New Hampshire
⏳ Enacted — effective Jul 27, 2026Updated July 3, 2026Plug-In Solar Legal Guide
New Hampshire has moderate solar potential and a patchwork of solar-access protections: RSA 477:49 limits HOA bans on solar (allowing reasonable restrictions) and RSA 674:62 limits municipal ordinances. Eversource, Unitil, Liberty Utilities, and NHEC all offer net metering for systems up to 100kW with bill credits based on energy, transmission, and partial distribution charges. New Hampshire signed SB 540 into law on May 28, 2026, effective July 27, 2026, making it one of the earliest states (with Utah) to enact dedicated plug-in/balcony solar legislation -- a strong development for plug-in solar advocates.
New to plug-in solar?
Plug-in solar lets anyone generate free electricity — no roof, no permit, no contractor. A single panel on your balcony can meaningfully cut your bill, especially as rates keep rising.
Payback Calculator
Pre-filled with New Hampshire's average rate ($0.240/kWh) and 4.1 daily peak sun hours. Adjust sliders to match your situation.
Best-fit kits for New Hampshire
sorted by your payback periodUS Solar Supplier 810W Balcony Kit
Complete kit: Runergy panels, APsystems EZ1, SunModo awning racking.
CraftStrom 400W Eco Line Plug-In Kit
400W Eco Line bifacial panel + ETL/UL 1741 microinverter.
PluggedSolar 800W Plug-In Kit
Four 200W panels + UL 1741 microinverter + WiFi monitor. Sold on Amazon.
Payback estimates use your current slider settings with each product's wattage and price. We earn an affiliate commission on purchases at no extra cost to you.
Year-by-year table
| Year | kWh Used | Rate | Savings | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 611 | $0.240 | $147 | $147 |
| 2 | 608 | $0.250 | $152 | $298 |
| 3 | 604 | $0.260 | $157 | $455 |
| 4 | 601 | $0.270 | $162 | $617 |
| 5 | 598 | $0.281 | $168 | $785 |
| 6 | 595 | $0.292 | $174 | $959 |
| 7 | 592 | $0.304 | $180 | $1,139 |
| 8Paid off | 590 | $0.316 | $186 | $1,325 |
| 9 | 587 | $0.328 | $193 | $1,518 |
| 10 | 584 | $0.342 | $199 | $1,717 |
| 11 | 581 | $0.355 | $206 | $1,924 |
| 12 | 578 | $0.369 | $213 | $2,137 |
| 13 | 575 | $0.384 | $221 | $2,358 |
| 14 | 572 | $0.400 | $229 | $2,587 |
| 15 | 569 | $0.416 | $237 | $2,823 |
| 16 | 566 | $0.432 | $245 | $3,068 |
| 17 | 564 | $0.450 | $253 | $3,321 |
| 18 | 561 | $0.467 | $262 | $3,584 |
| 19 | 558 | $0.486 | $271 | $3,855 |
| 20 | 555 | $0.506 | $281 | $4,136 |
| 21 | 552 | $0.526 | $290 | $4,426 |
| 22 | 550 | $0.547 | $301 | $4,727 |
| 23 | 547 | $0.569 | $311 | $5,038 |
| 24 | 544 | $0.592 | $322 | $5,359 |
| 25 | 541 | $0.615 | $333 | $5,692 |
Law Summary
Verify with your state utility commission before installing. FAQ →
Electricity Cost Trend
↑ 4.0%/yr avg — ModerateHOA & Landlord Rules
The #1 real-world blocker for renters & condo ownersRSA 477:49, enacted around 2013, prevents HOAs and similar associations from outright banning solar energy systems, while still permitting reasonable restrictions on placement (e.g., requiring roof-mounted rather than ground-mounted) and aesthetics, provided these don't make solar impractical or significantly reduce performance. RSA 674:62 separately limits municipalities from unreasonably restricting solar installations via zoning. Plug-in/balcony solar devices are not separately addressed by RSA 477:49, but New Hampshire's SB 540, signed May 28, 2026 and effective July 27, 2026, extends dedicated protections to plug-in/balcony solar devices up to 1,200W.
No specific statute found addressing landlord restrictions on tenant plug-in solar devices in rental units.
Utility: Eversource NH / Liberty Utilities
Eversource, Unitil, Liberty Utilities, and New Hampshire Electric Cooperative all participate in net metering. Small projects (up to 100kW AC) receive bill credits calculated as Default Energy Service + Transmission + 25% of Distribution charges. Customers apply through a single 'Application to Connect' (Eversource uses the PowerClerk portal) which covers both interconnection and net metering enrollment -- a relatively streamlined process compared to other states.