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New Hampshire electricity rates average $0.27/kWh in 2026 — 48% above the national average. With ~60% of NH power coming from natural gas and limited pipeline capacity into ISO New England, winter price spikes are a structural reality. Solar locks in $0/kWh for self-consumed energy regardless of what utilities charge.
27c/kWh
NH Avg Rate
2026
18c/kWh
National Avg
comparison
2023
Peak Year
30-31c/kWh
~9.5 yr
Solar Payback
no ITC
Federal Solar Tax Credit (Section 25D) Expired Dec 31, 2025
The 30% residential solar ITC is no longer available. NH also has no state solar rebate (SB 303 repealed it in 2024). Solar economics now depend entirely on utility rate savings vs. system cost. At $0.27/kWh, NH's high rates still make solar a strong investment with ~9.5-year payback.
New Hampshire has 4 electric utilities regulated by the NH Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Unlike Texas or deregulated states, you cannot choose your utility — but you can choose a competitive energy supplier or join your town's Community Power program.
Investor-Owned Utility · ~71% of NH
25c
per kWh (2026)
Largest NH utility. Rates peaked 2023 at 30c due to ISO-NE gas spikes. NEM credit ~85% retail.
Investor-Owned Utility · ~6% of NH
24c
per kWh (2026)
Smallest IOU. Service territory includes ski country and Connecticut River valley. Lower rates than Eversource.
Investor-Owned Utility · ~11% of NH
26c
per kWh (2026)
Highest-rate IOU in NH. Serves state capital Concord and Seacoast towns. Strong NEM value due to high rates.
Electric Cooperative · ~12% of NH
22c
per kWh (2026)
Member-owned co-op with lowest rates in NH. Serves White Mountains and North Country. No competitive supply option.
NH Is a Regulated Market — Very Different from Texas
Unlike Texas where you choose from dozens of Retail Electric Providers (REPs), NH assigns you a utility based on your address. Your bill has two parts: energy supply (60-70% of cost, can be changed via competitive supplier or CPCNH) and delivery (30-40%, always from your assigned utility). All rates are regulated by the NH PUC. This means less volatility than Texas's ERCOT market, but also less consumer choice.
All four NH utilities saw rates spike 30-55% between 2020 and their 2023 peak, driven by natural gas prices in the ISO New England wholesale market. Rates have moderated but remain well above pre-pandemic levels.
| Utility | Share | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource | ~71% | 19.0c | 21.0c+10.5% | 25.0c+19.0% | 30.0c+20.0% | 27.0c-10.0% | 24.5c-9.3% | 25.0c+2.0% | +31.6% |
| Liberty | ~6% | 18.0c | 20.0c+11.1% | 24.0c+20.0% | 28.5c+18.7% | 26.0c-8.8% | 23.5c-9.6% | 24.0c+2.1% | +33.3% |
| Unitil | ~11% | 20.0c | 22.0c+10.0% | 26.0c+18.2% | 31.0c+19.2% | 28.0c-9.7% | 25.5c-8.9% | 26.0c+2.0% | +30.0% |
| NHEC | ~12% | 17.0c | 19.0c+11.8% | 22.0c+15.8% | 26.0c+18.2% | 24.0c-7.7% | 21.5c-10.4% | 22.0c+2.3% | +29.4% |
| National Avg | - | 13.0c | 14.0c | 15.0c | 16.0c | 17.0c | 17.5c | 18.0c | +38.5% |
Key Pattern: NH Rates Rose ~31-58% Since 2020
Every NH utility saw dramatic rate increases from 2020-2023, with Unitil customers hit hardest (+55% peak). While 2025-2026 rates are down from the peak, they are still 29-32% above 2020 levels. The national average only rose 38.5% in the same period — NH customers have consistently paid a steep premium above the US average.
New Hampshire's high electricity rates are structural — driven by geography, fuel mix, and grid constraints that are not changing anytime soon.
ISO New England generates ~60% of power from natural gas. NH has no gas production — every molecule arrives via pipeline from the Gulf Coast or Marcellus Shale. Limited pipeline capacity creates bottlenecks, especially in winter.
NH winters average 7,500 heating degree days. When homes crank up gas furnaces, the same pipelines must supply power plants. This "gas-on-gas" competition drives wholesale electricity prices to their highest levels in January-February.
