Residents in Merrimack County, NH who request quotes on the EnergySage Marketplace spend an average of $208 monthly on electricity. That adds up to $2,496 per year. A different way to look at it is that a typical Merrimack County, NH resident uses 924 kWh of electricity per month and 11,088 kWh over the year.
(For what it’s worth: Merrimack County, NH residents shopping for solar on EnergySage may use more electricity than a typical household.)
The easiest way to compare electricity costs across regions is to look at the electricity rate. In the U.S., residential rates generally range from 11 ¢/kWh all the way up to 34 ¢/kWh.
As of February 2026, the cost of electricity in Merrimack County, NH is 23 ¢/kilowatt-hour (kWh)—roughly 14% higher than the national average cost. That number is based on real-world electric bills shared with EnergySage over the past 12 months. You can compare that number to the most recent average state electric price reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The main utility companies in New Hampshire are Eversource, Unitil, and Liberty Utilities. These are investor-owned utilities (IOUs), which are privately owned and designed to benefit shareholders. Community Owned Utilities (COUs), like New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, are run by the members and have different regulations. While you might get lower rates and other perks from a COU, they don’t always offer programs like net metering.
Your utility is assigned based on where you live, but because New Hampshire has a deregulated electricity market, you can choose your electricity provider. In New Hampshire’s deregulated energy market, electric companies compete to offer you the best rates and service. This can help you save money on your energy bills when the rate is lower than what the utility offers.
In areas served by the major utility companies, you can also join a community power aggregation program. This doesn’t change your utility provider, but you become part of a group that purchases electricity in bulk and can secure lower rates compared to the standard utility prices.
If you find a better plan, our partner WattBuy will contact your utility provider to switch you for free.
When you pay your electric bill, you’re not only covering the costs to produce that electricity, but also the costs of running and maintaining the electrical grid, as well as public benefit funds that promote things like renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Electric bill costs are rolled into fixed (monthly customer charges) and variable charges (¢/kWh that you use).
Fixed charges, like the flat fee for having a meter, generally remain the same monthly unless your utility makes a policy update.
Your variable charges will change every month and depend on your electricity rate and how much electricity you use.
Your electric bill's variable charges will include a supply (or generation) charge and a transmission and distribution (or delivery) charge. The supply charge covers the cost of electricity generation, while the transmission and distribution charges cover the cost of delivering it to your home.
Utility companies in New Hampshire typically charge a fixed rate for each kWh of electricity, but some also offer variable-rate plans. Instead of a flat rate, you pay a price per kWh based on the time of day or level of demand. These plans are typically listed as TOU rates or demand charges.
How clean is the electricity in New Hampshire?
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, as of August 2025, about 54% of electricity in New Hampshire comes from nuclear and about 32% from natural gas. Coal has been largely phased out at 2% of electricity generation, but renewables only comprise about 12%. So, if you go solar in New Hampshire, you’ll shrink your carbon footprint.
Some energy companies offer renewable energy plans. By selecting a supplier from the competitive market and opting for a 100% green plan, you can offset your electricity usage with renewable energy sources. These plans lower your carbon impact without the upfront costs of solar installation. It may even save you money if the green energy rate is lower than your current rate.
As long as you have a suitable roof, one of the surest ways to save on energy is to go solar—ideally with a vetted contractor offering a competitive price.
Solar panels will reduce or even eliminate your electric bills in the short term and protect you against rising electricity costs in the long run, too. The amount you save depends on how much you spend on electricity now and how much of your electric bill you can offset with solar energy.
Solar panels are a big investment, but Merrimack County, NH homeowners who install them—and pay upfront—break even after an average of just 10.39 years. Then, the solar panels will continue to produce free electricity for years to come.
Does New Hampshire offer net metering?
When you connect your solar panels to the grid, you can take advantage of net metering. If your panels produce more energy than your home uses, you can send the excess to the utility and earn credits in return. When the sun isn’t shining (like at night), those credits can cover or reduce your bill.
In New Hampshire, your credits don’t have an expiration date. At the end of each billing cycle, if you exported more power than you consumed, the extra credits roll over for the next cycle. Just note that any carried-over credits are worth about 25% less than the retail electricity rate, meaning your credit is worth less than what you’ll pay. Also, you can’t use credits to pay for interconnection fees—you’ll pay for those in cash instead.
As New Hampshire reviews its net metering rules, installing solar sooner rather than later might help you secure the current favorable net metering policy.
How much can you save with solar?
The Granite State has some of the priciest electricity rates in the country. You can make a real difference in your energy bills by going solar in Merrimack County, NH.
Just take a look at how much you'll spend on electricity over time based on your current bill. It’s easy to see how going solar can pay off quickly.
Electricity cost over time in New Hampshire
Current monthly electric bill | 10-year electricity cost | 20-year electricity cost | 30-year electricity cost |
|---|---|---|---|
$50 | $7,000 | $17,000 | $31,000 |
$100 | $14,000 | $34,000 | $62,000 |
$150 | $21,000 | $51,000 | $93,000 |
$200 | $28,000 | $68,000 | $120,000 |
$250 | $35,000 | $85,000 | $150,000 |
Assuming a 4% annual increase based on inflation and average annual electric rate increases in New Hampshire.
Let's assume you pay $208 for electricity monthly (the Merrimack County, NH average) and that electricity prices increase by 4% annually. Let's also assume you buy your solar panel system upfront and that it costs you $27,000 before any available incentives.
In the first year with solar, you'll avoid spending $2,500 on electric bills. Over five years, you'll avoid $13,400; by 10 years, you'll have avoided $29,300. Solar panels are usually covered under warranty for 25 years—by then, you'll have avoided spending $97,400 on electric bills in Merrimack County, NH.
The average payback period in Merrimack County, NH is 10.39 years, so by this point, you've already broken even on your investment. When you subtract your upfront installation cost, you'll pocket $70,400 over 25 years with solar.
Your solar savings depend on you
How much your utility company charges for electricity is a big indicator of how much you'll save with solar. But your exact solar savings depend on your unique situation—including your energy usage, roof layout, system size, and how you pay for your system.
Here are some reasons your savings could be below average:
You don’t use much electricity, or your roof is small or has a less-than-ideal layout. You might have a relatively long payback period, so you'll save a little less over time.
You don't install enough solar panels to 100% offset your energy use. You’ll pay less up front but save less in the long run.
You finance your solar panel system with a loan or sign a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) instead of paying up front. These types of arrangements can make a lot of sense for keeping your capital flexible and will allow you to start saving sooner. But they will cut into your long-term savings.
Choosing a high-quality solar installer is the key to getting a top-notch solar panel system that will help you save on electric bills.
We pre-screen all solar companies on EnergySage to ensure they get the job done right. Here are the highest-rated EnergySage installers in Merrimack County, NH:
Elite+ InstallerScreened & Verified4.8 /5.0363 Reviews
Elite+ InstallerScreened & Verified4.3 /5.0123 Reviews
Elite InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.027 Reviews
Elite InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.09 Reviews
Elite InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.014 Reviews
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