Plug-In Solar in New Hampshire
That is allowed. Under New Hampshire law, one plug-in solar kit of up to 1,200 watts AC is allowed for each metered customer. Utility approval, interconnection review, and device fees don't apply.
- Legal in New Hampshire from Jan 1, 2027SB 540-FN
- Each home is capped at 1,200 watts.
- Amount: 26.9 cents.From Jan to Aug 2026, EIA shows this average home price per kWh.
- The yearly figure is $281.In Manchester, an 800 W kit, before any utility solar fee.
Choose a kit rated at or under 1,200 W before you connect in New Hampshire. When the grid goes down, its inverter must stop sending power.
New Hampshire Law: What It Says
The signed SB 540-FN takes effect 2027-01-01, and the signature came on Jul 2, 2026. Its building code section applies only once the Department of Energy has certified that a national plug-in standard exists. Chapter 262, Laws of 2026 is the law.
The size is 1,200 W.
Safety listing: A testing laboratory recognized nationally (NRTL) must certify it under national safety standards for plug-in solar systems and distributed energy resources.
You don't need utility approval. Before you install or use the system, the utility may not require approval. It also may not require an interconnection review or an interconnection agreement.
You don't have to notify the utility. The utility may establish a reporting method so customers can report the system's wattage after installation. Its purpose is notification only.
Fees: Apart from normal charges from using the system, the utility may not charge any related fee. It also may not require extra controls or equipment that it specifies.
- Each metered customer may have just one plug-in system, and the inverter may not send more than 1,200 watts of AC power.
- You must install and operate the system as directed by the state building code and by the manufacturer's instructions.
- The utility isn't liable when a customer's plug-in system causes damage or injury.
- Consumer information must be posted by the Department of Energy. It must include a notice that systems without a listing, or systems connected improperly, may affect insurance for homeowners or renters.
Before the Law: Rules and Bigger Systems
Hooking up: Until the law takes effect, net metering for a customer-generator still means an interconnection application under PUC rule Puc 904.02, filed with the distribution utility. Eversource says its connection application is all you need.
Systems of up to 1,000 kW can use net metering under RSA 362-A:9. Small projects go up to 100 kW; anything over 1,000 kW is ineligible.
New Hampshire Kit Savings
For panels in Manchester, PVWatts estimates 1,303 kWh a year from every 1 kW. New Hampshire households pay 26.9 cents per kWh in 2026 so far. Placement matters for an 800 W kit:
| Where the panels go | kWh a year | Saved a year |
|---|---|---|
| Tilted south on a stand | 1,043 | $281 |
| Upright on a railing | 657 | $177 |
| Facing east or west | 834 | $224 |
Each Month in Manchester
- Jan70
- Feb82
- Mar103
- Apr99
- May101
- Jun95
- Jul106
- Aug99
- Sep91
- Oct75
- Nov64
- Dec58
Amount an 800 W kit makes in kWh, tilted south.
Kits That Fit Under 1,200 W
| Kit | kWh a year | Saved a year | Pays back in | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Solar Supplier 1180 W EZ1 Kit | 1,538 | $414 | 2.2 years | $899 |
| Bright Saver 360 W Balcony Kit | 469 | $126 | 3.3 years | $414 |
| EcoFlow STREAM 800 W Kit | 1,043 | $281 | 3.9 years | $1,099 |
Tilted south, with all power used at home. Compare every kit
New Hampshire Details Worth Noting
- Power in New Hampshire is expensive: in 2024, the average home spent 23.40 cents/kWh, so a plug-in kit recovers its cost sooner than in most states.
- Retail choice: a competitive energy supplier may sell you your energy supply, while a single utility delivers your power.
Do You Rent or Use a Balcony?
The law in New Hampshire covers the hookup but not the mount. Check with your landlord or HOA first. Learn about balcony solar and solar for apartments.
The Main Utility Companies
- Public Service Company of NH (Eversource)
- New Hampshire Electric Cooperative
- Community Power Coalition of NH (community power supplier)
Next Steps for You in New Hampshire
- Pick a kit rated at or under 1,200 W. Our comparison covered 7 kits, and all 7 fit that cap. Each must carry the listing named in the law. Compare kits.
- After reading the notice rule above, let your electric utility know if it applies to you. File the kit's spec sheet alongside your other papers.
- Plug the kit into a grounded outlet whose circuit has little else on it, and keep it out of power strips.
Sources
- SB540-FN, Current Legislation Search (NH General Court)
- Final chaptered text of Chapter 262, SB 540-FN
- Net Metering rules, Puc 900
- New Hampshire Net Metering (Eversource)
- Choosing an Energy Supplier (NH Department of Energy)
- EIA State Electricity Profile tables, New Hampshire 2024
- NREL PVWatts, Manchester data and EIA Table 5.6.B, 2026 price data
You can view each state at a glance or check a neighbor: Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island.