Summary of New Hampshire solar incentives 2021
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 and a half 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 2021, 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% at the end of 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 2021
8.8kW
Solar panel cost calculator
Best 10 solar companies in New Hampshire
18 solar companies in New Hampshire provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.86 305 Reviews
Latest review
Jeff Rakers, 2 days ago
My wife and I chose All Energy Solar for our solar installation and am happy to recommend them to anyone considering solar for their home. They did a great job of helping lead us through the process, providing all the technical, financial and utility company related information my wife and I needed in an understandable and professional manner. We never felt pressured or unsafe, even doing this in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The installation was easy and efficient and I was kept in the loop all the way. David D'Onofrio did a great job explaining the details of the system and the proposal, and after we went with All Energy Solar, Carlo Maloni did a great job as the Project Manager keeping us up to speed on what was happening and what we needed to do. We are very satisfied and glad we chose All Energy Solar! We started exploring our solar options last summer. After getting quotes from 5 different solar installers, reviewing and comparing their offerings and the financing options, All Energy gave us what we found is the right sized system with brand named components at the best value. They pointed us to and helped us with financing options. All of the people we engaged with were great people to deal with, including the designers and installers. So overall a great experience that we are happy with and feel we will be happy with for years to come!
Read more
Latest review
Jeff Rakers, 2 days ago
My wife and I chose All Energy Solar for our solar installation and am happy to recommend them to anyone considering solar for their home. They did a great job of helping lead us through the process, providing all the technical, financial and utility company related information my wife and I needed in an understandable and professional manner. We never felt pressured or unsafe, even doing this in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The installation was easy and efficient and I was kept in the loop all the way. David D'Onofrio did a great job explaining the details of the system and the proposal, and after we went with All Energy Solar, Carlo Maloni did a great job as the Project Manager keeping us up to speed on what was happening and what we needed to do. We are very satisfied and glad we chose All Energy Solar! We started exploring our solar options last summer. After getting quotes from 5 different solar installers, reviewing and comparing their offerings and the financing options, All Energy gave us what we found is the right sized system with brand named components at the best value. They pointed us to and helped us with financing options. All of the people we engaged with were great people to deal with, including the designers and installers. So overall a great experience that we are happy with and feel we will be happy with for years to come!
4.81 213 Reviews
Latest review
Art, over 1 month
Installation was conducted back in April 2020 just as the COVID panic was rearing its ugly head. Crew worked efficiently and job was completed in one day. Schedule was mutually agreed on so that failing asphalt roof could replaced with standing seam prior to installation. A real plus was that all permitting and interface with the power company was taken care as was tax related paperwork. They did it all. Now it’s January and I’m enjoying electric heat in my workshop that was actually captured and banked last summer. Professional installation in every respect. Right down to being ready for code enforcement inspection. Highly recommended.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$20,050 ($4.01 per watt)
Latest review
Art, over 1 month
Installation was conducted back in April 2020 just as the COVID panic was rearing its ugly head. Crew worked efficiently and job was completed in one day. Schedule was mutually agreed on so that failing asphalt roof could replaced with standing seam prior to installation. A real plus was that all permitting and interface with the power company was taken care as was tax related paperwork. They did it all. Now it’s January and I’m enjoying electric heat in my workshop that was actually captured and banked last summer. Professional installation in every respect. Right down to being ready for code enforcement inspection. Highly recommended.
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.
4.76 287 Reviews
Latest review
RJS, over 1 month
NE Solar made the install very easy. The installers were very courteous and very communicative about the whole process.
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$21,450 ($4.29 per watt)
Latest review
RJS, over 1 month
NE Solar made the install very easy. The installers were very courteous and very communicative about the whole process.
4.53 14 Reviews
Latest review
Hollis customer, over 1 month
We chose 603Solar for their friendliness, cost and because they are a NH company.
Read more
Latest review
Hollis customer, over 1 month
We chose 603Solar for their friendliness, cost and because they are a NH company.
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)
$19,850 ($3.97 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!
3.89 4 Reviews
Latest review
Anonymous, over 1 month
After talking and reviewing many installers Big Sky stood out as company that was not high pressure and gave excellent estimations ( even underestimated the amount panels would produce ). They held the price for a year which helped us as we were waiting for grants to be approved . They installed trackers with 20 panels on each of 5 trackers . Produces 100 % of our electric
Read more
Latest review
Anonymous, over 1 month
After talking and reviewing many installers Big Sky stood out as company that was not high pressure and gave excellent estimations ( even underestimated the amount panels would produce ). They held the price for a year which helped us as we were waiting for grants to be approved . They installed trackers with 20 panels on each of 5 trackers . Produces 100 % of our electric
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