Summary of New Hampshire solar incentives 2020
New Hampshire got its solar policy on the right track right pretty early. The General Court passed a strong Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) back in 2007. With it came a good statewide rebate program to lower the up-front price of solar. It's now almost a decade later, and the state still has strong rebates and high electricity prices, which are the major reasons solar is a great investment here.
Several times over the last two years, lawmakers passed bills to expand New Hampshire’s net metering rules, which help homeowners further by allowing them to harvest more credit for their solar power they produce but aren’t able to use onsite.
However, governor Chris Sununu has vetoed all of them so far. The RPS here could be strengthened as well. Unless something changes, things will start looking a little dimmer for homeowners looking to install solar here soon. Regardless, for 2020, the state rebate program is strong and there are decent low income solar programs to boot. New Hampshire continues to be a strong place to go solar.
On this page, you can:
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Learn what solar incentives are available to New Hampshire homeowners
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See what New Hampshire solar incentives you qualify for based on your utility company and city
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Find out how much these incentives and/or New Hampshire solar tax credits will reduce your cost to go solar and add batteries
Federal solar investment tax credit
The federal solar investment tax credit will have the biggest impact on the cost you will face to go solar in New Hampshire
This perk is commonly known as the ITC, short for “Investment Tax Credit”. If you install your photovoltaic system in 2020, the federal tax credit is 26% of the cost of your solar panel system. This is 26% off the entire cost of the system including equipment, labor and permitting.
Example: If your solar energy system costs $20,000, your federal solar tax credit would be $20,000 x 26% = $5,200.
The federal tax credit falls to 22% in 2021. Unless new legislation is introduced in Washington D.C., this program will be gone in 2022.
Net energy metering in New Hampshire
With net metering in some states, you get full retail rate credit for the amount of electricity you send back into the grid with your solar panels.
Net Metering requires your utility to monitor how much energy your solar power system produces and how much energy you actually consume, and make sure you get credit for the surplus.
The New Hampshire public utilities commission (PUC) made rules that require all utilities to offer net metering to residential customers. Surplus energy is applied as a credit to your next month’s bill at full retail electric rates, and credits can be carried over indefinitely. In addition, if you’re on a default service plan you can get annual payments for net metering surplus, if the surplus exceeds 600 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
That’s a very strong rule, but there might be changes coming soon. H.B. 1116, enacted in May 2016, raises New Hampshire's net metering aggregate capacity limit from 50 MW to 100 MW. The bill also directs the Public Utilities Commission to initiate a proceeding to develop new alternative net metering tariffs. That could spell trouble, as other formerly solar-friendly states have not proven good at coming up with replacement for net metering.
We recommend going solar as soon as possible to lock in your net metering rates.
New Hampshire solar rebates
The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) runs a statewide solar power rebate program that offers $200 per kilowatt (kW), up to $1,000 or 30% of project costs, whichever is less. All residential systems are eligible for the rebate, but because the maximum incentive is $1,000, that means a de facto cap of 5-kW for the rebate.
Keep in mind, this incentive has to be applied for and approved before you begin construction, so get your ducks in a row by working with a trusted installer. Use our solar calculator on this page to get started working with one.
Property tax incentive
When you install a solar power system, your home appreciates by twenty times your annual electricity savings. Luckily, New Hampshire allows cities and towns to exempt that increase in home value from all associated property taxes.
More than 80 cities and towns in New Hampshire have adopted a property tax exemption for one or more of these energy sources. Here's a full list of the cities and towns that have adopted a property tax exemption for solar power. Don’t fret the details; expert solar installers we partner with will walk you through all the details.
