New Hampshire Electricity Rates: What to Know

New Hampshire has some of the most expensive electricity in the continental United States — roughly 25 to 28 cents per kilowatt-hour as of early 2026, about 40-55% above the national average of approximately 18 cents. Despite these high per-kWh rates, monthly bills are closer to the national average (around $145-172) because New Hampshire households use relatively little electricity — about 619 kWh per month versus the national average of roughly 900 kWh.

The state's electricity story is shaped by two defining facts. First, New Hampshire sits at the end of New England's natural gas pipeline network, making it acutely vulnerable to winter price spikes when pipeline capacity runs out. Second, a single nuclear plant — Seabrook Station — provides roughly 56% of the state's electricity, creating both an unusual degree of price stability and a significant concentration risk. Between those bookends, New Hampshire's deregulated market, the rapid growth of community power programs, and the recent closure of New England's last coal plant at Merrimack Station make for an electricity landscape in transition.

How New Hampshire's Electricity Market Works

New Hampshire was one of the first states to deregulate, passing electricity restructuring legislation (HB 1392) in 1996 with full retail choice available since 2001. Under this model, the state's utilities handle delivery only — they do not generate electricity.

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates delivery rates, oversees the Default Energy Service bidding process, and approves rate cases. The New Hampshire Department of Energy, created in 2021 as a separate agency, administers fuel assistance, weatherization, and renewable energy programs and maintains a Competitive Electric Power Supplier (CEPS) comparison tool.

New Hampshire is part of ISO New England (ISO-NE), the regional grid operator managing the wholesale electricity market for six states. Regional transmission costs are shared across all six states proportionate to electricity consumption.

How Your Bill Is Split

Component	Share of Total Bill	What It Covers
Supply (~45-50%)	Default Energy Service or competitive supplier rate	Cost to generate/purchase electricity
Delivery (~50-55%)	Regulated by PUC	Transmission (regional) + distribution (local) + customer charge

Three Ways to Get Your Supply

1. Default Energy Service: No action required. Your utility procures power on your behalf through PUC-supervised competitive bidding. Rates change every six months — typically February and August for Eversource. The current Eversource rate (Feb-Jul 2026) is 11.303 cents per kWh.

2. Competitive Electric Power Supplier (CEPS): You actively choose a licensed supplier. Plans may be fixed-rate, variable-rate, or green energy. Compare using the NH Department of Energy's tool at energy.nh.gov.

3. Community Power: Your town negotiates bulk supply rates for all residents through municipal aggregation. Over 64 municipalities participate through the Community Power Coalition of NH (CPCNH). If your town has adopted Community Power, you are likely enrolled automatically but can opt out at any time.

Nearly 45% of residential customers now receive electricity through community power or competitive suppliers rather than default service — a significant shift from even a few years ago.

What New Hampshire Residents Actually Pay

By Utility

Utility	Customers	Approx. All-In Rate (2026)	Recent Changes
Eversource	~534,000 (71% of state)	~25-27 cents/kWh	8.2% distribution increase; customer charge $13.81→$19.81
Liberty Utilities	~46,000 (6%)	Higher than Eversource	17.5% total bill increase for typical customer
Unitil	~107,000 (electric + gas)	Similar range	Proposed 9.2% bill increase pending
NH Electric Co-op	71,000+ (11%)	Varies	Rates increased in 2025

Rate Trends

New England's electricity costs have been rising steadily:

• Transmission infrastructure costs across New England rose by up to 800% between 2004 and 2023
• The New England average residential rate (May 2025) was 29.24 cents per kWh — 67% above the national average
• At the current annual increase rate of approximately 2.8%, a NH household paying $1,877 per year today would pay about $2,466 by 2036
• Despite these numbers, New Hampshire is actually one of the more affordable states within New England

Community Power rates have fluctuated — starting at 9.7 cents per kWh supply in early 2025, rising to 13.2-13.7 cents by August 2025. These rates track wholesale market conditions but are negotiated in bulk, which can provide some advantage over default service.

Major Utilities

Eversource (Public Service Company of New Hampshire)

Eversource, a subsidiary of Hartford-based Eversource Energy (NYSE: ES), is New Hampshire's dominant utility, serving approximately 534,000 customers — about 71% of the state's retail customers — across 206 towns.

The company's 2025 rate case drew significant controversy. Eversource filed for a $182 million distribution rate increase. The PUC approved an 8.2% increase to distribution rates (translating to roughly a 2.5% total bill increase) and raised the residential monthly customer charge from $13.81 to $19.81 — a $6 increase in the fixed charge you pay regardless of how much electricity you use. The PUC also approved a new performance-based rate mechanism through 2029.

