New Hampshire’s solar value in 2026 is mostly bill savings plus stable net metering, not upfront cash: the state rebate was repealed in 2024 and the 30% federal credit ended after December 31, 2025. According to MySolarFY’s analysis (as of July 2026), a typical 7.6 kW New Hampshire rooftop produces about 9,500 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts), which offsets roughly $2,300 to $2,500 at the state’s 26.92 cents per kWh residential rate and pays back a cash system in about 9 to 11 years. Your result depends on your roof, usage, and system price.
- New Hampshire residential power runs about 26.92 cents per kWh, above the national average, so solar offsets an expensive bill (EIA, as of March 2026).
- Net metering is the main benefit: exports are credited at 100% of energy and transmission plus 25% of distribution, a structure grandfathered through December 31, 2040 for systems on the alternative tariff (NH PUC, DSIRE).
- The old state solar rebate is gone: the Residential Renewable Electrical Generation Rebate was repealed by Senate Bill 303 (2024), effective June 2024, so it is not available for new projects in 2026 (NH Department of Energy).
- New Hampshire has no state sales tax, so solar equipment is bought tax-free, and towns may adopt a local-option property-tax exemption under RSA 72:61-72:72 (DSIRE).
- Solar can earn Class II RECs in the regional market, but the value is modest and variable (DSIRE).
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 (IRS).
New Hampshire homeowners pay about 26.92 cents per kWh for electricity (EIA retail sales, residential NH, as of March 2026), well above the U.S. average, so cutting that bill is worth real money. New Hampshire’s incentive list is leaner than its neighbors, but it has one real strength: some of the most stable net metering in New England, locked in through 2040. This page is straight about what New Hampshire actually offers in 2026, including the rebate that no longer exists, and how to tell if your home qualifies.
Why solar pays in New Hampshire
High rates and stable net metering carry the math 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. New Hampshire does not stack rebates and state credits the way Massachusetts or New York do, so the economics lean on bill offset and net metering 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.
| Input | Value used |
|---|---|
| System size (typical NH home) | 7.6 kW |
| Annual production | about 9,500 kWh (NREL PVWatts v8) |
| Residential rate | 26.92 cents per kWh (EIA, March 2026) |
| Year-one bill offset | about $2,300 to $2,500 |
| Typical cash system cost | about $22,000 to $24,000 (~$3 per watt; the 25D federal credit ended after December 31, 2025, so it no longer lowers this cost) |
| Estimated simple payback | about 9 to 11 years |
Estimate only. Production is a modeled PVWatts figure and net metering credits exported power at about 85% of retail, so your real offset and payback depend on your roof, usage, and quoted system price. This is not a guarantee.
New Hampshire solar incentives at a glance
New Hampshire’s list is short and honest matters here, because the program that still ranks at the top of search results is closed to new projects. Here is what is real in 2026 and what is not.
| Incentive | What it does | 2026 status | Who receives it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net metering (NEM 2.0) | Credits exported power on your bill | Active: 100% energy and transmission plus 25% distribution, grandfathered through Dec 31, 2040 | The utility account holder | DSIRE |
| No state sales tax | Solar equipment is bought tax-free | Always, New Hampshire has no sales tax | The buyer | DSIRE |
| Local-option property-tax exemption | Excludes solar’s added value from assessment | Available only if your town adopted RSA 72:61-72:72 | The property owner | DSIRE |
| Class II RECs | Tradable certificates for your generation | Active but modest and variable | The system owner | DSIRE |
| Residential rebate | Former upfront cash rebate | Repealed by SB 303 (2024), effective June 2024; not available for new projects | No one, it was repealed | NH Department of Energy |
| Federal residential (Section 25D) | A 30% homeowner credit | Ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 | No 2026 homeowner-buyer | IRS |
The honest part first: the state rebate is closed to new projects. New Hampshire used to pay a Residential Renewable Electrical Generation Rebate of about $0.20 per watt up to $1,000, and that page still ranks at the top of search results. But New Hampshire repealed that program through Senate Bill 303 (2024), effective June 2024, so it is not available for any new project in 2026 (NH Department of Energy). Any quote that still includes that rebate is out of date, so leave it out of your math.
Heads up: because New Hampshire dropped its rebate and has no broad income tax, there is no state solar income-tax credit and no upfront state cash in 2026. The value here is the electricity you stop buying, the net-metering credits, and a property-tax exemption only if your town adopted it. Confirm your town’s status and every figure against the linked source, and ask a tax professional about your situation. MySolarFY does not provide tax advice.
