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20+ New Hampshire towns compared. Real payback periods from 8.5 to 12.8 years based on your utility territory, local rates, and whether your town adopted the RSA 72:62 property tax exemption.
8.5 yr
Fastest Payback
$0
Federal ITC (Expired)
$0
State Rebate (SB 303)
0%
NH Sales Tax
The Section 25D residential solar tax credit expired December 31, 2025. The NH state solar rebate was permanently repealed by SB 303 in 2024. Every payback figure on this page reflects the full system cost with zero federal or state rebates. The only incentives factored in are NEM 2.0 credits (~85% of retail), the RSA 72:62 property tax exemption (where adopted), and NHs 0% sales tax.
Your utility determines your electricity rate and NEM 2.0 credit value. Higher rates mean faster payback because each kWh your solar produces is worth more.
Electric Rate
$0.25/kWh
NEM Credit
~$0.21/kWh
Avg Payback
9.5-10.5 yr
Key towns: Manchester, Nashua, Dover, Rochester, Derry, Londonderry, Merrimack, Bedford, Amherst, Milford
Electric Rate
$0.26/kWh
NEM Credit
~$0.22/kWh
Avg Payback
9.2-9.8 yr
Key towns: Concord, Portsmouth, Exeter, Hampton
Electric Rate
$0.24/kWh
NEM Credit
~$0.20/kWh
Avg Payback
9.8-10.8 yr
Key towns: Salem, Keene, Lebanon, Hanover, Claremont
Electric Rate
$0.22/kWh
NEM Credit
~$0.19/kWh
Avg Payback
10.5-11.5 yr
Key towns: Laconia, 118 rural towns (North Country, Lakes Region)
All figures based on an 8 kW system in 2026. No federal ITC. No state rebate. NEM 2.0 at ~85% retail. Sorted by fastest payback.
| Town | Utility | Rate | $/W | System Cost | Year 1 Savings | Payback | 25-Yr Savings | Tax Exempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exeter | Unitil | $0.26 | $3.08 | $24,640 | $2,915 | 8.5 yr | $74,937 | |
Derry | Eversource | $0.25 | $3.00 | $24,000 | $2,821 | 8.5 yr | $72,366 | |
Merrimack | Eversource | $0.25 | $3.00 | $24,000 | $2,821 | 8.5 yr | $72,366 | |
Manchester | Eversource | $0.25 | $3.03 | $24,240 | $2,821 | 8.6 yr | $72,126 | |
Concord | Unitil | $0.26 | $3.13 | $25,040 | $2,915 | 8.6 yr | $74,537 | |
Portsmouth | Unitil | $0.26 | $3.13 | $25,040 | $2,915 | 8.6 yr | $74,537 | |
Hampton | Unitil | $0.26 | $3.13 | $25,040 | $2,915 | 8.6 yr | $74,537 | |
Londonderry | Eversource | $0.25 | $3.05 | $24,400 | $2,821 | 8.6 yr | $71,966 | |
Bedford | Eversource | $0.25 | $3.05 | $24,400 | $2,821 | 8.6 yr | $71,966 | |
Milford | Eversource | $0.25 | $3.03 | $24,240 | $2,821 | 8.6 yr | $72,126 | |
Nashua | Eversource | $0.25 | $3.08 | $24,640 | $2,821 | 8.7 yr | $71,726 | |
Amherst | Eversource | $0.25 | $3.08 | $24,640 | $2,821 | 8.7 yr | $71,726 | |
Salem | Liberty | $0.24 | $3.03 | $24,240 | $2,727 | 8.9 yr | $68,915 | |
Keene | Liberty | $0.24 | $3.10 | $24,800 | $2,727 | 9.1 yr | $68,355 | |
Lebanon | Liberty | $0.24 | $3.15 | $25,200 | $2,727 | 9.2 yr | $67,955 | |
Hanover | Liberty | $0.24 | $3.20 | $25,600 | $2,727 | 9.4 yr | $67,555 | |
Rochester | Eversource | $0.25 | $2.95 | $23,600 | $2,237 | 10.5 yr | $52,818 | |
Dover | Eversource | $0.25 | $2.98 | $23,840 | $2,237 | 10.7 yr | $52,578 | |
Claremont | Liberty | $0.24 | $3.15 | $25,200 | $2,143 | 11.8 yr | $48,007 | |
Laconia | NHEC | $0.22 | $3.18 | $25,440 | $1,983 | 12.8 yr | $42,309 |
Assumptions: 8 kW system, 1,175 peak sun hours/yr, 70% self-consumption, 30% exported at NEM 2.0 rate, 2.5% annual rate escalation, RSA 72:62 property tax exemption saves ~$584/yr where adopted.