The decision sparked backlash: regulators agreed to reconsider the ruling in September 2025, though the rates remained in effect. The Office of Consumer Advocate characterized the outcome as a win for Eversource over ratepayers.

Eversource's Default Energy Service rate for February through July 2026 is 11.303 cents per kWh (supply only). A modest bill decrease was expected early 2026 as delivery rates fell slightly and supply costs held steady.

Liberty Utilities

Liberty Utilities (formerly Granite State Electric), a subsidiary of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., serves approximately 46,000 customers (about 6% of the state) across 21 communities in western and southern New Hampshire, including Lebanon, Hanover, Salem, Derry, and Pelham.

Liberty reached a settlement holding its base distribution rate increase to less than 1% (effective February 2025). However, the full bill for a typical 650 kWh customer still increased from $148.39 to $174.42 — a 17.54% jump — driven mostly by default service rate changes rather than distribution costs.

Unitil Energy Systems

Unitil, a publicly traded utility (NYSE: UTL) headquartered in Hampton, serves approximately 107,000 electric and gas customers in the Seacoast and Capital regions, including Concord, Exeter, and Hampton.

Unitil filed a distribution rate increase proposing an $11.23 per month increase for a typical 600 kWh residential customer — a 9.2% bill increase. Notably, the PUC rejected Unitil's proposal to shift community power program costs to all customers in May 2025, protecting the community power model.

Unitil is the only New Hampshire utility currently offering residential time-of-use rates:

• Mid-Peak (6 AM - 3 PM): Standard rate
• On-Peak (3 PM - 8 PM): Higher rate
• Off-Peak (8 PM - 6 AM): Lower rate
• Applies to non-holiday weekdays only; weekends and holidays are off-peak all day

New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC)

NHEC is a member-owned nonprofit cooperative serving 71,000+ members across 118 communities in central New Hampshire — about 11% of the state's customers. NHEC is governed by an 11-member elected board and also provides broadband internet to rural communities. Members can participate in retail choice and choose competitive suppliers.

Municipal Utilities

Five small municipal utilities operate in New Hampshire: Ashland, Littleton, New Hampton, Wolfeboro, and Woodsville. These locally owned systems generally offer competitive rates and are not regulated by the PUC in the same way as investor-owned utilities.

Why New Hampshire's Electricity Is So Expensive

1. Natural Gas Pipeline Constraints

This is the structural problem at the heart of New England's electricity costs — and New Hampshire sits at the very end of the pipeline network. New England has no local oil or gas reserves and constrained pipeline capacity. On cold winter days, pipelines reach maximum capacity, forcing the region to turn to expensive imported LNG or oil-fired generation.

Natural gas generates roughly 26% of New Hampshire's electricity and about 50% of New England's electricity overall. When gas supply tightens in winter, wholesale electricity prices can spike dramatically. A pipeline expansion is being debated — Governor Ayotte supports it, but environmental groups oppose expansion. The outcome will directly affect long-term electricity costs.

2. Transmission Cost Explosion

Transmission infrastructure costs across New England rose by up to 800% between 2004 and 2023. Wires and poles have become the single-largest component of residential bills. All six New England states share regional transmission costs proportionate to their electricity consumption.

As a smaller state in the ISO-NE region, New Hampshire pays into transmission upgrades that may primarily benefit larger neighboring states — creating political friction over cost allocation. Grid modernization investments (smart meters, grid hardening) add further to transmission costs.

3. Distribution Rate Increases

All three investor-owned utilities have pursued or are pursuing distribution rate increases. Eversource's $182 million filing, Unitil's proposed 9.2% increase, and even Liberty's modest base rate increase reflect aging infrastructure that requires ongoing investment. The jump in Eversource's customer charge from $13.81 to $19.81 is particularly notable — it increases the fixed portion of your bill regardless of how much you conserve.

4. Default Energy Service Volatility

Default service rates change every six months, creating bill unpredictability. Rates are tied to wholesale market prices, which are heavily influenced by natural gas costs. This volatility is one of the reasons community power programs have grown so rapidly — they offer somewhat more predictable rates through bulk negotiation.

New Hampshire's Generation Mix (2024)

Source	Share
Nuclear (Seabrook Station)	56%
Natural Gas	25.6%
Hydroelectric	9.2%
Biomass	4.8%
Wind	2.6%
Coal	1.3% (closed Sept 2025)
Petroleum	0.3%

Seabrook Station, a nuclear plant in Seabrook, is the single largest electricity generator in all of New England, providing 56% of New Hampshire's power. Nuclear baseload is not subject to gas price swings, which provides a measure of price stability. But having more than half the state's generation from a single facility creates concentration risk — any extended outage would force reliance on the volatile wholesale market.

