). New Hampshire does not stack rebates and state credits the way Massachusetts or New York do, so the economics lean on bill offset and on Eversource net-metering credits rather than upfront cash. Your production drives those savings, so estimate your roof’s likely output with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator; actual output depends on your roof’s pitch, orientation, and shading.
How Eversource credits the power you send back
Net metering in New Hampshire is close to retail, but not a flat one-for-one. Under the state’s Alternative Net Metering Tariff, usually called NEM 2.0 and set by the Public Utilities Commission in Docket DE 16-576, your exported power is credited at 100% of the energy and supply charge, 100% of the transmission charge, and 25% of the distribution charge (DSIRE NH net metering). A handful of non-bypassable line items, such as the stranded-cost recovery charge and the system benefits charge, are not credited. Add it up and the credit lands at roughly three-quarters of the all-in retail rate, though the exact value moves with Eversource’s rates and is not a fixed percentage. The credits are dollar amounts on your bill, they roll forward with no annual expiration, and New Hampshire has removed its statewide net-metering cap, so a normal home system is never shut out of the program. For the mechanics of export credits, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| What you earn | How it is valued | Who receives it |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and supply charge on exports | Credited at 100% | The Eversource account holder |
| Transmission charge on exports | Credited at 100% | The account holder |
| Distribution charge on exports | Credited at 25% | The account holder |
| Non-bypassable charges (stranded cost, system benefits) | Not credited | Not applicable |
| Leftover monthly credits | Roll forward with no annual expiration | The account holder |
To see how the bill credit lowers your monthly cost, read how solar lowers your electricity bill, and to weigh payback, see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it.
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What the New Hampshire net-metering review actually means
Here is the part the scary headlines get wrong. You may have seen New Hampshire net metering described as “in limbo.” What actually happened is more reassuring. The Public Utilities Commission opened Docket DE 22-060 to review net metering, and in Order No. 27,074 it decided to maintain the existing NEM 2.0 tariff, effective January 1, 2025, and to keep the legacy period running through 2040 rather than cut it short (NH PUC; Community Power NH summary of the order). In other words, the rules a new Eversource solar customer signs up under today were reviewed and kept.
So what is still open? The Commission is studying a longer-term compensation design for the years after the current grandfather period, including a “local power market” proposal from the state’s community-power coalition. That work is about the structure beyond 2040, not a near-term cut to your credits. A system you install in 2026 takes service under NEM 2.0 and is grandfathered through the end of 2040, after which it transitions to whatever program exists on January 1, 2041.
Note: “Grandfathered through 2040” is the genuinely valuable part. It means the credit structure you connect under is locked for years, which removes most of the policy risk people worry about with solar. The honest caveat is that no one can promise what replaces it in 2041, so confirm the current tariff terms with Eversource and the NH PUC before you size a system, and treat any quote that claims a flat one-for-one retail credit, or that still relies on the repealed state rebate, as out of date.
How you pay changes which benefits you keep
New Hampshire has no upfront state cash to capture in 2026 (the state rebate is closed to new projects under HB 2, 2025), so the ownership question here mostly decides who keeps the renewable-energy certificates, not a pile of incentives.
| How you pay | Up-front cost | Who owns the system | RECs | Net metering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | Full system price | You | You keep them | Yours, credits follow your account |
| Solar loan | Little or none, financed over time | You | You keep them | Yours |
| Lease or PPA | $0-up-front where you qualify | A third-party company | The company usually keeps them | Yours, since credits follow the account |
If you own the system (cash or loan), you keep the Eversource net-metering credits and any renewable-energy certificates your generation earns. If you lease or sign a PPA, the company that owns the panels usually keeps the certificates, and your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost, while the net-metering credits still apply to your Eversource account because they follow the account holder. Neither path gives a 2026 New Hampshire homeowner the federal residential credit, since that credit ended after December 31, 2025. For a deeper payback comparison, see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it.
How to connect solar to Eversource in New Hampshire
Connecting a home system to Eversource follows a set order, and the key rule is that you cannot turn the system on until Eversource grants permission to operate. The general path is:
- Interconnection application. You or your installer submit an application to Eversource for the system you plan to install.
- Review and approval. Eversource reviews the system against New Hampshire’s interconnection standards; small residential systems usually qualify for a simplified or expedited path, and Eversource issues an interconnection agreement.
