- Unitil is not statewide. It serves two compact New Hampshire regions, the Seacoast (Portsmouth, Exeter, Hampton, and nearby towns) and the Capital area (Concord and nearby towns), so the first step is confirming Unitil is your utility (Unitil service areas, as of June 2026).
- New Hampshire residential power averages about 26.92 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), well above the national average, so the bill your solar offsets is expensive.
- Unitil bills on its own Rate D tariff, with a $16.22 monthly customer charge plus about 9.86 cents per kWh in delivery, on top of a supply rate that resets twice a year (Unitil NH residential rates, as of the September 2025 tariff).
- Net metering credits exports at close to retail, not a flat one-for-one: New Hampshire’s tariff lands at roughly three-quarters of the all-in retail rate (DSIRE New Hampshire, as of 2026).
- New Hampshire has thin state incentives: no state income-tax credit for solar and no state sales tax, with only an optional local property-tax exemption your town may or may not offer (DSIRE New Hampshire, as of 2026).
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025 (IRS, as of 2026), so a 2026 cash or loan buyer cannot claim it.
New Hampshire has several electric utilities, so before you think about solar, settle who delivers your power. Unitil is one of the smaller ones, and it serves two separate parts of the state: the Seacoast around Portsmouth, Exeter, and Hampton, and the Capital region around Concord. If you are in one of those areas, your rooftop solar follows Unitil’s rates and New Hampshire’s net-metering tariff, which is different from a flat one-for-one credit. This page explains who Unitil serves, what it charges, how it credits the power your panels export, and how to tell whether your roof is a good fit.
Is Unitil your utility? New Hampshire’s electric map
Unitil is a small utility, so the first thing to check is whether it actually serves you. New Hampshire’s power is split among Eversource, the largest by far with more than 200 towns, Unitil, Liberty Utilities, and the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative. Unitil Energy Systems, a subsidiary of Unitil Corporation based in Hampton, covers two separate regions rather than a single contiguous area (Unitil service areas, as of June 2026). If your town is on Unitil, your net metering and interconnection run through Unitil; if it is not, the rules on this page may not apply, so confirm your provider on your bill first.
| Unitil New Hampshire region | Representative towns | Operations center |
|---|---|---|
| Seacoast | Portsmouth, Exeter, Hampton, Hampton Falls, North Hampton, Rye, Newmarket, Stratham, Seabrook, Kingston | Exeter |
| Capital | Concord, Bow, Hopkinton, Loudon, Pittsfield, Boscawen, Canterbury, Chichester, Epsom, Dunbarton | Concord |
If Eversource is your utility instead, the rules are similar but the rates and territory differ, so see our Eversource New Hampshire net-metering guide. For the statewide picture across every New Hampshire utility, see our New Hampshire solar guide.
Local note: Unitil owns solar too. In June 2025 Unitil energized the Kingston Solar Array, described as the first public utility-owned solar array in New Hampshire (NHPR, as of June 2025). That is a utility-owned generation project, not a homeowner program, so it does not change what your own rooftop system earns, but it is a sign the utility is active in solar.
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What you pay: the Unitil Rate D tariff
The reason solar pays in New Hampshire is the price of the power it replaces. New Hampshire residential electricity averages about 26.92 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), well above the national average, so every kilowatt-hour your roof makes offsets an expensive one. Unitil bills residential customers on its own tariff, the Domestic Rate D, which is separate from Eversource New Hampshire’s. Rate D has a fixed monthly customer charge of $16.22 plus about 9.86 cents per kWh in delivery charges, and then a supply rate on top (Unitil NH residential rates, as of the September 2025 tariff). The supply portion is reset every February 1 and August 1, so the all-in price moves through the year. For the exact cents this month, read the supply and delivery lines on your own Unitil bill before you size a system.
| Rate D component | What it is | Recent figure |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly customer charge | A fixed charge you pay even at zero usage | $16.22 per month |
| Delivery | The per-kWh charge to move power to your home | About 9.86 cents per kWh |
| Default supply (energy) | The per-kWh charge for the power itself | Resets every February 1 and August 1 |
Source: Unitil New Hampshire residential rates (as of the September 2025 tariff). Your production is what turns that rate into savings. A well-placed New Hampshire roof offsets a large share of a home’s annual use, but output depends on your roof’s pitch, shading, and orientation, so estimate yours with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator rather than a generic number. Production drives your net-metering credits, so it is worth getting right.
How Unitil credits the power you send back: New Hampshire net metering
New Hampshire net metering is close to retail, but not a flat one-for-one, and that is the same statewide tariff Unitil follows. Under the state’s Alternative Net Metering Tariff, often called Net Metering 2.0 and set by the Public Utilities Commission in Docket DE 16-576, a new residential system (up to 100 kW) is credited at the full energy and transmission portions of the rate plus about 25% of the distribution charge, with a few non-bypassable charges left out (DSIRE New Hampshire; Unitil net metering, as of 2026). Add it up and the credit lands at roughly three-quarters of the all-in retail rate, not the full retail value, and the exact figure moves with Unitil’s rates. The credits are dollar amounts that roll forward month to month with no annual expiration, so a normal home system is never shut out. The state reviewed this tariff and chose to keep it, grandfathering current systems through the end of 2040, so your near-term credits are not being cut. For the mechanics, see how net metering credits your solar exports, and for the full review detail see our Eversource New Hampshire guide, which covers the same statewide rules.
| What you earn | How it is valued | Who receives it |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and transmission on exports | Credited at the full rate | The Unitil account holder |
| Distribution on exports | Credited at about 25% | The account holder |
| Non-bypassable charges | 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.
