New Hampshire Electric Cooperative is a member-owned co-op that sets its own net-metering terms, not the state NEM 2.0 tariff its investor-owned neighbors follow. Verify your figures with NHEC, but its published 2026 rate sheet credits exported power at about 13.1 cents per kWh, well below the roughly 22.0 cents it charges for delivered power (NHEC 2026 Schedule of Rates).
If your electric bill comes from New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC), your rooftop solar plays by different rules than a neighbor on Eversource, Unitil, or Liberty. NHEC is a member-owned cooperative, not an investor-owned utility, so it is not bound by the state’s Alternative Net Metering Tariff. Its board sets the co-op’s own rates and export-credit terms. That matters, because NHEC credits the power you export at a lower rate than the state’s investor-owned utilities do, and it carries a higher fixed monthly charge. This page explains who NHEC serves, what it charges, how it credits your exported power, and how to tell if your home is a good fit. Confirm the current numbers with NHEC before you size a system.
Is NHEC your utility? New Hampshire’s cooperative
NHEC is not one of the state’s investor-owned utilities, and that changes the math. New Hampshire Electric Cooperative is a nonprofit, member-owned electric cooperative that serves rural New Hampshire, including much of the Lakes Region and parts of the White Mountains. NHEC reports serving more than 71,000 members across 118 New Hampshire communities (NHEC, as of August 2026). Because a cooperative is owned by its members and governed by an elected board, NHEC files its own rate schedule and its own net-metering terms rather than taking the tariff the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission sets for Eversource, Unitil, and Liberty. So the first step is simple: check the utility name on your bill. If it says NHEC, the terms on this page apply, and they are not the same as the investor-owned utilities’ NEM 2.0.
| Detail | What to know (verify with NHEC) |
|---|---|
| Type of utility | Member-owned electric cooperative (nonprofit), not investor-owned |
| Members and towns | More than 71,000 members across 118 New Hampshire communities |
| Territory | Rural New Hampshire, including much of the Lakes Region and parts of the White Mountains |
| Who sets the rules | NHEC’s member-elected board, in its own Terms and Conditions and Schedule of Rates and Fees |
| Delivered rate | About 22.0 cents per kWh all-in on the 2026 residential schedule, plus a fixed monthly member service charge of about $29 |
| Other NH utilities | Eversource, Unitil, and Liberty are investor-owned and follow the state’s NEM 2.0 tariff |
| Source | NHEC Schedule of Rates and Fees; NHEC solar and net metering |
If your bill is not from NHEC, your rules differ. For an Eversource address, see our Eversource New Hampshire net-metering guide; for the smaller investor-owned utilities, see Unitil New Hampshire and Liberty Utilities New Hampshire. For the statewide picture across every New Hampshire utility, start at our New Hampshire solar guide.
What solar is worth on NHEC: our own estimate
NHEC solar pays most when you use the power as you make it, not when you bank exports. That is the honest headline, and it comes straight from NHEC’s own rate sheet. According to MySolarFY’s analysis of NHEC’s 2026 rate schedule (as of August 2026), NHEC credits each exported kilowatt-hour at about 13.1 cents, roughly 60% of the 22.0 cents it charges for delivered power, so a 6 kW Lakes Region system that makes about 7,547 kWh a year pays back most when its output offsets your own use in real time rather than flowing back to the co-op. The table below shows the inputs and the arithmetic so you can check it against your own bill.
| Input or step | Figure | Source or assumption |
|---|---|---|
| System size | 6 kW | A typical residential rooftop system |
| Estimated production | About 7,547 kWh per year | NREL PVWatts v8, Laconia (ZIP 03246), as of August 2026 |
| Delivered rate offset on-site | About $0.220 per kWh | NHEC 2026 residential schedule |
| Export credit | About $0.131 per kWh | NHEC 2026 residential schedule (exported line) |
| Split of production used vs exported | About 60% used on-site, 40% exported | Our assumption for a well-sized home; your split depends on your usage pattern |
| Estimated first-year bill benefit | About $1,390 (roughly $996 on-site plus $395 in export credits) | MySolarFY estimate from the inputs above |
Two honest caveats. First, NHEC’s fixed member service charge of about $29 a month, roughly $348 a year, is not reduced by solar; you pay it even when your panels cover all your usage. Second, this is an estimate, not a quote. Your roof’s pitch, shading, and orientation change the production, and your own usage pattern changes how much you offset on-site versus export. Estimate your own roof with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator, and to weigh the full payback see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it.
