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New Hampshire has 4 utilities with different retail rates and NEM credits. Unitil customers pay the most per kWh — and see the fastest solar payback. Here is how all 4 compare.
Eversource
$0.25/kWh
NEM ~$0.21
Liberty
$0.24/kWh
NEM ~$0.20
Unitil
$0.26/kWh
NEM ~$0.22
NHEC
$0.22/kWh
NEM ~$0.19
Your utility determines your retail rate, your NEM credit rate, and your interconnection process. You cannot switch utilities — your address decides which one you have.
~71% of NH customers
Southern and central NH (largest territory)
Retail Rate
$0.25
/kWh
NEM Credit
~$0.21
/kWh (~84%)
Est. Payback (8 kW)
8.6 years
25-Year Savings
$72,126
~6% of NH customers
Central and western NH (Salem, Keene, Littleton)
Retail Rate
$0.24
/kWh
NEM Credit
~$0.20
/kWh (~83%)
Est. Payback (8 kW)
8.9 years
25-Year Savings
$68,915
~11% of NH customers
Capital region (Concord, Hampton, Exeter)
Retail Rate
$0.26
/kWh
NEM Credit
~$0.22
/kWh (~85%)
Est. Payback (8 kW)
8.3 years
25-Year Savings
$75,337
~12% of NH customers
Northern NH and rural areas (118 towns)
Retail Rate
$0.22
/kWh
NEM Credit
~$0.19
/kWh (~86%)
Est. Payback (8 kW)
9.4 years
25-Year Savings
$63,457
All rates, NEM credits, service areas, and payback estimates in one table. Higher retail rate = more savings from solar self-consumption.
| Metric | Eversource | Liberty | Unitil | NHEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Retail Rate | $0.25/kWh | $0.24/kWh | $0.26/kWh | $0.22/kWh |
NEM Credit Rate ~85% of retail | ~$0.21/kWh | ~$0.20/kWh | ~$0.22/kWh | ~$0.19/kWh |
NEM % of Retail | ~84% | ~83% | ~85% | ~86% |
Market Share | ~71% | ~6% | ~11% | ~12% |
Service Area | Southern and central NH (largest territory) | Central and western NH (Salem, Keene, Littleton) | Capital region (Concord, Hampton, Exeter) | Northern NH and rural areas (118 towns) |
Est. Payback (8 kW) w/ property tax exempt | 8.6 yrs | 8.9 yrs | 8.3 yrs | 9.4 yrs |
Community Power | Available | Available | Available | Not available |
Data: NH PUC tariff schedules, NEM 2.0 (Docket DE 16-576), EnergySage, EIA. Payback assumes $3.03/W gross cost, 70% self-consumption, 2.5% annual rate escalation, RSA 72:62 property tax exemption.
Higher retail rate means more savings from every kWh your panels produce. But rate is not the only factor — installer availability and installation cost also vary by region.
Rate
$0.26
Payback
8.3 yrs
25-Yr Savings
$75K
Unitil's highest retail rate ($0.26/kWh) means every kWh you self-consume saves you more. Concord, Hampton, and Exeter homeowners see the fastest payback in NH.
Rate
$0.25
Payback
8.6 yrs
25-Yr Savings
$72K
Eversource serves ~71% of NH and has the most installer competition. Strong rate ($0.25/kWh) and wide availability make it the most common solar territory.
Rate
$0.24
Payback
8.9 yrs
25-Yr Savings
$69K
Liberty serves a small but diverse territory — Salem in the south to Littleton in the north. Solid economics at $0.24/kWh with good NEM credits.
Rate
$0.22
Payback
9.4 yrs
25-Yr Savings
$63K
NHEC's co-op model and lowest rate ($0.22/kWh) mean longer payback. But rural installations often cost less per watt, which can partially offset the lower rate.
No state rebate, no federal ITC
New Hampshire repealed its state solar rebate in 2024 (SB 303), and the Section 25D residential ITC expired December 31, 2025. These payback estimates reflect the full gross cost with no upfront incentives. The only offset is the property tax exemption (RSA 72:62) in towns that have adopted it.
Over 40% of NH electricity customers are now in Community Power towns. Here is how it interacts with your solar system.
