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Section 25D is dead — homeowners get $0 in federal tax credits for solar in 2026. But with a lease or PPA, a third-party owner claims the 30% ITC under Section 48/48E and passes savings to you. At NH's high electric rates ($0.27/kWh), third-party ownership is one of the strongest plays in the state.
$0.27/kWh
NH Avg Rate
$90–150/mo
Lease Range
$0.12–0.18/kWh
PPA Range
Jul 4, 2026
48/48E Deadline
What NH homeowners need to know in 60 seconds
Section 25D is dead. If you buy solar with cash or a loan in 2026, you receive $0 from the IRS. The residential solar tax credit expired December 31, 2025 and is not coming back.
But Section 48/48E is alive. When a third-party financing company owns the solar system on your roof via a lease or PPA, that company claims the 30% Investment Tax Credit. The savings flow to you as lower monthly payments — typically $90–150/mo for a lease or $0.12–0.18/kWh for a PPA.
NH's high rates make TPO compelling. At $0.27/kWh (48% above the national average), even a PPA at $0.18/kWh saves you $0.09 per kilowatt-hour from day one. NEM 2.0 credits at ~85% of retail are locked through 2041, giving long-term rate certainty. The catch: no state solar rebate (repealed by SB 303) and NEM is not full 1:1.
The financing company claims the credit — not you, not the installer. Here is exactly how the 30% ITC flows from the tax code to your lower monthly payment.
A financing company (the "third-party owner") purchases and installs solar panels on your roof. You don't buy the system — you agree to either lease it (fixed monthly payment) or buy the power it produces (PPA, per-kWh rate).
Because the financing company legally owns the system, it files IRS Form 3468 and claims the 30% Investment Tax Credit under Section 48/48E. On a $30,000 system, that's $9,000 back from the IRS. The company also claims MACRS depreciation (5-year accelerated schedule + 20% bonus in 2026).
The financing company doesn't pocket the ITC — it uses the $9,000+ in tax benefits to reduce your monthly payment. This is why lease/PPA payments are typically 20–40% lower than what you'd pay on a standard solar loan without the ITC.
Your lease/PPA payment is locked in below your current electric bill rate. You save money starting month one. The system owner handles all maintenance, monitoring, and warranty claims.
With NuWatt's Propel program, the third-party owner transfers full ownership to you at year 5 — after the ITC recapture period expires. You get the best of both worlds: ITC savings upfront, full ownership long-term.
Note: Propel is NOT currently available in New Hampshire. Standard leases and PPAs are available today from multiple providers.
The financing company claims the ITC on IRS Form 3468 — not you, not the installer. This is the intended design of the tax code. The company also claims MACRS depreciation (5-year schedule + 20% bonus in 2026). These combined tax benefits are what allow your lease or PPA payment to be 20–40% lower than a standard solar loan without any ITC.
The investment tax credit that keeps solar leases and PPAs financially viable in 2026.
Credit Rate
30%
With prevailing wage + apprenticeship compliance (6% without)
Who Claims It
The system owner (financing company)
NOT the homeowner, NOT the installer
Residential Eligibility
Yes — via third-party ownership
TPO company owns the system, leases/PPAs it to you
Construction Deadline
Begin construction before July 4, 2026
OBBBA sunset — projects must start before this date
Minimum Hold Period
5 years
System owner must hold for 5 years or face ITC recapture
Stackable Bonuses
Domestic content (+10%), Energy community (+10%)
Can reach 50%+ total credit on qualifying projects
MACRS Depreciation
5-year schedule + 20% bonus (2026)
Additional tax benefit for the system owner
US-manufactured panels, inverters, racking
Projects in qualifying census tracts
Not every project qualifies for all adders. The base 30% ITC is the most common scenario for residential TPO in NH. Your lease/PPA provider will confirm which adders apply to your specific installation.
Aug 2022
IRA signed — Section 48E created alongside Section 25D extension
Dec 2025
Section 25D (residential ITC) expires — homeowners get $0
Jan 2026
Section 48/48E remains available for commercial + third-party owners
Jul 4, 2026
OBBBA deadline — must begin construction before this date
Side-by-side comparison for a typical 8 kW system at $3.03/W = $24,240 in New Hampshire.
Upfront Cost
$24,240
Federal ITC
$0 (25D expired)
Monthly Payment
$0
Est. Payback
~9.5 years
You Own?
Yes, immediately
Highest long-term savings but requires $24,240 upfront with zero federal credit.
Upfront Cost
$0 down
Federal ITC
$0 (25D expired)
Monthly Payment
$150–$250/mo
Interest Rate
6–8% APR
You Own?
Yes, immediately
$0 down ownership but 6–8% interest adds $8K–$15K over loan life. No ITC to offset.
Upfront Cost
$0 down
Federal ITC
30% (owner claims)
Monthly Payment
$90–150/mo
Maintenance
Included
You Own?
No (buyout option)
$0 down, locked-in payment below your $0.27/kWh rate. ITC lowers your cost.
Upfront Cost
$0 down
Federal ITC
30% (owner claims)
Rate
$0.12–0.18/kWh
Maintenance
Included
You Own?