Merrimack Station in Bow — the last coal-fired power plant in all of New England — closed on September 12, 2025. Coal had already fallen to just 1.3% of generation. The closure marks the symbolic end of coal power in the six-state region.

Solar and Renewable Energy in New Hampshire

Net Metering — Strong and Locked In

New Hampshire's Net Metering 2.0 (NEM 2.0) provides credits at approximately 85% of the retail rate for systems up to 1,000 kW. The credit value is currently about $0.23 per kWh. Most importantly, NEM 2.0 rates are locked through January 1, 2041 — providing over 15 years of rate certainty that few other states can match.

The PUC left net metering rules unchanged in a 2025 review, confirming the program will run through 2041 as designed. Group net metering is also available for projects up to 5 MW.

In 2024, customer-owned solar delivered 361 GWh to New Hampshire's grid.

Federal Tax Credit — Expired

The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit expired on December 31, 2025, eliminated early by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 2025. Systems installed in 2026 or later receive no federal residential tax credit.

Remaining State Incentives

• No state solar rebate — repealed by SB 303 in 2024
• No state sales tax — New Hampshire has no general sales tax, so solar equipment purchases are untaxed
• Property tax exemption (RSA 72:62): Available in approximately 66% of New Hampshire towns; estimated savings of about $584 per year
• Eversource Connected Solutions (battery rebate): $230 per kWh of enrolled battery capacity, capped at $3,000 per residential account

Does Solar Still Make Sense?

Despite the loss of the federal credit and the state rebate, solar in New Hampshire benefits from:

• High electricity rates (25+ cents/kWh) — each solar kWh offsets a more expensive purchase
• NEM 2.0 credits locked through 2041 — unusually strong long-term certainty
• No sales tax on solar equipment
• Property tax exemption in most towns

Payback periods are longer without the 30% federal credit, but New Hampshire's high rates and locked-in net metering make solar more attractive here than in many states with lower rates. Third-party system owners (leases and PPAs) may still access commercial tax credits through mid-2026, which can translate to lower pricing for customers. Our guide on choosing the best solar panels for your home covers the key decisions.

Community Solar

The Low-Income Community Solar Act (SB 165, 2019) requires the PUC to authorize at least two new low-to-moderate income community solar projects per year in each utility territory. Community solar projects can use the group net metering framework, and 15% of the Renewable Energy Fund is disbursed annually to projects benefiting low-income customers.

Offshore Wind — Pulled Back

The Gulf of Maine Wind Energy Area encompasses approximately 2 million acres offshore Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, with four lease areas awarded in 2024. However, Governor Ayotte signed legislation eliminating state support for offshore wind development. The Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development was renamed to simply "Office of Energy Innovation," and the administration stated offshore wind was "too expensive" and "not the right fit" — favoring natural gas expansion and nuclear instead. New Hampshire is now at odds with neighboring Maine and Massachusetts on offshore wind.

Renewable Portfolio Standard

New Hampshire's RPS peaked at 25.2% in 2025 and remains at that level going forward. Utilities and competitive suppliers must either procure Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) or make Alternative Compliance Payments.

Strategies to Lower Your New Hampshire Electricity Bill

1. Compare Your Supply Options

New Hampshire's retail choice means you have three options for the supply portion of your bill. Compare:

• Your current Default Energy Service rate (Eversource: 11.303 cents/kWh for Feb-Jul 2026)
• Community Power rates if your town participates (64+ municipalities through CPCNH)
• Competitive supplier offers through the NH Department of Energy's comparison tool at energy.nh.gov

Switching is free and there is no service interruption. If your town has Community Power, you may already be enrolled — check your bill.

2. Use Time-of-Use Rates (Unitil Customers)

If you are a Unitil customer, the residential TOU rate rewards shifting heavy usage to off-peak hours (8 PM - 6 AM on weekdays, all day on weekends and holidays). EV charging, laundry, dishwasher, and water heating are prime candidates for shifting. The break is significant between on-peak (3-8 PM) and off-peak rates.

3. Install Solar With NEM 2.0

At 25+ cents per kWh, each solar kWh you generate is worth significantly more than in most states. New Hampshire's NEM 2.0 credits (locked through 2041) provide exceptional long-term certainty. The lack of sales tax on equipment and property tax exemptions in most towns help offset the loss of the federal credit. Size your system to match your annual consumption for optimal economics.