NH has no utility-scale offshore wind, minimal solar farms, and its largest power source (Seabrook nuclear, ~50% of generation) cannot scale. Without diverse generation, the state is tethered to gas market volatility.
Regional transmission charges from ISO New England continue rising as the grid invests in aging infrastructure upgrades. These costs are passed through to all NH customers regardless of utility.
NH sits at the end of the Northeast gas pipeline network. By the time gas reaches NH, it has passed through higher-demand markets in NY and MA. This geographic disadvantage adds 10-20% to delivered gas prices.
NH has only ~750,000 electric customers. Fixed grid costs are spread across fewer ratepayers than MA (3.5M) or NY (8M). Per-customer transmission and distribution charges are inherently higher.
Unlike Texas (which runs its own ERCOT grid), NH is part of ISO New England (ISO-NE) — the regional grid operator covering all six New England states. ISO-NE runs the wholesale electricity market where generators bid to supply power and the clearing price determines what utilities pay for energy supply.
This is the wholesale electricity cost, set by ISO-NE's day-ahead and real-time markets. It fluctuates with natural gas prices, demand, and weather. NH utilities update their energy supply rates every 6 months (February and August). You can avoid this charge by choosing a competitive supplier or joining CPCNH.
These charges cover the physical infrastructure: power lines, substations, transformers, and meters. Delivery rates are set by the NH PUC through formal rate cases. Transmission charges are set by ISO-NE and allocated to NH utilities. You cannot avoid delivery charges by switching suppliers — they are always paid to your assigned utility.
Why this matters for solar: Solar reduces both the supply and delivery components of your bill for every kWh you self-consume. When you export excess to the grid, NH's NEM 2.0 credits you at approximately 85% of the full retail rate (100% supply + 100% transmission + 25% distribution). This means self-consumption is always more valuable than exporting.
CPCNH is one of NH's most important energy developments. Over 50 towns have formed a joint action agency to purchase electricity as a group, bypassing utility default supply rates. If your town participates, you are automatically enrolled (opt-out, not opt-in).
50+
Towns Enrolled
40%+
NH Customers Served
1-3c
Savings vs. Default Supply
NH electricity costs have risen 31-58% since 2020. Solar locks in $0/kWh for every kWh you generate and consume — your rate never changes regardless of ISO-NE market swings.
$136
monthly savings
$189
monthly savings
$244
monthly savings
$301
monthly savings
Without Solar (25 years)
With 8 kW Solar (25 years)
Net savings over 25 years: ~$67,000. This assumes 3% annual rate increases (the 2020-2026 average is 4.8%). With higher rate inflation, savings exceed $85,000. Solar is the only way to lock in your electricity cost in NH.
Your utility determines your rate, NEM credit, and effective solar savings. Here's how the math works for an 8 kW system ($24,240 at $3.03/W) across each NH utility.
~71% of NH · 25c/kWh · NEM 21c
~6% of NH · 24c/kWh · NEM 20c
~11% of NH · 26c/kWh · NEM 22c
~12% of NH · 22c/kWh · NEM 19c
Unitil Customers Have the Fastest Solar Payback
At 26c/kWh with a 22c NEM credit, Unitil customers see the strongest solar economics in NH. NHEC members at 22c/kWh have the slowest payback — but at ~10.5 years, it's still a strong investment for a 25-year asset. Every NH utility is above the national threshold where solar makes economic sense without incentives.
Based on ISO-NE market fundamentals, NH PUC rate case filings, and regional infrastructure investments, here is the likely rate trajectory for NH electricity:
Natural gas prices have stabilized but ISO-NE transmission charges continue rising. Expect $0.25-0.28/kWh range for most utilities.
Regional grid investments (offshore wind interconnection, transmission upgrades) will be socialized across all ratepayers. These costs flow into delivery charges over 2-3 year rate case cycles.
If offshore wind projects deliver, supply diversification could moderate energy costs. If projects stall (permitting, supply chain), continued gas dependency means continued high rates. Seabrook nuclear relicensing (2030) is a wildcard.
