New Hampshire homeowners weighing solar want real numbers, not a sales pitch, so this page gathers the ones that matter in one place, each dated and sourced. The average residential electricity rate here is about 26.9 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), and a typical 7 kW rooftop system produces about 8,809 kWh a year. Below you will find installed cost, simple payback, per-city production, how each utility handles net metering, and the current state incentives, updated for 2026.
Updated for 2026.
Key statistics: New Hampshire solar at a glance (2026)
Key numbers (New Hampshire, 2026)
- Average residential rate: 26.9 cents per kWh
- Typical system size: 7 kW
- Typical annual production: 8,809 kWh per year
- Typical installed cost: $2.85 to $3.50 per watt
- Estimated system cost: $19,950 to $24,500
- Simple payback: about 11 years
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (July 2026), a typical 7 kW system in New Hampshire produces about 8,809 kWh a year, offsetting power that costs about 26.9 cents per kWh. These are our own compiled figures for New Hampshire; see Methodology below for exactly how each was produced. For the statewide rules behind these numbers, see our New Hampshire solar guide.
| Metric | Value | Source (dated) |
|---|---|---|
| Average residential rate | 26.9 cents per kWh | EIA, as of March 2026 |
| Typical system size | 7 kW | MySolarFY, typical residential array |
| Typical annual production | 8,809 kWh per year | NREL PVWatts v8, as of July 2026 |
| Typical installed cost | $2.85 to $3.50 per watt | MySolarFY cost range, as of July 2026 |
| Estimated system cost | $19,950 to $24,500 | MySolarFY, 7 kW, as of July 2026 |
| Simple payback | about 11 years | MySolarFY analysis, as of July 2026 |
Every figure is dated and attributed. Rate is the EIA residential average for New Hampshire; production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run for a 7 kW array; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates for planning, not a quote. Confirm current terms before you decide.
Solar cost and payback by city in New Hampshire
Production and payback vary within a state because the solar resource and the local rate shift by location. The table below models a 7 kW system for representative New Hampshire cities using NREL PVWatts v8.
| City | System size | Annual production | Est. system cost | Est. annual bill savings | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 7 kW | 8,809 kWh per year | $22,225 | about $2,010 | about 11.0 years |
| Nashua | 7 kW | 8,845 kWh per year | $22,225 | about $2,020 | about 11.0 years |
| Concord | 7 kW | 8,781 kWh per year | $22,225 | about $2,010 | about 11.1 years |
| Portsmouth | 7 kW | 9,349 kWh per year | $22,225 | about $2,140 | about 10.4 years |
Production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run per city ZIP. Bill savings value each kWh at about 22.9 cents, New Hampshire’s net metering 2.0 export credit (roughly 85 percent of the ~26.9 cent retail rate); power you use on-site offsets at the full retail rate, so real savings can run higher. Payback is the system cost divided by that savings. Cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates that hold today’s rate flat and ignore financing. A written quote for your roof beats any table.
Utility rate and net metering comparison
Your utility sets the delivery rate and administers net metering, which is the credit you earn for the power your roof sends back to the grid. Eversource serves most of New Hampshire, so its interconnection and billing shape your result; see our Eversource New Hampshire solar guide. Unitil and Liberty Utilities serve other parts of the state, covered in our Unitil and Liberty Utilities New Hampshire guides. See also how net metering credits your solar exports for the mechanics.
| Utility | Residential rate | Net metering treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Eversource NH | About 26.9 cents per kWh (EIA statewide residential average, March 2026); the largest investor-owned utility, serving most of the state | Net metering 2.0: exported kWh credited at about 85 percent of retail (100 percent of supply and transmission, 25 percent of distribution). Systems up to 1 MW qualify and excess credits roll over month to month. NH PUC. |
| Unitil | Investor-owned utility serving the Seacoast and Capital areas (rate near the statewide average) | Net metering 2.0: exports credited at about 85 percent of retail under the statewide tariff. |
| Liberty Utilities | Investor-owned utility serving parts of central and southern New Hampshire (rate near the statewide average) | Net metering 2.0: exports credited at about 83 to 85 percent of retail under the statewide tariff. |
| New Hampshire Electric Cooperative | Member-owned electric cooperative; local rate set by the co-op (not part of the EIA investor-owned average) | Runs its own net metering program rather than the PUC net metering 2.0 tariff; confirm the co-op’s current export credit. |
Net metering rules are set by state law and the utility commission, not the installer. Confirm your utility’s current tariff before you size a system.
New Hampshire solar incentive stack (2026)
State programs, net metering, and any rebates make up the New Hampshire incentive stack; for the broader picture see our state solar incentives overview. These go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels keeps the incentive while the net-metering bill credit follows your account.