Cost of solar panels in your part of New Hampshire after all applicable solar incentives
Showing data for:
Prices based on a 8.8kW system, after 26% federal tax credit
Solar prices near you
Payback period
6.3-7.7 years
Net profit (savings less system cost)
$47,791-$58,412
Average size system installed in NH in 2020
8.8kW
Solar panel cost calculator
Best 10 solar companies in New Hampshire
15 solar companies in New Hampshire provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.82 212 Reviews
Latest review
Coleman installation, 3 weeks ago
We had a solar hot water system installed in 2009 and heat pumps in 2014. The installations went well and we really like the systems we have. The problem is to get anyone to come for regular maintenance or repair. You call, leave a message and you don't hear back from anyone for over a week. Call back, talk to someone who says they will look into it - same thing, you don't hear back. They have one person to service heat pumps. This has nothing to do with Covid, as this is the same one person they've had for many years. Because they did not plug up the holes on the outside piping covers of the heat pumps, we had mice that chewed the insulation off the piping. We wanted to know if it was something we could fix ourselves. After talking with several different people who could not give us a clear answer, we were given three names of other companies to do the work. Since most other solar installers only want to work on systems they install, getting service done is a problem. After much frustration, we called Fujitsu and talked with a wonderful tech who answered all our questions in less than 15 minutes. We fixed it ourselves and it is now mice proof. Now we have another simple issue - heat pump inside cover needs to be replaced - and it's been weeks trying to get a service call scheduled. ReVision loves to install, but are terrible about servicing what they install. Would not recommend them for this reason. Their service department is beyond terrible.
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$20,050 ($4.01 per watt)
Latest review
Coleman installation, 3 weeks ago
We had a solar hot water system installed in 2009 and heat pumps in 2014. The installations went well and we really like the systems we have. The problem is to get anyone to come for regular maintenance or repair. You call, leave a message and you don't hear back from anyone for over a week. Call back, talk to someone who says they will look into it - same thing, you don't hear back. They have one person to service heat pumps. This has nothing to do with Covid, as this is the same one person they've had for many years. Because they did not plug up the holes on the outside piping covers of the heat pumps, we had mice that chewed the insulation off the piping. We wanted to know if it was something we could fix ourselves. After talking with several different people who could not give us a clear answer, we were given three names of other companies to do the work. Since most other solar installers only want to work on systems they install, getting service done is a problem. After much frustration, we called Fujitsu and talked with a wonderful tech who answered all our questions in less than 15 minutes. We fixed it ourselves and it is now mice proof. Now we have another simple issue - heat pump inside cover needs to be replaced - and it's been weeks trying to get a service call scheduled. ReVision loves to install, but are terrible about servicing what they install. Would not recommend them for this reason. Their service department is beyond terrible.
4.79 50 Reviews
Latest review
Anonymous, over 1 month
These folks did an excellent job on the install, in and out in two days and everything handled very professionally.<br />The system has been working for us for a couple of years now with no problems at all and is exceeding our expectations. The system was designed to match our average energy usage and it is doing exactly that. We enjoy our $12 monthly electric bill (that is the connection charge that Eversource charges us) and are actually running an energy credit with them as we are generating slightly more power than we are using.
Read more
Latest review
Anonymous, over 1 month
These folks did an excellent job on the install, in and out in two days and everything handled very professionally.<br />The system has been working for us for a couple of years now with no problems at all and is exceeding our expectations. The system was designed to match our average energy usage and it is doing exactly that. We enjoy our $12 monthly electric bill (that is the connection charge that Eversource charges us) and are actually running an energy credit with them as we are generating slightly more power than we are using.
4.76 286 Reviews
Latest review
Shame123, over 1 month
Go anywhere else. In short, do your homework. This company over the last hear has become a hot mess. The people in charge of running the projects through to management have a lot to learn and are in over their head. I have spent hours and hundreds of emails chasing them down. Also I was told to pay before the project was completed and meters were set up, being told the project was completed, it was not and 2 months later I have missed the entire summer months for SMART Credits with no recourse. I used them 5 years ago, and they were great, today not even close up through to CEO. If you want to overpay, be treated like dirt, and be lied to throughout the process then yes, select these people. If you want to just work with someone who is honest, knows what they are doing and will see it through to the end, choose anyone else.