New Hampshire RSA 72:62 allows towns to exempt solar energy systems from property tax assessment. This is a local-option exemption -- each town must vote to adopt it at town meeting. Approximately 66% of NH towns have adopted this exemption.
Saves ~$584/year
Based on typical 8 kW system adding ~$15,000 in assessed value at NHs average mill rate
Shortens payback by 0.5-1.0 year
An extra $584/year of effective savings adds up fast over the payback period
Check your town
Contact your town assessor or check town meeting minutes to confirm RSA 72:62 adoption status
These towns on our list have not adopted the property tax exemption, resulting in longer payback:
If your town hasnt adopted RSA 72:62, you can petition to have it placed on the town meeting warrant.
$0.27/kWh average -- 48% above national average. Each kWh produced is worth more in NH.
NH has no sales tax. Saves $1,500-$2,000 vs. neighboring MA, ME, VT, CT.
~85% retail credits guaranteed for 15+ more years. Long-term revenue certainty.
RSA 72:62 (66% of towns): solar adds home value without raising property taxes.
Utility
Unitil (0.26/kWh)
System Cost
$24,640
Year 1 Savings
$2,915
25-Year Net
$74,937
Seacoast area. Unitil = best NEM value.
Utility
Eversource (0.25/kWh)
System Cost
$24,000
Year 1 Savings
$2,821
25-Year Net
$72,366
One of NHs fastest-growing towns.
Utility
Eversource (0.25/kWh)
System Cost
$24,000
Year 1 Savings
$2,821
25-Year Net
$72,366
Fast permitting. Good solar economics.
Utility
Eversource (0.25/kWh)
System Cost
$24,240
Year 1 Savings
$2,821
25-Year Net
$72,126
Largest city in NH. Fast permitting.
Utility
Unitil (0.26/kWh)
System Cost
$25,040
Year 1 Savings
$2,915
25-Year Net
$74,537
State capital. Unitil territory = higher NEM credits.
Utility
Unitil (0.26/kWh)
System Cost
$25,040
Year 1 Savings
$2,915
25-Year Net
$74,537
Seacoast city. Unitil = strong NEM value.
Utility
Unitil (0.26/kWh)
System Cost
$25,040
Year 1 Savings
$2,915
25-Year Net
$74,537
Coastal. Salt-air considerations for panels.
Utility
Eversource (0.25/kWh)
System Cost
$24,400
Year 1 Savings
$2,821
25-Year Net
$71,966
Strong suburban market for solar.
Utility
Eversource (0.25/kWh)
System Cost
$24,400
Year 1 Savings
$2,821
25-Year Net
$71,966
Affluent suburb. Higher property values.
Utility
Eversource (0.25/kWh)
System Cost
$24,240
Year 1 Savings
$2,821
25-Year Net
$72,126
Affordable install costs. Growing adoption.
Utility
Eversource (0.25/kWh)
System Cost
$24,640
Year 1 Savings
$2,821
25-Year Net
$71,726
Strong solar adoption. RSA 72:62 adopted.
Utility
Eversource (0.25/kWh)
System Cost
$24,640
Year 1 Savings
$2,821
25-Year Net
$71,726
Rural-suburban. Many ground-mount installs.