Net metering (net metering 2.0)
Exported solar is credited at about 85 percent of the retail rate (roughly 22.9 cents per kWh) for the investor-owned utilities; systems up to 1 MW qualify and credits roll over month to month (active 2026) (NH PUC, as of July 2026)
Local property tax exemption
New Hampshire towns and cities may adopt a local exemption for the added home value of a solar system; about 150 municipalities, including Concord, Nashua, and Portsmouth, have adopted it, and you file Form PA-29 with your assessor (local option, varies by town) (RSA 72:61-62 / DSIRE, as of July 2026)
State residential solar rebate
Ended. New Hampshire’s residential renewable generation rebate under RSA 362-F:10 was repealed by SB 303, effective June 14, 2024, so no state solar rebate is available in 2026 (repealed 2024) (NH SB 303, as of July 2026)
State solar income tax credit
None. New Hampshire has no state income tax on wages, so there is no state solar income tax credit to claim (not available) (NH Department of Revenue Administration, as of July 2026)
Federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D)
Ended December 31, 2025 and is not available to homeowners who buy solar in 2026, so no federal credit reduces the cost for cash or loan buyers (ended 12/31/2025) (IRS, as of July 2026)
The federal homeowner credit has ended, and New Hampshire never replaced its state rebate. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a New Hampshire homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, as of 2026). New Hampshire’s own residential solar rebate was repealed by SB 303 in 2024, and the state has no income tax on wages, so there is no state solar income tax credit either. What remains are net metering and the local property tax exemption above. For the federal timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means and our state solar incentives overview.
Methodology and sources
- Electricity rate: the latest EIA Form residential retail price for New Hampshire (EIA retail sales, as of March 2026).
- Production: modeled with NREL PVWatts v8 for a 7 kW south-facing array at the city ZIP (NREL PVWatts v8 documentation, as of July 2026).
- Cost and bill savings: MySolarFY estimates built from installed cost per watt (informed by 2026 New Hampshire market pricing) and the EIA rate. Bill savings value each kWh at New Hampshire’s net metering 2.0 export credit of about 85 percent of retail (~22.9 cents), which is conservative because on-site use offsets at the full retail rate; simple payback holds today’s rate flat and ignores financing.
- Incentives and net metering: the New Hampshire public utility commission and the DSIRE incentive database (DSIRE, as of July 2026). The state rebate repeal is from NH SB 303 (2024).
- Assumptions: a 7 kW system, standard losses, and a south-facing array. Your roof, usage, and financing change the result, so treat these as planning figures, not a quote.
Citing this data
Citing this data?
Cite as: “MySolarFY, New Hampshire Solar Data & Statistics 2026, accessed July 22, 2026.” Data compiled by MySolarFY from EIA (residential electricity rate), NREL PVWatts v8 (modeled production), DSIRE and the New Hampshire public utility commission (incentives and net metering), and 2026 New Hampshire market pricing (cost). Figures are dated in each table above.
Journalists and researchers may quote these statistics with attribution to MySolarFY and a link to https://mysolarfy.com/new-hampshire-solar-data-statistics-2026/.
See what solar programs are available in your New Hampshire ZIP code
Incentives, net-metering credits, installer availability, and electric rates change by utility and location. Enter your ZIP and we will match you with licensed installers who serve your area.
Free to check. About a minute. No credit pull to check.
How to choose a solar installer in New Hampshire
Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria: NABCEP certification, a valid state license, a written workmanship and equipment warranty, real experience with your utility’s interconnection, and a transparent quote that uses today’s incentive values. 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
What is the average solar cost in New Hampshire in 2026? A typical residential system in New Hampshire runs about $2.85 to $3.50 per watt installed before any incentives (MySolarFY cost range, as of July 2026). A 7 kW system is a common size for a single-family home. Cost varies with roof, equipment, and installer, so use a written quote for your own numbers.
How much electricity does a solar system produce in New Hampshire? A modeled 7 kW array produces about 8,809 kWh a year in New Hampshire (NREL PVWatts v8, as of July 2026). Production drives both your net-metering credits and your payback, so estimate your specific roof rather than a generic number.
Does New Hampshire have a state solar rebate or tax credit in 2026? No. New Hampshire’s residential solar rebate under RSA 362-F:10 was repealed by SB 303, effective June 14, 2024, and the state has no income tax on wages, so there is no state solar income tax credit. The main state benefits that remain are net metering and the local property tax exemption.
Did the federal solar tax credit end? Yes for homeowners. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a New Hampshire homeowner who buys solar in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). State programs and net metering were not affected by that change.
Reviewed by the SolarFY Editorial Team. Figures were verified against the linked EIA, NREL, DSIRE, and New Hampshire PUC sources as of July 2026, following our data and methodology standards; rates, incentive values, and net-metering terms can change, so confirm current terms before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional. 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. Solar panels are not free and any monthly payments apply. “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 may include an annual escalator and total payments may exceed a cash purchase, and on a lease or PPA the incentives go to the company that owns the system. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
