Solar Incentives in New Hampshire
New Hampshire homeowners considering solar in 2026 have access to four active programs. Under RSA 362-A, the state's net metering law allows eligible customers who install solar to receive bill credits for excess generation fed back to the grid; credit rates are set by each utility's tariff and applicable state rules, so amounts vary depending on the customer's electric provider. A local-option property tax exemption under RSA 72:27-a lets municipalities exempt the added value of a solar system from property tax assessment — but only in cities and towns that have voted to adopt the exemption, and the exemption amount is set locally, not statewide. The New Hampshire Department of Energy administers a competitive Low-Moderate Income Solar Grant Program, funded from at least 15 percent of the state's annual Renewable Energy Fund; the 2024–2025 round made $1.5 million available to qualifying residential customers. Finally, municipalities that establish a district under RSA 53-F may offer PACE financing, allowing solar costs to be repaid through a special property assessment on terms set locally.
The federal picture has changed significantly for 2026 installations. The residential Clean Energy Credit under §25D — commonly called the 30 percent federal tax credit — expired for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Budget Act (Pub. L. 119-21). Homeowners installing solar in 2026 cannot claim that credit, which meaningfully extends payback periods compared to recent years when the credit offset nearly a third of system costs.
New Hampshire's residential electricity rate averaged approximately 26.92 cents per kilowatt-hour as of March 2026, up roughly 4.11 cents year-on-year. That elevated rate improves the value of each kilowatt-hour a solar system offsets or exports, partially counterbalancing the loss of the federal credit when calculating overall payback.
Figures here are verified as of June 2026 against official sources; programs change with each legislative session and utility rate case, and the New Hampshire Department of Energy (energy.nh.gov) and the Public Utilities Commission (puc.nh.gov) are the authoritative sources for current program rules and rates.
Federal credit update. The federal residential Clean Energy Credit (the 30% “solar tax credit” under §25D) expired for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. New 2026 residential installs do not qualify; a 2025 install can still be claimed on a 2025 return (IRS Form 5695). What this means for 2026 →
Current solar incentives in New Hampshire
Net Metering
New Hampshire allows electric customers who install eligible renewable generation, including solar, to interconnect under net metering and receive bill credits for the difference between the electricity supplied by their utility and the electricity their system feeds back to the grid. The program is established under RSA 362-A and implemented through the Department of Energy's net-metering administrative rules; residential and small customer-generator systems are commonly sized up to 100 kW, and the statutory customer-generator category covers facilities up to 1 megawatt. Excess generation is credited on the customer's monthly bill, with details varying by utility and by whether the system participates in group net metering.
| Amount | Bill credits for net excess generation at rates set under the applicable utility tariff and state rules; customer-generator facilities are eligible up to 1 MW (residential/small systems commonly up to 100 kW AC). Specific credit values vary by utility. |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Electric customers of New Hampshire's regulated utilities who install eligible renewable generation (including solar) and interconnect as customer-generators; group net metering allows a host to share surplus credits with other accounts. |
| Administered by | New Hampshire Department of Energy (with the Public Utilities Commission) |
Source: RSA 362-A:9; NH Department of Energy net-metering program page Official source →
Local Option Property Tax Exemption for Solar Energy Systems
New Hampshire law authorizes municipalities to adopt a property tax exemption for solar energy systems (and related renewable energy and energy-storage systems) installed on real property. The exemption is a local option: it applies only in cities and towns that have voted to adopt it under RSA 72:27-a, and the exemption amount and method are set by the adopting municipality. Where adopted, a property owner with a qualifying solar energy system may apply to have the added value of the system exempted from local property tax. Applications are filed with the municipality (Form PA-29) and the owner must qualify as of April 1 of the tax year.
| Amount | Exemption amount is set by each adopting municipality (no statewide fixed amount); applies to the value of the qualifying solar energy system as defined in RSA 72:61. |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Owners of real property equipped with a qualifying solar energy system, located in a municipality that has adopted the exemption by vote under RSA 72:27-a; applicant must qualify as of April 1 and file the required application. |
| Administered by | Adopting municipalities; New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (forms and oversight) |
Source: RSA 72:61 and RSA 72:62 (solar energy systems); adoption under RSA 72:27-a Official source →
Low-Moderate Income Solar Grant Program
The New Hampshire Department of Energy administers a Low-Moderate Income (LMI) solar grant program funded from the state Renewable Energy Fund, under a statutory requirement that no less than 15 percent of the fund be allocated annually to benefit low- and moderate-income residential customers. Grants are awarded competitively, primarily for community solar photovoltaic projects that provide direct bill or energy benefits to LMI residential electric customers, including projects in manufactured-housing communities and multi-family rental housing. The program is administered through periodic requests for proposals; for example, the 2024-2025 round made $1.5 million available and awarded $1 million to selected projects.
| Amount | Competitive grants funded from at least 15% of the annual Renewable Energy Fund; recent round (2024-2025) made $1.5 million available, with $1 million awarded across selected projects. Amounts set per RFP. |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Project sponsors developing community solar or related projects that provide direct benefits to low- and moderate-income residential electric customers; project requirements set under RSA 362-F and the applicable RFP. |
| Administered by | New Hampshire Department of Energy |
Source: RSA 362-F (Renewable Energy Fund LMI set-aside); NH Department of Energy LMI Solar Grant Program page Official source →
Local Option - Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Districts (PACE)
New Hampshire enables Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing through local energy efficiency and clean energy districts under RSA 53-F. A municipality that adopts a district may provide financing to participating property owners for qualifying energy efficiency and clean energy improvements (including solar), repaid through a special assessment collected on the property tax bill. Financing is funded through municipal revenue bonds or similar instruments rather than general municipal revenues, and adopting municipalities must establish a loss reserve account. Because it is a local option, PACE financing is available only where a municipality has established a district.
| Amount | Financing amount and terms set by the adopting municipality's district program; repaid via a special assessment on the property tax bill. No statewide fixed amount. |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Property owners within a municipality that has established an energy efficiency and clean energy district under RSA 53-F; qualifying clean energy and efficiency improvements including solar. |
| Administered by | Adopting municipalities (local option) under RSA 53-F |
Source: RSA 53-F (Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Districts) Official source →
No longer available in New Hampshire
These programs have been repealed or closed and do not apply to new installations. They are listed for homeowners who still ask about them.
Residential Renewable Electrical Generation Rebate Program
New Hampshire previously offered a rebate to residents who installed small residential solar photovoltaic or wind electrical generation systems, funded from the Renewable Energy Fund and administered by the Department of Energy. The rebate was $0.20 per watt of rated capacity, capped at $1,000 or 30% of system cost, whichever was less. The program operated from January 2018 but was repealed by Senate Bill 303 (2024) and is permanently closed to new applicants; applications pending before closure continue to be processed, and the Department has indicated it may develop a successor program. Homeowners installing solar in 2026 cannot claim this rebate.
Source: Repealed by Senate Bill 303 (2024); NH Department of Energy Residential Renewable Electrical Generation Rebate Program page Official source →
Compare solar incentives across all states → · Check what applies to you →
Programs verified as of June 2026 against official state and federal sources (each cited above); refreshed quarterly as legislatures and utility rate cases change the rules. How we verify this data. This page is informational only — not tax or legal advice.