4. Apply for NHSaves Rebates

NHSaves is New Hampshire's statewide energy efficiency program, funded by all four utilities through the System Benefits Charge. It offers rebates on energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and weatherization to all customers, with enhanced rebates and free services for income-eligible households. Visit nhsaves.com for current offerings.

5. Weatherize Your Home

New Hampshire's cold winters make weatherization one of the highest-return investments. The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free insulation, air sealing, and improvements for income-eligible households. Eversource also offers income-eligible energy efficiency services worth up to $3,600 ($5,900 if combined with WAP). Even for households above income thresholds, basic air sealing pays back quickly at New Hampshire's rates.

6. Upgrade to a Heat Pump

If you heat with oil — still common in New Hampshire — a heat pump can dramatically reduce total energy costs. While electricity rates are high, heat pumps use roughly one-third the energy of electric resistance heat and compete favorably with oil at current prices. The electricity cost increase is typically much less than the oil cost savings.

7. Get a Battery With Eversource Connected Solutions

If you have or are adding solar, Eversource's Connected Solutions program pays $230 per kWh of enrolled battery capacity (capped at $3,000). The battery earns you credits while also providing backup power and letting you maximize self-consumption rather than exporting at the 85% credit rate.

Low-Income Assistance Programs

LIHEAP / Fuel Assistance Program (FAP)

Federally funded and administered by the NH Department of Energy through local Community Action Agencies.

• Benefits: $100 to $2,177 per household
• Income eligibility (60% of NH State Median Income):
  • 1 person: $47,604
  • 2 people: $62,252
  • 3 people: $76,900
  • 4 people: $91,548
• Application deadline: April 30, 2026 (for 2025-2026 program year)
• Priority pre-applications for elderly, disabled, and families with children under 6 available after July 1
• Apply through your local Community Action Agency

Electric Assistance Program (EAP)

Available to customers of all four utilities (Eversource, Liberty, Unitil, and NHEC).

• Discounts: 5-86% on the first 750 kWh of monthly residential electric service
• Discount percentage based on household income relative to poverty guidelines
• 12-month enrollment period
• Same income eligibility as FAP (60% of NH State Median Income)
• Apply through your local Community Action Agency

The EAP is one of the most generous electric bill discount programs in the country — an 86% discount for the lowest-income households on their first 750 kWh can transform an unmanageable bill into an affordable one.

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

• Free attic air sealing, insulation, wall insulation, and basement/crawlspace insulation
• Same income eligibility (60% NH SMI)
• No cost to qualifying households
• Delivered by local Community Action Agencies

Eversource Income-Eligible Energy Efficiency

Qualified low-income Eversource customers can receive up to $3,600 in services ($5,900 if combined with WAP):

• Customized home energy analysis
• Insulation improvements
• Thermostat upgrades
• Lighting upgrades
• Efficient refrigerator replacement
• Available to renters and homeowners

Getting Started

Contact your local Community Action Agency or call 2-1-1 for referrals to available assistance programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average electricity rate in New Hampshire?

As of early 2026, the average residential electricity rate in New Hampshire is approximately 25 to 28 cents per kWh, roughly 40-55% above the national average of about 18 cents. However, because New Hampshire households use less electricity than average (~619 kWh/month vs. ~900 nationally), monthly bills ($145-172) are closer to the national average of about $152. The high per-kWh cost is what makes New Hampshire expensive, not unusually high usage.

Can I choose my electricity supplier?

Yes. New Hampshire deregulated in 1996, with full retail choice since 2001. You can switch from Default Energy Service to a Competitive Electric Power Supplier (CEPS) or enroll in Community Power if your town participates. Nearly 45% of residential customers now use community power or competitive suppliers. Compare options at energy.nh.gov. Your delivery utility stays the same regardless of supplier.

What is Community Power?

Community Power is a municipal aggregation program where your town negotiates bulk electricity supply rates for all residents. Over 64 municipalities participate through the Community Power Coalition of NH (CPCNH). If your town has adopted Community Power, you are likely enrolled automatically. You can opt out and return to Default Energy Service or choose your own supplier at any time. Community Power rates have generally been competitive, though they fluctuate with wholesale markets.

Why is electricity so expensive in New Hampshire?

Several structural factors: New England sits at the end of the national gas pipeline network, causing dramatic price spikes on cold winter days when pipeline capacity maxes out. Regional transmission costs have risen up to 800% since 2004. New Hampshire shares ISO-NE grid costs with five other states. Aging infrastructure requires ongoing investment (Eversource's customer charge jumped $6/month in 2025). Despite these challenges, New Hampshire is actually one of the more affordable New England states.