Solar Is the Only Fixed-Rate Option in NH
Whether rates go up 3% or 8% annually, your solar panels produce electricity at $0/kWh for 25+ years after installation. With NEM 2.0 locked through 2041, the export credit structure is equally stable. Every year you wait, you pay another ~$2,300-2,800 in utility costs that solar would have eliminated.
| State | Avg Rate | vs. National | Solar Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $0.29 | +61% | $3.15/W | 8.5 yr |
| New Hampshire(you are here) | $0.27 | +50% | $3.03/W | 9.5 yr |
| Rhode Island | $0.29 | +61% | $3.10/W | 8.8 yr |
| Connecticut | $0.28 | +56% | $3.05/W | 9.0 yr |
| Maine | $0.27 | +50% | $3.05/W | 14 yr |
| Vermont | $0.22 | +22% | $3.20/W | 12 yr |
| National Avg | $0.18 | +0% | $2.85/W | 12+ yr |
NH has the second-lowest solar installation cost in New England ($3.03/W) while maintaining high utility rates — this creates one of the stronger solar payback profiles in the region, despite having no state rebate and no federal ITC.
Common questions about NH electricity rates, utility structure, and solar economics.
NH gets ~60% of its electricity from natural gas, which must be imported via limited pipeline capacity into the ISO New England region. During winter, residential heating demand competes with power plants for the same gas supply, driving wholesale prices higher. NH also lacks the large-scale wind, solar, and hydroelectric resources that keep rates lower in other regions. The result: NH rates average $0.27/kWh vs. the $0.18/kWh national average — 48% higher.
CPCNH is a joint action agency where 50+ NH towns aggregate their electricity purchasing power to negotiate lower energy supply rates. If your town participates, you are automatically enrolled as the default supplier (you can opt out). CPCNH typically offers rates 1-3 cents/kWh below the utility default supply rate. It does not affect the delivery portion of your bill, which still comes from your utility (Eversource, Liberty, or Unitil). NHEC members cannot participate as NHEC is a co-op, not an IOU.
ISO New England wholesale prices surged in 2022-2023 due to global natural gas price increases following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. NH utilities pass through energy supply costs to customers every 6 months. Eversource hit $0.30/kWh and Unitil hit $0.31/kWh at their peaks. Rates have since moderated as global gas markets stabilized, but remain well above pre-2022 levels.
NH NEM 2.0 credits solar exports at approximately 85% of retail rate — specifically 100% of the supply and transmission charges plus 25% of the distribution charge. For Eversource customers, this means a credit of about $0.21/kWh against a $0.25/kWh total rate. NEM 2.0 is locked through 2041 per RSA 362-A, making it one of the most stable net metering policies in New England. Systems up to 100 kW qualify for residential NEM.
Rates are likely to remain high ($0.24-0.28/kWh range) through 2027. While gas prices have moderated from their 2022-2023 peak, ISO-NE transmission costs continue to rise as the region invests in grid upgrades. Offshore wind projects and new transmission lines may eventually lower costs, but these are years away. The safest bet for NH homeowners is to lock in $0/kWh self-consumed solar energy rather than betting on utility rate trends.
An average 8 kW system in NH produces ~9,400 kWh/year and costs about $24,240 ($3.03/W). At the average rate of $0.27/kWh, first-year savings are approximately $2,300. With rates historically increasing 3-5% per year, 25-year savings total $70,000-85,000. Payback is approximately 9.5 years with no federal tax credit (Section 25D expired Dec 31, 2025). Unitil customers see faster payback due to higher rates; NHEC customers see slower payback due to lower rates.
Your NH electric bill has two main components: energy supply (60-70% of total) and delivery/transmission (30-40%). Energy supply is the actual electricity generation cost — this is the portion you can change by choosing a competitive supplier or enrolling in CPCNH. Delivery charges cover the physical wires, poles, meters, and transmission lines — these are set by the NH PUC and paid to your utility regardless of your supply choice. Solar reduces both components for self-consumed energy.
No. The NH state solar rebate was repealed by SB 303 in 2024. There is no state-level financial incentive for residential solar in NH. The federal Section 25D residential solar tax credit also expired on December 31, 2025. However, NH has no state sales tax (saving ~5-8% vs. taxed states) and about 66% of NH towns offer a property tax exemption under RSA 72:62 for solar installations, saving approximately $584/year on average.
NH electricity rates have risen 31-58% since 2020 and show no signs of returning to pre-pandemic levels. Solar locks in $0/kWh for self-consumed energy — the only true hedge against rising utility costs in the Granite State.