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Net metering in New Hampshire
This is where New Hampshire is genuinely strong. Under the state’s NEM 2.0 tariff, set by the Public Service Commission in Docket DE 16-576, exported power is credited at 100% of the energy and transmission charge plus 25% of the distribution charge, which works out to about 85% of the retail rate, not a full 1-to-1 credit. The real advantage is stability: systems on the alternative tariff are grandfathered through December 31, 2040, so you lock in the rules for years (DSIRE). For the mechanics of how export credits work, see how net metering credits your solar exports. For the exact New Hampshire formula, what each utility actually pays, and the 2040 rate lock, see why New Hampshire net metering is not 1 to 1.
| Net-metering credit (NEM 2.0) | What you are credited |
|---|---|
| Energy and supply charge | 100% |
| Transmission charge | 100% |
| Distribution charge | 25% |
This applies to the large investor-owned utilities: Eversource New Hampshire, Unitil, and Liberty Utilities; the New Hampshire Electric Co-op sets its own terms, so confirm with your provider. To see how the credit lowers your monthly cost, read how solar lowers your electricity bill.
How you pay changes which incentives you keep
New Hampshire has no upfront state cash to capture, so the ownership question is simpler here, but it still decides who keeps the RECs and the property-tax break.
| How you pay | Up-front cost | Who owns the system | RECs | Net metering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | Full system price | You | You keep them | Yours |
| 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 net-metering credits, any RECs, and the property-tax exemption where your town offers it. If you lease or sign a PPA, the company that owns the panels usually keeps the RECs, and your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost, while net-metering credits still apply to your account. 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.
What changed federally, and what it means for New Hampshire
The federal homeowner credit is gone, and New Hampshire never had much state cash to replace it. 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 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 sales tax, and the local property-tax exemption were not affected, so the in-state value is unchanged even though the federal credit is gone. 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 in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire
New Hampshire has 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 New Hampshire experience and verifiable reviews, plus help with your net-metering interconnection.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote you can compare. 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. Just over the border, see our Vermont solar incentives guide and how Green Mountain Power net metering compares.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it in New Hampshire in 2026?
For most New Hampshire homes, yes. According to MySolarFY’s analysis (as of July 2026), a typical 7.6 kW system produces about 9,500 kWh a year and offsets roughly $2,300 to $2,500 at the state’s 26.92 cents per kWh rate, paying back a cash system in about 9 to 11 years. The state rebate is gone and the federal 25D credit ended after 2025, so the value is bill savings plus stable net metering rather than upfront cash. Your result depends on your roof, usage, and quoted price.
What solar incentives does New Hampshire offer in 2026?
New Hampshire’s main benefit is strong net metering: exports are credited at 100% of energy and transmission plus 25% of distribution, grandfathered through December 31, 2040 (DSIRE). The state also has no sales tax, so solar equipment is bought tax-free, and many towns offer a local-option property-tax exemption under RSA 72:61-72:72. Solar can earn modest Class II RECs. New Hampshire does not offer a state rebate or a state solar income-tax credit in 2026, so the value is mostly bill savings plus net metering.
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. A New Hampshire homeowner 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 and tax treatment were not affected. See our guide on what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
What happened to the New Hampshire solar rebate?
It was repealed. New Hampshire used to pay a Residential Renewable Electrical Generation Rebate of about $0.20 per watt up to $1,000, but Senate Bill 303 (2024) repealed that program effective June 2024, so it is not available for any new project in 2026 (NH Department of Energy). The old program page still ranks high in search results, so many guides have not caught up. Do not count on that rebate in your 2026 solar math.
How does net metering work in New Hampshire?
Under the NEM 2.0 tariff set by the Public Service Commission, exported power is credited at 100% of the energy and transmission charge plus 25% of the distribution charge, which works out to about 85% of the retail rate rather than a full 1-to-1 credit (DSIRE). The strength is stability: systems on the alternative tariff are grandfathered through December 31, 2040. This applies to Eversource, Unitil, and Liberty; the New Hampshire Electric Co-op sets its own terms, so check with your provider before sizing a system.
Does New Hampshire tax solar?
Barely. New Hampshire has no state sales tax, so you pay nothing in sales tax on solar equipment, and no broad state income tax, so there is no state solar income-tax credit to claim. The one local tax break is a property-tax exemption under RSA 72:61-72:72, which keeps your assessment from rising because of solar, but only if your municipality has voted to adopt it (DSIRE). Check your town’s status with your assessor before counting on it. In Nashua, for example, our Nashua solar guide covers the local RSA 72:62 exemption, Eversource net metering, and real payback math. In Manchester, our Manchester solar guide lays out Eversource NH net metering, real system costs, and payback for New Hampshire’s largest city. In Concord, the state capital on Unitil territory, our Concord solar guide covers Unitil net metering, the city’s RSA 72:61-72:62 property-tax exemption, and real payback math.
Do I qualify for NH solar incentives if I lease or sign a PPA?
Net metering follows the utility account, so you get the bill credits whether you own, lease, or sign a PPA. The RECs and the property-tax exemption go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the company usually keeps the RECs, 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, the ownership question matters less here than in states like Massachusetts or New York.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY editorial team using our data and methodology. Figures were verified against the linked New Hampshire (NH Department of Energy, NH PUC), DSIRE, EIA, and IRS sources as of July 2026; programs and tariffs change, so confirm current terms with 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. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.