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 an honest page should say so. Unlike Massachusetts or New Jersey, 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 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 not statewide and not automatic, though more than 150 towns have adopted it, so check whether your Unitil town offers it and how to file (DSIRE New Hampshire, as of 2026).
Note: NHSaves is energy efficiency, not a solar rebate. Unitil co-administers NHSaves, the statewide utility efficiency program, alongside Eversource, Liberty, and the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative. NHSaves offers rebates for insulation, heating and cooling, and appliances, but it is not a rebate for installing solar panels. New Hampshire’s state solar rebate, the Residential Renewable Electrical Generation Rebate, is closed to new projects under HB 2 (2025), so do not budget around it (DSIRE New Hampshire, as of 2026).
How to connect solar to Unitil in New Hampshire
Connecting a home system to Unitil follows New Hampshire’s interconnection rules, and the key rule is that you cannot turn the system on until Unitil grants permission to operate. The general path is:
- Interconnection application. You or your installer submit an application to Unitil for the system you plan to install, with the design and inverter details.
- Review and approval. Unitil reviews the system against New Hampshire’s interconnection standards; small residential systems usually qualify for a simplified or expedited path, and Unitil issues an interconnection agreement.
- Install and inspect. The system is installed by a licensed contractor and passes your local electrical inspection.
- Meter set. Unitil installs or reprograms a bidirectional net meter that measures both the power you draw and the power you export.
- Permission to operate. Unitil 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 Unitil 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 systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a Unitil customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). 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 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.
How to choose a solar installer in Unitil territory
Unitil does not install solar itself; it directs customers to the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission for licensed-installer information, and the Seacoast and Concord areas are 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 Unitil interconnection and permission to operate, so the application goes smoothly.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote that shows your bill after solar, fixed charges included, 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
Is Unitil my electric utility in New Hampshire?
Maybe, depending on your town. Unitil is one of New Hampshire’s smaller utilities and serves two separate areas: the Seacoast around Portsmouth, Exeter, and Hampton, and the Capital region around Concord (Unitil service areas, as of June 2026). The rest of the state is mostly Eversource, with Liberty Utilities and the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative serving other areas. The quickest way to be sure is to check the utility name on your electric bill. If you are on Unitil, your net metering and interconnection run through Unitil and the rules on this page apply.
What is the Unitil electricity rate in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire residential power averages about 26.92 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), among the higher rates in the country. Unitil bills on its own Rate D tariff, with a $16.22 monthly customer charge plus about 9.86 cents per kWh in delivery, and a supply rate on top that resets every February and August (Unitil NH residential rates, as of the September 2025 tariff). Because the supply portion changes through the year, read your own bill for the current all-in cents. That high rate is the main reason rooftop solar pays in Unitil territory.
How does Unitil net metering work in New Hampshire?
Unitil credits exported power under New Hampshire’s Net Metering 2.0 tariff, set by the Public Utilities Commission in Docket DE 16-576. A new residential system is credited at the full energy and transmission portions plus about 25% of the distribution charge, with a few non-bypassable charges left out, which lands at roughly three-quarters of the all-in retail rate rather than a flat one-for-one (DSIRE New Hampshire, as of 2026). The credits roll forward month to month with no annual expiration, and the state reviewed the tariff and kept it, grandfathering current systems through 2040, so your near-term credits are not being cut.
Does New Hampshire have a state income-tax credit for solar?
No. New Hampshire does not offer a state income-tax credit for solar, and because the state has no general sales tax, there is also no sales-tax exemption to claim (DSIRE New Hampshire, as of 2026). The one state-level break is a local-option property-tax exemption under RSA 72:61 through 72:72, which a New Hampshire town may adopt to exempt the added home value from a solar system; more than 150 towns have, but it is not automatic, so check your own town. New Hampshire’s state solar rebate is closed to new projects under HB 2 (2025), so the payback here rests on bill savings and net metering, not state cash.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit for Unitil customers?
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a homeowner buying with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). 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 the local-option property-tax exemption were not affected, so the in-state payback still holds in 2026.
Do I still qualify for Unitil net metering if I lease or sign a PPA?
Yes. Net-metering credits follow the Unitil account, so the customer of record earns 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. A lease or PPA is not free solar; it is a long-term agreement with monthly payments, so compare the total cost against owning. Because New Hampshire has no up-front state rebate to capture in 2026, the ownership question matters less here than in states with rich incentives.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked Unitil, New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (Docket DE 16-576 / DE 22-060), DSIRE, EIA, and IRS sources as of June 2026; Unitil’s supply rate resets each February and August, net-metering terms can change, and the local property-tax exemption is town-by-town, so confirm current terms with Unitil and your town 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.