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$21,450 ($4.29 per watt)
Latest review
Shame123, over 1 month
Go anywhere else. In short, do your homework. This company over the last hear has become a hot mess. The people in charge of running the projects through to management have a lot to learn and are in over their head. I have spent hours and hundreds of emails chasing them down. Also I was told to pay before the project was completed and meters were set up, being told the project was completed, it was not and 2 months later I have missed the entire summer months for SMART Credits with no recourse. I used them 5 years ago, and they were great, today not even close up through to CEO. If you want to overpay, be treated like dirt, and be lied to throughout the process then yes, select these people. If you want to just work with someone who is honest, knows what they are doing and will see it through to the end, choose anyone else.
4.53 13 Reviews
Latest review
Happy Customers, over 1 month
Friendly and professional staff. Smooth process from start to finish for our ground array. Fastidious ditch diggers.
Read more
Latest review
Happy Customers, over 1 month
Friendly and professional staff. Smooth process from start to finish for our ground array. Fastidious ditch diggers.
4.25 6 Reviews
Latest review
Sue Fitzgerald, over 1 month
Dave and his son are wonderful to work with. I would highly recommend them to others.<br />
Read more
Latest review
Sue Fitzgerald, over 1 month
Dave and his son are wonderful to work with. I would highly recommend them to others.<br />
4.25 7 Reviews
Latest review
Julia Leech, over 1 month
Afif was great in his presentation of NuWatt Energy's incredible solar panels and top-notch installation team. He also helped us by showing us options with no pressure!! It would be nice if all solar companies worked like NuWatt Energy. They have our vote as an honest company promoting better products and services.
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$15,000 ($3.00 per watt)
Latest review
Julia Leech, over 1 month
Afif was great in his presentation of NuWatt Energy's incredible solar panels and top-notch installation team. He also helped us by showing us options with no pressure!! It would be nice if all solar companies worked like NuWatt Energy. They have our vote as an honest company promoting better products and services.
4.17 4 Reviews
Latest review
SunIsGood, over 1 month
Peter and Vlad have been great to deal with. They are both very knowledgeable and true professionals in their field. We had recently purchase a home with an existing system and they helped us in making sure the system was working correctly and spent a lot of time going over and making sure that I understood how everything worked. It's refreshing to see that they have a true passion and would highly recommend them for any of your solar needs.
Read more
Latest review
SunIsGood, over 1 month
Peter and Vlad have been great to deal with. They are both very knowledgeable and true professionals in their field. We had recently purchase a home with an existing system and they helped us in making sure the system was working correctly and spent a lot of time going over and making sure that I understood how everything worked. It's refreshing to see that they have a true passion and would highly recommend them for any of your solar needs.
Latest review
Tom Ryan, over 1 month
<br />Great job!
4.06 3 Reviews
Latest review
Very Happy Customer, over 1 month
I worked with RJ Raffa of Sunergy Solutions on the installation of a solar panel system for my home. RJ was great! He strikes me as very bright, conscientious, friendly and professional. I had given RJ a demanding hard deadline for the completion of the project and despite challenging weather problems, the job was completed as promised. Also, this is not the first solar installation on a home owned by me and so I've had past experiences. The quality of the work done by RJ's crew was superb. I couldn't be happier. I highly recommend RJ and Sunergy for your installation. Chris Morgan Greenland, NH
Read more
Latest review
Very Happy Customer, over 1 month
I worked with RJ Raffa of Sunergy Solutions on the installation of a solar panel system for my home. RJ was great! He strikes me as very bright, conscientious, friendly and professional. I had given RJ a demanding hard deadline for the completion of the project and despite challenging weather problems, the job was completed as promised. Also, this is not the first solar installation on a home owned by me and so I've had past experiences. The quality of the work done by RJ's crew was superb. I couldn't be happier. I highly recommend RJ and Sunergy for your installation. Chris Morgan Greenland, NH
3.75 1 Reviews
Latest review
John Balllam, over 1 month
I am going to have these guys back again to upgrade my system. They were fantastic. The entire process was a breeze.<br />Al Gore for president!!!
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$27,100 ($5.42 per watt)
Latest review
John Balllam, over 1 month
I am going to have these guys back again to upgrade my system. They were fantastic. The entire process was a breeze.<br />Al Gore for president!!!
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