Solar panels in New Hampshire: cost, payback and the rules that matter
New Hampshire homes pay 26.8¢ per kWh for electricity, the 9th highest of 51, up 15.2% in a year. A typical home needs 15 panels. With no federal tax credit they pay for themselves in about 9.0 yrs.
Four facts that decide solar in New Hampshire
1. The sun. One kilowatt of panels makes about 1,266 kWh a year in the median New Hampshire city, from 1,260 in Manchester to 1,266 in Nashua.
2. The price of electricity. Every kWh your panels make is worth what you would otherwise pay: 26.8¢ in New Hampshire today.
3. What your utility pays for exports. Most New Hampshire utilities still credit exported solar close to the retail rate, but rules differ by utility and change often.
4. Incentives. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (IRC §25D) ended for systems whose installation is completed after December 31, 2025 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, P.L. We don't know of a statewide income-tax credit for home solar in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire's homes
555,822 households; 72.8% own their home. 352,811 owner-occupied single-family houses: the main market for rooftop solar. The median home was built in 1979; 11.1% heat with electricity.
ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau.
Plan a specific New Hampshire home
Solar in every New Hampshire city with 50,000+ people
| City | Sun hrs/day | kWh per kW | Best tilt | Typical kW | Payback (NM) | Payback (NB) | Solar ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 4.4 | 1,260 | 38° | 6.3 | 9.0 yrs | 15.1 yrs | 12.5 |
| Nashua | 4.5 | 1,266 | 38° | 6.3 | 9.0 yrs | 15.0 yrs | 12.4 |
NM = exports credited at retail (net metering); NB = exports at ~30% of retail (net billing). Systems sized to the New Hampshire average home. $3.00/W, cash, 25 years.
Rule changes that affect New Hampshire
All changes and deadlines →- Federal: In-service deadline for the lease/PPA solar credit · Tax credits
- Federal: National data: solar prices fell to a median $3.60 per watt · Prices
- Federal: Construction-start deadline passed for the lease/PPA credit · Tax credits
- Federal: The 30% homeowner solar tax credit is gone · Tax credits
Questions about solar in New Hampshire
How much do solar panels cost in New Hampshire?
A 6.3 kW system, the size the average New Hampshire home needs, costs about $15,750 to $23,625 before incentives in 2026.
Is solar worth it in New Hampshire?
In the median New Hampshire city, solar pays for itself in about 9.0 yrs if exported power earns the retail rate, or 15.1 yrs if it earns about 30% of retail. Most utilities here still offer some form of net metering; check yours.
Is there a solar tax credit in New Hampshire?
We know of no statewide income-tax credit for home solar in New Hampshire; utilities and cities sometimes offer rebates. The 30% federal credit ended for homeowner systems installed after December 31, 2025.
How many solar panels does a New Hampshire home need?
About 15 panels of 420 watts for the state-average 619 kWh a month. Sunnier cities need fewer: Nashua gets 1,266 kWh per kW a year, Manchester 1,260.