CPCNH provides your electricity supply
Often 5-15% below the utility default supply rate.
Your utility still handles delivery and NEM
NEM credits are calculated based on the delivery utility (Eversource, Liberty, Unitil), not CPCNH.
NEM credit may be slightly lower
The supply component of your NEM credit reflects the CPCNH rate, which may be lower than the utility default. Net effect on savings is usually small.
40%+ of NH electricity customers
50+ communities enrolled
NHEC is a cooperative and does not participate in Community Power. NHEC members get co-op member rates instead.
Before your solar system can export power, your utility must approve the interconnection. Timeline and process vary by utility.
Largest NH utility; most installer experience. Straightforward process.
Smaller territory means fewer applications and often faster turnaround.
Concentrated in Concord/Seacoast area. Generally efficient process.
Co-op model — member-owned. Can be the fastest for straightforward installs.
NEM 2.0 rates locked through January 1, 2041
Under Docket DE 16-576, NH NEM 2.0 credit rates are locked for all systems interconnected before 2041. This means your export credit formula (100% supply + 100% transmission + 25% distribution) will not change for the life of most residential solar systems installed today.
Common questions about NH utilities and solar rates.
Unitil customers have the fastest solar payback because they pay the highest retail rate ($0.26/kWh), which means larger savings from self-consumption and higher NEM credits (~$0.22/kWh). However, all four utilities offer solid solar economics. Eversource ($0.25/kWh) serves the most customers and offers the widest installer availability. NHEC ($0.22/kWh) has the lowest rate and longest payback but also often has lower installation costs in rural areas.
No. New Hampshire NEM 2.0 credits are approximately 85% of retail rate, not 1:1. The formula is 100% of supply + 100% of transmission + 25% of distribution charges. This was established under Docket DE 16-576 and is locked through January 1, 2041. The exact NEM credit varies by utility: Eversource ~$0.21/kWh, Liberty ~$0.20/kWh, Unitil ~$0.22/kWh, NHEC ~$0.19/kWh.
Community Power provides your electricity supply at a rate that is often 5-15% below your utility default. Your utility still handles delivery and NEM credits. CPCNH may slightly reduce your NEM credit value because the supply component could be lower, but it also reduces your overall bill. The net effect is usually small — Community Power customers still see excellent solar savings.
No. Your utility is determined by your geographic location, not personal choice. Eversource, Liberty, Unitil, and NHEC each serve fixed territories with no overlap. However, you can choose your electricity supplier through Community Power or a competitive supplier — but this does not change your utility or your NEM credit structure.
No. The Section 25D residential solar tax credit expired December 31, 2025. NH homeowners who purchase solar with cash or a loan receive $0 in federal tax credits. However, solar leases and PPAs can still benefit from the Section 48/48E commercial ITC (30%), which is claimed by the third-party system owner (the financing company), not the homeowner. The 48/48E deadline is July 4, 2026.
The NH state solar rebate ($0.20/W, max $1,000) was permanently repealed by SB 303, signed in 2024. There is no state solar rebate in New Hampshire. The only remaining state-level solar benefit is the property tax exemption under RSA 72:62, which must be adopted at the town level. Approximately 66% of NH towns have adopted it.
Related Resources
Enter your address and we will calculate savings based on your exact utility rate, NEM credit, and property tax exemption status.
What solar costs in New Hampshire — by city, utility, and financing option.
Read moreNEM 2.0 formula, credit rates, rollover rules, and the 2041 rate lock.
Read moreEverything you need to know about going solar in New Hampshire.
Read moreNH PUC tariff schedules: Eversource NH, Liberty Utilities, Unitil, NHEC — effective January 2026.
NEM 2.0: NH PUC Docket DE 16-576. Credit formula: 100% supply + 100% transmission + 25% distribution.
Community Power Coalition of NH (CPCNH): cpcnh.org, February 2026.
Property tax exemption: RSA 72:62, NH Department of Revenue Administration.
SB 303 (state rebate repeal): signed 2024, NH General Court.
Section 25D residential solar tax credit: expired December 31, 2025.
Section 48/48E commercial ITC: active through July 4, 2026 (construction start deadline).