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New Hampshire Solar Calculator

NH has some of the highest electricity rates in the US at $0.22/kWh — enter your Eversource or Liberty Utilities bill to see 30% ITC + property tax exemption + net metering savings. Fast payback despite moderate sun.

Your New Hampshire solar inputs
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kW
New Hampshire solar estimate
20 × 400W panels (8 kW system)
Monthly usage818 kWh/mo
Annual production (NH 4.2 PSH)9,811 kWh/yr
Annual savings (net metering @ $0.22)$2,158/yr
Gross system cost$24,000
Federal ITC (30%)-$7,200
Net cost after incentives$16,800
Property tax exemption (10-yr est.)$4,320
Payback period7.8 yrs
25-year savings$53,962
NH's high electricity rates ($0.22/kWh) make solar one of the fastest-payback states in New England. 30% federal ITC + property tax exemption + retail net metering (up to 1 MW). No NH state income tax credit. Eversource ConnectedSolutions battery incentive subject to program availability.
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How to Use This Calculator

New Hampshire's high rates drive fast solar payback

New Hampshire has some of the highest electricity rates in the United States at $0.22/kWh — nearly double the national average. This single factor makes NH an attractive solar market despite its moderate 4.2 peak sun hours. Every kilowatt-hour your solar system produces is worth $0.22 of avoided electricity cost, far more than in low-rate states like Wyoming or North Dakota. NH also has a strong property tax exemption and retail-rate net metering for systems up to 1 MW.

Enter your bill and select your NH utility

Eversource Energy serves most of NH including Manchester, Nashua, Concord, and the seacoast region. Liberty Utilities serves portions of the state including the Concord area and northern NH. Both utilities offer retail-rate net metering. Enter your monthly electric bill, select your utility, and set your system size — the calculator immediately shows your estimated savings, federal ITC, and payback period.

Battery and Eversource ConnectedSolutions

Eversource's ConnectedSolutions program provides approximately $3,000 in upfront incentives for battery storage enrollment. The battery also qualifies for the federal 30% ITC. NH's harsh winters with ice storms and heavy snow make backup power particularly valuable — battery ROI in NH includes both rate savings and outage resilience. NH has no state income tax credit for solar, so the federal ITC is the primary tax incentive.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ Electricity Rate Annual Production = System kW × 1000 × 4.2 PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency ÷ 1000 Self-consumed kWh = Annual Production × 0.65 Exported kWh = Annual Production − Self-consumed kWh Annual Savings = (Self-consumed + Exported) × $0.22/kWh (NH net metering) Gross Cost = System kW × 1000 × $3.00/W + Battery ($12,000 if added) ITC Credit = Gross Cost × 30% Battery Incentive = $3,000 (Eversource ConnectedSolutions, if battery added) Net Cost = Gross Cost − ITC − Battery Incentive Payback = Net Cost ÷ Annual Savings Property Tax Exemption = System Value × ~1.8% property tax rate (ongoing)

New Hampshire averages 4.2 peak sun hours — Manchester receives about 4.3 PSH and Concord about 4.1 PSH. NH's $3.00/W installation cost is slightly above average, reflecting the smaller NH installer market. The high $0.22/kWh electricity rate means a typical 8 kW system saves approximately $2,200/year — strong annual savings that accelerate payback despite moderate sun. NH's property tax exemption is one of the state's best solar benefits: solar-added home value is permanently excluded from property tax assessment.

Example

David — Manchester Eversource customer

David is in Manchester on Eversource paying $180/month at $0.22/kWh. He wants an 8 kW system without battery.

Monthly bill$180 (Eversource, $0.22/kWh)
System8 kW, no battery
LocationManchester, NH (4.3 PSH)

Result

Annual production~9,542 kWh/yr
Annual savings (net metering @ $0.22)~$2,099/yr
Gross system cost~$24,000
Federal ITC (30%)-$7,200
Net cost after ITC~$16,800
Payback period~8.0 years
25-year savings~$52,475

NH's $0.22/kWh rate translates directly into fast payback — David's 8 kW system pays back in about 8 years despite only moderate 4.2 PSH sun. Over 25 years, he saves over $52,000. The property tax exemption adds thousands more in avoided property tax on the solar system's added home value. NH's solar market is competitive — multiple installers serve Manchester and Nashua, keeping prices reasonable despite the smaller market size.

FAQ

No. New Hampshire does not have a state income tax credit for solar because NH has no broad state income tax — the state only taxes interest and dividend income (and is phasing out even that). The 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is the primary tax incentive. NH homeowners claiming the federal ITC receive the full 30% credit on their federal return. Despite no state credit, NH's high electricity rates ($0.22/kWh) and strong net metering make solar financially attractive.
New Hampshire's RSA 72:61-72:72 provides a permanent property tax exemption for solar energy systems. The added value of your solar installation is excluded from your home's assessed value for property tax purposes indefinitely — not just for a limited period. At NH's average effective property tax rate of approximately 1.8% (one of the highest in the US), a $24,000 solar system saves approximately $432/year in perpetuity. You must apply for the exemption through your local municipality. Most NH towns process the application once and it remains in effect for subsequent years.
New Hampshire's net metering law allows residential customers with solar systems up to 1 MW to receive retail-rate credit for exported electricity. Eversource and Liberty Utilities credit exported solar at the full retail rate ($0.22/kWh). Credits accumulate monthly; at year-end, Eversource pays out remaining credits at an avoided-cost rate. NH's Renewable Energy Act has been generally supportive of distributed solar. The state's Net Energy Metering (NEM) program is available to all NH investor-owned utility customers. Municipal utilities may have different policies.
Eversource ConnectedSolutions is a demand response battery program that pays homeowners to allow Eversource to briefly draw power from their home battery during peak demand periods. Enrolled NH customers with qualifying batteries receive approximately $3,000 in enrollment incentives plus ongoing seasonal payments. The battery must be capable of participating in demand response events (most modern home batteries including Tesla Powerwall qualify). The program runs seasonally and enrollment may be capacity-limited. Contact Eversource directly for current enrollment status and payment rates.
New Hampshire's high electricity rates ($0.22/kWh) stem from several factors: the state has limited in-state electricity generation capacity and depends heavily on imported power from the regional New England grid (ISO-NE); New England has some of the most expensive natural gas pipeline capacity in the US; NH's cold winters drive very high seasonal demand; and the state's small population means fixed grid costs are spread across fewer customers. These structural factors mean NH electricity rates are unlikely to fall significantly — making solar an increasingly attractive long-term investment for NH homeowners.

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📈 Federal ITC Calculator
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