How NHEC credits the power you send back
NHEC net metering is not a one-for-one retail swap, and it is not the same tariff the investor-owned utilities use. Because NHEC is a cooperative, it runs net metering under its own Terms and Conditions and its own Schedule of Rates and Fees rather than the state Alternative Net Metering Tariff (NHEC, as of August 2026). On your bill, NHEC shows separate readings: N01A for the power the co-op delivers to your home, N02A for the power your system exports, and PVM for the total your panels generate. The power you use as you make it simply never gets bought from NHEC, so it is worth the full delivered rate. The surplus you export is credited at the co-op’s exported rate, which is lower. On the 2026 schedule the exported credit lands at about 13.1 cents per kWh against a delivered rate of about 22.0 cents, so treat exports as worth roughly 60% of retail, not the full retail value. For how export credits work in general, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| Bill reading | What it measures | How it is valued (2026 schedule) |
|---|---|---|
| N01A (delivered) | Power NHEC delivers to your home | Billed at about 22.0 cents per kWh all-in |
| N02A (exported) | Surplus your system exports to the co-op | Credited at about 13.1 cents per kWh, roughly 60% of the delivered rate |
| Member service charge | Fixed monthly charge you pay at any usage | About $29 per month, not offset by solar |
| PVM (generation) | Total your panels produce | Shown for your records, not billed directly |
Because the exported rate is well below retail, the practical takeaway is to size a system to your own usage rather than to overbuild for export, and to shift big loads into daylight hours where you can. To see how the bill credit lowers your monthly cost, read how solar lowers your electricity bill. NHEC also participates in New Hampshire’s group net-metering framework, which can matter for some members, so confirm the current terms directly with NHEC.
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New Hampshire’s solar incentives are thin, and that is the honest truth
New Hampshire leans on bill savings, not a stack of state incentives, and NHEC members are no exception. Unlike Massachusetts or New York, New Hampshire does not offer a state income-tax credit for solar, and because the state has no general sales tax, there is no sales-tax exemption to claim either; solar equipment simply is not taxed (DSIRE New Hampshire, as of August 2026). The one real state-level lever is a local-option property-tax exemption under RSA 72:61 through 72:72, which lets a New Hampshire town exempt the added home value from a solar system from local property tax. It is town-by-town and not automatic, so check whether your NHEC town has adopted it and how to file. NHEC also co-administers NHSaves, the statewide utility efficiency program, but NHSaves pays for insulation, heating, and appliances, not for installing solar panels, so do not budget around it as a solar rebate.
How to connect solar to NHEC
Connecting a home system to NHEC follows the co-op’s interconnection process, and the key rule is the same as anywhere: you cannot turn the system on until NHEC grants permission to operate. The general path is:
- Interconnection application. You or your installer submit an application to NHEC for the system you plan to install, with the design and inverter details.
- Review and approval. NHEC reviews the system against its interconnection requirements; small residential systems usually qualify for a simplified path, and NHEC issues an interconnection agreement.
- Install and inspect. A licensed contractor installs the system and it passes your local electrical inspection.
- Meter set. NHEC installs or reprograms a meter that measures both the power you draw and the power you export, so it can report the N01A, N02A, and PVM readings on your bill.
- Permission to operate. NHEC 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, including the net-metering enrollment, but knowing the order helps you spot a quote that promises an instant switch-on. For what to ask before you sign, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
What changed federally, and what it means for NHEC members
The federal homeowner credit is gone, but NHEC net metering is not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so an NHEC member who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of August 2026). NHEC’s net metering, New Hampshire’s 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 remains, 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. On a leased system 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, so do not let a sales pitch tell a 2026 cash or loan buyer otherwise. A lease or PPA is not free solar; it is a long-term agreement with monthly payments, so compare the total cost against owning.
How to choose a solar installer in NHEC territory
NHEC does not install solar itself, and its rural territory is served by established New Hampshire and regional installers. Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company 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 NHEC interconnection and permission to operate, so the application goes smoothly.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote that shows your bill after solar, including the fixed member service charge, not a promise of a zero bill.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
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Frequently asked questions
Reviewed by SolarFY Editor. Figures were verified against the linked NHEC (Schedule of Rates and Fees; solar and net metering), NREL PVWatts, DSIRE, EIA, and IRS sources as of August 2026; NHEC is a member-owned cooperative that sets its own rates and net-metering terms, so its export credit and member service charge can change, and the local property-tax exemption is town-by-town. Confirm current terms with NHEC before you decide. See our data and methodology. 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.
