Installed home solar in New Hampshire commonly runs about $2.50 to $3.00 per watt before incentives, so a 7 kW system costs roughly $17,500 to $21,000 (confirm with local quotes). At the state’s 26.92 cents per kWh power rate, simple payback usually lands near 7 to 9 years. The federal 25D homeowner credit ended December 31, 2025.
New Hampshire homeowners pay about 26.92 cents per kWh for electricity (EIA retail sales, residential NH, as of March 2026), one of the higher rates in the country, so the money question is simple: what does a system cost here, and how fast does the bill it erases pay it back. This page walks the cost per watt, the payback math, and what changed in 2026. For the full incentive picture, see our New Hampshire solar incentives guide.
A 7 kW rooftop system in Manchester produces about 8,809 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8), and at New Hampshire’s 26.92 cents per kWh residential rate that is roughly $2,370 of grid power you stop buying each year (EIA, March 2026). Nashua pencils out nearly the same at about 8,845 kWh. That annual offset is the engine behind the payback below.
How much does solar cost in New Hampshire?
Price is quoted in dollars per watt of system size. A typical residential install commonly runs about $2.50 to $3.00 per watt before any incentives. That is a national benchmark, not a New Hampshire filing, so treat the table as a starting point and get itemized local quotes to confirm your own $/W. Your price moves with system size, roof complexity, panel and inverter choice, and the installer.
| System size | Fits a home that uses | Estimated installed cost ($2.50 to $3.00/W) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | Smaller bill, roughly $100 to $150/mo | About $12,500 to $15,000 |
| 7 kW | Average bill, roughly $150 to $250/mo | About $17,500 to $21,000 |
| 10 kW | Larger home or an EV, $250+/mo | About $25,000 to $30,000 |
Cost ranges are a national $/W benchmark for planning, not a guaranteed price. New Hampshire has no state sales tax, so equipment is bought tax-free (DSIRE). Confirm your quote before you budget.
What is the solar payback in New Hampshire?
Payback is cost divided by what you stop paying the utility. Because New Hampshire rates are high, the annual bill offset is large, which shortens the payback even though the state has little upfront cash. The table pairs the cost above with a production-based offset. Production is scaled from the verified Manchester PVWatts figure by system size, then multiplied by the 26.92 cents per kWh rate.
| System size | Estimated annual production | Estimated yearly bill offset | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | About 6,290 kWh | About $1,690 | About 7 to 9 years |
| 7 kW | About 8,809 kWh | About $2,370 | About 7 to 9 years |
| 10 kW | About 12,580 kWh | About $3,390 | About 7 to 9 years |
Estimates, not a guarantee. Production is scaled from NREL PVWatts v8 for Manchester and priced at the current EIA rate; exported power is credited below full retail under net metering, so a home that exports a lot may see a slightly longer payback. Rates, production, and prices vary, so verify your own numbers.
What moves your payback in 2026
Four things decide where you land in that 7 to 9 year window:
- Your electric rate. At about 26.92 cents per kWh, every kWh your roof makes is worth more here than in most states, which is the main reason New Hampshire payback is competitive despite thin incentives (EIA).
- Your production. Roof pitch, orientation, and shading swing output. Estimate yours with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator before you size a system.
- Net metering. New Hampshire credits exported power at 100% of energy and transmission plus 25% of distribution, roughly three-quarters to most of retail, and systems on the alternative tariff are grandfathered through December 31, 2040 (DSIRE). For the mechanics, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
- No federal credit in 2026. 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 a New Hampshire homeowner buying with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS). See what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
The state side is lean, and that is the honest part. New Hampshire has no broad personal income tax, so there is no state solar income-tax credit to lower your cost. The old Residential Renewable Electrical Generation Rebate was repealed by Senate Bill 303 in 2024 and is permanently closed, so leave it out of your math even though its page still ranks in search (NH Department of Energy). What remains is the bill offset, net-metering credits, no sales tax on equipment, and a local-option property-tax exemption if your town adopted RSA 72:61 to 72:72.
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How you pay changes the cost you carry
The sticker price is one thing; how you finance it decides your out-of-pocket and your payback.
| How you pay | Up-front cost | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | Full system price | You want the shortest payback and the most lifetime savings |
| Solar loan | Little or none, financed over time | You want to own the system with low money down and keep the credits |
| Lease or PPA | $0-up-front where you qualify | You want no out-of-pocket cost and a lower or fixed power price without owning |
A lease or PPA has no up-front cost, but the company owns the panels, terms typically run 20 to 25 years and may include an annual escalator, and total payments can exceed a cash purchase. No 2026 New Hampshire homeowner gets the federal residential credit, since that credit ended after December 31, 2025. If a $0-up-front path fits you, start with no up-front cost solar in New Hampshire. For a full payback breakdown, see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does solar cost in New Hampshire?
Installed home solar commonly runs about $2.50 to $3.00 per watt before incentives, so a 5 kW system is roughly $12,500 to $15,000, a 7 kW system is about $17,500 to $21,000, and a 10 kW system is about $25,000 to $30,000. Those are national planning benchmarks, not a New Hampshire price filing, so get itemized local quotes to confirm your own dollars per watt. New Hampshire has no sales tax, so equipment is bought tax-free.
What is the payback on solar in New Hampshire?
At the state’s 26.92 cents per kWh rate, a typical system offsets a large annual bill, so simple payback usually lands near 7 to 9 years, then years of largely free production follow. A 7 kW system in Manchester produces about 8,809 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8), roughly $2,370 of grid power at today’s rate (EIA, March 2026). Your real payback depends on your quote, your roof, and how much power you self-consume.
Is there a New Hampshire solar rebate or state tax credit in 2026?
No. New Hampshire has no broad personal income tax, so there is no state solar income-tax credit. The old Residential Renewable Electrical Generation Rebate was repealed by Senate Bill 303 in 2024 and is permanently closed to new applicants (NH Department of Energy). Its page still ranks in search, so many guides are out of date. Do not count on a state rebate in your 2026 math.
Does a New Hampshire homeowner qualify for the federal solar tax credit in 2026?
Not as a homeowner buying in 2026. 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 a cash or loan buyer 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.
Does net metering improve the payback?
Yes. New Hampshire credits exported power at 100% of energy and transmission plus 25% of distribution, roughly three-quarters to most of retail, and systems on the alternative tariff are grandfathered through December 31, 2040 (DSIRE). This applies to Eversource and Unitil (Liberty); the New Hampshire Electric Co-op sets its own terms, so confirm with your provider before sizing a system.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Cost and payback figures are estimates built from NREL PVWatts v8 production and the EIA New Hampshire residential rate, with incentive facts verified against DSIRE, the NH Department of Energy, and IRS sources as of August 2026; prices, production, tariffs, and programs change, so confirm current numbers with local installer quotes and each source 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. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Cost, savings, payback, eligibility, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.