- Install and inspect. The system is installed and passes your local electrical inspection.
- Meter set. Eversource installs or reprograms a bidirectional net meter that can measure both the power you draw and the power you export.
- Permission to operate. Eversource issues written authorization, and the system may not run in parallel with the grid before this.
A licensed installer normally manages this whole process for you, but knowing the order helps you spot a quote that promises an instant switch-on. For the questions to ask before you sign, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
What changed federally, and what it means for Eversource customers
The federal homeowner credit is gone, but New Hampshire’s net metering is not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so an Eversource customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS OBBB FAQ; SEIA). New Hampshire’s net metering, its lack of a state sales tax, and the local-option property-tax exemption were not affected, so the in-state value that carries the payback is unchanged. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
One federal exception exists, and it is not yours to claim. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, is claimed by the business that owns a leased or PPA system, not by the homeowner, and it runs for projects placed in service through 2027, with a begin-construction safe harbor by July 4, 2026 (IRS Clean Electricity Investment Credit; SEIA tax policy). For a leased system on an Eversource account you do not file for a federal credit yourself; the company that owns the panels does. The 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025.
How to choose a solar installer in Eversource territory
Most of New Hampshire’s populated areas are Eversource territory, so you have a solid market of licensed installers. Rather than chasing a “best” list, screen any installer against objective criteria:
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- Proper New Hampshire licensing and any required local electrical and building permits.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Real experience with Eversource interconnection, so the application and permission to operate go smoothly.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote you can compare side by side. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How does Eversource net metering work in New Hampshire?
Eversource credits the power you export under the state’s NEM 2.0 tariff, set by the Public Utilities Commission in Docket DE 16-576. You are credited 100% of the energy and transmission charge plus 25% of the distribution charge, while a few non-bypassable charges are not credited, which lands at roughly three-quarters of the all-in retail rate. The credits are dollar amounts that roll forward with no annual expiration, and New Hampshire has removed its statewide net-metering cap, so a typical home always has room in the program. The exact value moves with Eversource’s rates, so treat the percentage as approximate.
Is New Hampshire net metering going away or being cut?
Not for systems you install now. The Public Utilities Commission reviewed net metering in Docket DE 22-060 and, in Order No. 27,074, decided to keep the existing NEM 2.0 tariff and to run the grandfather period through the end of 2040. The Commission is studying a longer-term design for the years after 2040, so the open question is what replaces the current rules then, not a near-term cut. A system connected in 2026 takes service under NEM 2.0 and is grandfathered through the end of 2040.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit?
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. An Eversource customer who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it. A separate commercial credit (Section 48E) can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. New Hampshire’s net metering was not affected. See our guide on what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
How do I connect solar to Eversource in New Hampshire?
You or your installer submit an interconnection application to Eversource, Eversource reviews and approves it against New Hampshire’s interconnection standards, the system is installed and passes a local electrical inspection, Eversource sets a bidirectional net meter, and then Eversource issues permission to operate. You cannot turn the system on until you have that authorization. Small residential systems usually qualify for a simplified review path, and a licensed installer normally manages the paperwork for you. Knowing the order helps you spot a quote that promises an instant switch-on.
How much does Eversource pay for the power I send back?
Eversource credits your exported power at roughly three-quarters of the all-in retail rate, built from 100% of the energy and transmission charge plus 25% of the distribution charge, with a few non-bypassable charges left out. At New Hampshire prices of about 26.92 cents per kWh, that credit is still valuable, so each exported kilowatt-hour offsets most of one you would otherwise buy. The exact value is not a fixed percentage and moves with Eversource’s rates, so size the system to your usage and confirm current terms before you sign.
Do I still qualify for Eversource net metering if I lease or sign a PPA?
Yes. Net-metering credits follow the Eversource account, so the account holder gets them whether you own, lease, or sign a PPA. The renewable-energy certificates go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the third-party company usually keeps them, while your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. Because New Hampshire has no upfront state rebate to capture in 2026, the ownership question matters less here than in states like Massachusetts or New York. If you want the certificates in your own name, owning the system through cash or a loan is the path that captures them.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked New Hampshire (NH Public Utilities Commission, Docket DE 22-060 / DE 16-576), DSIRE, Eversource, EIA, and IRS sources as of June 2026; net-metering terms and rates change over time, so confirm current terms with Eversource and the NH PUC before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA the renewable-energy certificates go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