Liberty | $24,240 | $68,915 25-yr savings
Liberty | $24,800 | $68,355 25-yr savings
Liberty | $25,200 | $67,955 25-yr savings
Liberty | $25,600 | $67,555 25-yr savings
Eversource | $23,600 | $52,818 25-yr savings
Eversource | $23,840 | $52,578 25-yr savings
Liberty | $25,200 | $48,007 25-yr savings
NHEC | $25,440 | $42,309 25-yr savings
Higher rates ($0.26/kWh) and NEM credits ($0.22/kWh) shorten payback by 0.5-1 year vs. NHEC territory.
RSA 72:62 saves ~$584/year. Towns without it see 0.5-1 year longer payback. Check your town status.
9-11 year payback with $55K-$70K in 25-year savings. NH rates at $0.27/kWh make the math work.
You save $1,500-$2,000 compared to buying the same system in MA. This is baked into every payback figure.
Credits at ~85% of retail. Any installer using 1:1 in projections is inflating your savings by ~15%.
$0.10/W difference = $800 on an 8 kW system. With no ITC, getting the best price is critical.
The average solar payback period in New Hampshire is 9-11 years in 2026, depending on your town, utility, and whether your town has adopted the RSA 72:62 property tax exemption. Towns in Unitil territory (Concord, Portsmouth, Exeter, Hampton) often see faster payback due to higher utility rates ($0.26/kWh). There is no federal residential tax credit (expired Dec 31, 2025) and no state rebate (SB 303 repealed it in 2024).
Towns in Unitil territory with the RSA 72:62 property tax exemption typically see the fastest payback. Exeter, Concord, and Portsmouth benefit from higher Unitil rates ($0.26/kWh) and higher NEM 2.0 credits ($0.22/kWh). Combined with the property tax exemption saving ~$584/year, these towns see payback around 9.2-9.5 years.
Your utility determines both your electricity rate and your NEM 2.0 credit rate. Unitil customers pay $0.26/kWh and receive ~$0.22/kWh NEM credits. Eversource customers pay $0.25/kWh with ~$0.21/kWh credits. NHEC customers pay only $0.22/kWh with ~$0.19/kWh credits. Higher rates mean faster payback because each kWh your solar produces is worth more.
No. The Section 25D residential solar investment tax credit expired on December 31, 2025. Homeowners who purchase solar with cash or a loan receive $0 in federal tax credits. The only way to access federal solar incentives in 2026 is through a Section 48/48E lease or PPA where the third-party owner claims the credit. The payback figures on this page assume no federal tax credit.
Yes, significantly. Towns that have adopted RSA 72:62 exempt solar energy systems from property tax assessment, saving approximately $584/year on a typical 8 kW system. This can shorten payback by 0.5-1.0 year. Approximately 66% of NH towns have adopted this exemption. Towns that have NOT adopted it (like Dover, Rochester, Laconia, Claremont) see longer payback periods.
NEM 2.0 (Net Energy Metering 2.0) is how NH credits you for excess solar energy sent to the grid. Credits equal 100% of supply + 100% of transmission + 25% of distribution, working out to approximately 85% of the full retail rate. This is NOT 1:1 net metering. NEM 2.0 rates are locked through 2041 per NH PUC Docket DE 16-576, providing long-term certainty for your investment.
New Hampshire has no state sales tax on any purchases, including solar equipment and installation. This saves $1,500-$2,000 compared to neighboring states (MA 6.25%, ME 5.5%, VT 6%). On a $24,000 system, this is an immediate advantage that shortens payback by approximately 0.5 years compared to buying the same system in Massachusetts.
Yes. Even without the federal ITC, solar in NH pays back in 9-11 years and generates $55,000-$70,000 in 25-year savings. NH has high electricity rates ($0.27/kWh average, 48% above national average), no sales tax, strong NEM 2.0 credits locked through 2041, and property tax exemptions in most towns. The economics still work — they just take longer to pay back than when the ITC existed.
These are averages. Your roof orientation, shading, and energy usage determine your actual payback. Get a free, no-obligation quote with your real numbers.