Net Metering
New Hampshire's net metering program lets you offset your electricity bill with power your renewable energy system generates. If your solar, wind, geothermal, or other eligible system (up to 1 MW) produces more electricity than you use, you'll receive a credit on your next bill—or potentially cash payment if you accumulate excess credits. Simply work with your utility to install the required meter and enroll in net metering through your existing service tariff.
You can develop renewable generation systems up to 1 MW for residential and commercial customers across all major renewable technologies. For systems up to 100 kW, single bidirectional meters measure net flow; larger systems require utility-approved bi-directional metering. Ensure customers understand that credits are valued at retail rates plus a portion of distribution costs (up to 100 kW) or energy rates only (above 100 kW), and that renewable energy credits belong to the customer unless the utility purchases excess generation at year-end.
Net metering is a utility obligation program affecting all electric suppliers in New Hampshire; there is no separate state funding or enrollment cap, though utilities distinguish between small generators (≤100 kW) and large (>100 kW–1 MW) with different credit calculation rules. The program uses customer's existing retail tariff and awards credits indefinitely each billing period; excess generation may be paid at avoided cost or default service rate if the utility chooses. Standard tariffs expire December 31, 2040, but customers may switch to an alternative tariff allowing annual or quarterly monetary payment thresholds ($100 or $25 respectively). Target all sectors including residential, commercial, agricultural, and government facilities.
Program details
- Program ID
- 283
- Last updated
- 4/14/2026
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial industrial local government nonprofit residential schools state government federal government agricultural institutional
- Technologies
- geothermal electric solar thermal electric solar photovoltaics wind (all) biomass hydroelectric hydrogen combined heat & power fuel cells using non-renewable fuels landfill gas tidal wave wind (small) hydroelectric (small) anaerobic digestion fuel cells using renewable fuels other distributed generation technologies
Program summary
New Hampshire requires all utilities selling electricity in the state to offer net metering to customers who own or operate systems up to one megawatt (MW) of capacity that generates electricity using solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, tidal, wave, biomass, landfill gas, bio-oil, or biodiesel. Combined heat and power (CHP) systems that use natural gas, wood pellets, hydrogen, propane, or heating oil are also eligible.*
System Capacity Limit
The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) rules for net metering distinguish between small customer-generators (up to 100 kilowatts) and large customer-generators (greater than 100 kW and up to 1 MW). The rules vary slightly for each customer type. The system capacity is 5 MW for group net-metered systems with a municipal host only.
Net Excess Generation
Net excess generation (NEG) is carried forward indefinitely to the customer’s next bill as a kilowatt-hour (kWh) credit. Customers with NEG at the end of an annual period may elect to receive payment for NEG at the utility’s avoided cost rate. The utility may also voluntarily elect to purchase or credit excess generation at the applicable default service rate, but only if the payment is issued whenever the value of the credit (in excess of the customer owed amount) is greater than $50.
For systems up to 100 kW, a single meter that measures both the inflow and outflow of electricity internally is used. A bi-directional meter is used for larger systems. Utilities may install additional meters at their own expense.
Each utility’s net metering tariff must be identical, with respect to rates, rate structure, and charges, to the tariff under which the customer would otherwise take default service from the utility. The PUC is authorized to develop a methodology for net metering under a time-of-use tariff.
For systems up to 100 kW, net excess generation is credited at a rate equal to 100% of the retail energy and transmission charges plus 25% of the distribution charge, and for systems greater than 100 kW, this rate is equal to the energy charge only.
Renewable Energy Credit
Renewable energy credits (RECs) are owned by the customer. However, RECs associated with the net excess generation purchased by the utility at the end of an annual billing period may be claimed by the utility.
Net Metering Alternative
The net metering alternative tariff applies to customer-generators receiving net metering capacity allocation starting September 1, 2017. Customer generators subject to the standard net metering tariff (subject to end on December 31, 2040) can switch to the alternative tariff, but may not go back to the standard. Small customer-generators subject to the alternative must have bi-directional meters installed. Under the alternative tariff, customers may choose to receive a payment from the utility annually equal to the accumulated monetary bill credit balance exceeding $100 as of the end of the March billing period. Customers may also receive the credit quarterly equal to the accumulated monetary bill credit balance exceeding $25 at the end of the most recent billing before quarterly payments are chosen. For current net metering tariffs (standard and alternative), click here.
*CHP systems up to 30 kW must have a system efficiency of at least 80% to be eligible. CHP systems greater than 30 kW and up to 1 MW must have a fuel system efficiency of at least 65%.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- puc@puc.nh.gov
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