Is solar worth it without the federal tax credit?

Solar can still be financially worthwhile in New Hampshire. Key factors: high electricity rates (25+ cents/kWh) mean greater savings per kWh generated; Net Metering 2.0 credits at ~85% of retail rate are locked through 2041; no sales tax on solar equipment; and property tax exemptions available in about two-thirds of towns. Payback periods are longer without the 30% federal credit, but New Hampshire's high rates and locked-in net metering provide unusually strong long-term value. Leases or PPAs may still benefit from commercial tax credits through mid-2026.

What happened to New Hampshire's coal plant?

Merrimack Station in Bow — the last operating coal-fired power plant in all of New England — closed on September 12, 2025. Coal had already declined to just 1.3% of New Hampshire's electricity generation. The closure marks the end of coal power in the six-state region. New Hampshire's electricity now comes primarily from nuclear (Seabrook Station, ~56%), natural gas (~26%), and hydroelectric (~9%).

What assistance is available if I cannot pay my bill?

Multiple programs exist: Fuel Assistance Program (FAP/LIHEAP) provides $100-$2,177 in heating assistance. The Electric Assistance Program (EAP) offers 5-86% discounts on your first 750 kWh — one of the most generous electric discount programs in the country. Weatherization Assistance provides free home energy improvements. Eversource offers income-eligible efficiency services worth up to $5,900. Contact your local Community Action Agency or call 2-1-1 to get started.

Your New Hampshire Electricity Action Plan

This week:

1. Check your bill to see whether you are on Default Energy Service, Community Power, or a competitive supplier. Compare your supply rate to alternatives using the NH Department of Energy's CEPS comparison tool at energy.nh.gov.
2. If your town offers Community Power and you are not enrolled, check CPCNH rates against your current supply rate.
3. Review your 12-month usage history. Note winter peaks — they reveal heating system costs.

This month:

4. If you are income-eligible, apply for the Electric Assistance Program through your local Community Action Agency. Discounts of 5-86% on your first 750 kWh can dramatically reduce your bill.
5. Apply for Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP) if your household income qualifies. Benefits range from $100 to $2,177.
6. Check NHSaves (nhsaves.com) for current rebates on appliances, lighting, and weatherization.
7. If you are a Unitil customer, evaluate whether the TOU rate would save you money based on when you use the most electricity.

This year:

8. Get solar quotes from multiple installers. At 25+ cents per kWh with NEM 2.0 credits locked through 2041, New Hampshire's solar economics remain strong despite the loss of the federal credit. Our guide on choosing the best solar panels for your home covers the selection process.
9. If you heat with oil, research heat pump options. The total energy cost savings (lower electricity cost versus eliminated oil) typically favor heat pumps.
10. If you have or are adding solar with an Eversource account, look into Connected Solutions battery rebates ($230/kWh, up to $3,000).
11. Weatherize your home. NHSaves and WAP provide free or subsidized insulation and air sealing for qualifying households. At New Hampshire's rates, every BTU saved is worth more than in most states.

If you are struggling right now:

12. Contact your local Community Action Agency or call 2-1-1 for immediate referrals.
13. Apply for the Electric Assistance Program — discounts up to 86% on your first 750 kWh.
14. Apply for Fuel Assistance through the NH Department of Energy.
15. Call your utility about payment arrangements before a disconnection notice arrives.

For the long term:

16. Watch the gas pipeline debate. A new pipeline into New England could reduce winter price spikes; continued constraint will keep rates elevated. The outcome directly affects your long-term electricity costs.
17. Follow Seabrook Station's status. The nuclear plant provides 56% of the state's electricity at stable baseload prices. Any change in its operation would significantly affect New Hampshire's rate trajectory.
18. Monitor Community Power rates if your town participates. CPCNH rates fluctuate with wholesale markets and may not always beat Default Energy Service — compare periodically.
19. Budget for continued rate pressure. Transmission costs, distribution upgrades, and natural gas constraints all point to sustained upward pressure on New England electricity prices. Every efficiency improvement and solar kWh compounds in value as rates rise.

New Hampshire's electricity costs are driven by the same New England structural forces that affect Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut — gas pipeline constraints, surging transmission costs, and wholesale market volatility. What sets New Hampshire apart is the dominance of a single nuclear plant providing stable baseload, the rapid growth of community power as a consumer-driven alternative to utility default service, and a net metering framework locked in through 2041 that gives solar owners exceptional long-term certainty. The rates are high and climbing. But the tools available — retail choice, community power, solar with locked-in credits, generous assistance programs — give New Hampshire residents more options for managing those costs than residents of many other expensive states.