No (buyout option)
Pay only for power produced. At $0.15/kWh vs $0.27/kWh you save $0.12/kWh.
NuWatt's Propel program (TPO for 5 years, then ownership transfer) is currently available in Maine and Texas only. If Propel expands to NH, existing lease customers can discuss conversion options. For now, standard leases and PPAs are the TPO paths available in New Hampshire.
Four factors make New Hampshire one of the better states for third-party solar ownership.
New Hampshire has no state sales tax — period. Unlike Massachusetts (6.25%) or Connecticut (6.35%), your TPO provider pays zero sales tax on solar equipment. This inherent advantage lowers the total system cost and is reflected in your lease/PPA rate.
NH rates are 48% above the national average. The wider the gap between your utility rate and your PPA rate, the more you save. A PPA at $0.12–$0.18/kWh saves you $0.09–$0.15 per kilowatt-hour from day one — that is real, measurable savings.
NH's net metering framework (Docket DE 16-576) is locked through 2041 — giving solar lease customers over 15 years of rate certainty. Credits at ~85% of retail (100% supply + 100% transmission + 25% distribution) remain stable and predictable for the entire lease term.
About 66% of NH towns have adopted RSA 72:62, which means solar panels do not increase your property tax assessment. Solar adds home value without adding tax burden — a meaningful advantage when you eventually sell. Verify your town participates before signing.
We believe in full transparency. Here is what works against TPO in New Hampshire.
No state solar rebate (SB 303 repealed it) — fewer incentives to stack
NEM 2.0 credits are ~85% retail, not full 1:1 — slightly less value per kWh exported
Property tax exemption is local option — verify your town participates before signing
Community power customers may have different rate structures that affect savings
Lower lifetime savings than cash purchase (but $0 ITC for buyers in 2026 narrows gap)
Typical 2–3% annual lease escalator — compare against utility rate increases
The best option depends on your credit, tax situation, and energy goals.
Compare My OptionsThese deadlines determine whether your TPO provider can claim the ITC for your NH project.
July 4, 2026
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) requires projects to begin construction before July 4, 2026 to qualify for Section 48/48E. After this date, the 30% ITC for third-party solar owners may be eliminated or significantly reduced.
June 30, 2026
If bundling solar + EV charger, the $1,000 EV charger credit (Section 30C) expires June 30, 2026.
2027
The 20% bonus depreciation available in 2026 drops to 0% in 2027, reducing the TPO company's tax benefit and potentially increasing your lease/PPA payments.
NH permitting and interconnection typically take 4–8 weeks. To meet the July 4, 2026 deadline, start the process by spring 2026.
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Straight answers to the most common New Hampshire solar financing questions in 2026.
Not directly. The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. Homeowners who buy solar with cash or a loan receive $0 from the IRS. However, if a third-party company owns the system on your roof via a lease or PPA, that company claims the 30% Investment Tax Credit under Section 48/48E and passes the savings to you through lower monthly payments.
Yes. At $0.27/kWh, New Hampshire has some of the highest electricity rates in the country. A solar PPA at $0.12–0.18/kWh saves you $0.09–0.15 per kilowatt-hour from day one. Over 25 years, a typical 8 kW system saves $20,000–$30,000 compared to buying all power from Eversource.
NEM 2.0 (Net Energy Metering 2.0) is New Hampshire's net metering framework established under Docket DE 16-576. It credits exported solar power at approximately 85% of retail rate — 100% of supply, 100% of transmission, and 25% of distribution charges. While not full 1:1, this still provides significant value for solar customers and is locked in through 2041.
No. New Hampshire's state solar rebate was repealed by SB 303 in 2024. There is no state-level cash incentive for solar. The only financial benefits are the Section 48/48E ITC (via TPO), property tax exemption (RSA 72:62, adopted by ~66% of towns), and New Hampshire's inherent lack of state sales tax.
You can transfer the lease to the new homeowner (most buyers welcome the savings — process takes 2–4 weeks) or buy out the remaining balance. Solar homes in NH sell for an average premium because buyers value the locked-in energy savings, especially at NH's high electric rates.
Not yet. NuWatt's Propel program (which combines TPO ITC capture with ownership transfer at year 5) is currently available in Maine and Texas. Standard solar leases and PPAs are available in New Hampshire today. If Propel expands to NH, existing lease customers can discuss conversion options.
Over 40% of New Hampshire customers participate in Community Power Coalition programs (CPCNH). Community power customers still benefit from solar leases/PPAs because the solar offsets your supply charges. However, your net metering credits and rate structure may differ from standard utility rates, so verify your specific community power plan's solar policy.
The critical deadline is July 4, 2026. Under the OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), projects must begin construction before July 4, 2026 for the third-party owner to claim the Section 48/48E 30% ITC. Starting the process by spring 2026 ensures your project qualifies, since permitting and interconnection in NH typically take 4–8 weeks.
Full cost breakdown at $3.03/W for 2026.
Deep dive into how Section 48/48E works for homeowners.
Complete comparison of all NH solar financing paths.
Get launch alerts for NuWatt's upcoming ownership-transfer offer in NH.