Manchester, NH Solar Panels
Solar Power in Manchester
If you live in Manchester, NH, you’ve likely watched your electricity bills climb. With New Hampshire holding the 9th highest utility prices in the nation and rates rising 23% between 2020 and 2024, many Manchester homeowners are exploring solar as a way to take control of their energy costs.
This guide walks you through what solar installation looks like here in Manchester, from how the process works to what you can expect. To dig deeper, explore our complete guide on home solar panels.
NEW HAMPSHIRE by the Numbers
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Manchester, NH?
Curious what solar really costs in Manchester? This calculator uses real installation data from across the area—including Bedford, Hooksett, Goffstown, and Londonderry—to give you a clear, local estimate. No guesswork, just firsthand numbers from actual homes near you, so you can explore solar with confidence.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- Manchester homeowners pay far more for electricity than most of the country, with New Hampshire rates near 23.3¢ per kWh—well above the 16.5¢ national average.
- Solar can save the average Manchester home around $75,000 over 25 years, with system costs and monthly savings that vary based on your home’s size.
- You can go solar with no upfront cost through a LightReach lease, or explore New Hampshire incentives like the Eversource battery storage rebate.
Manchester Electricity Prices
If you live in Manchester, NH, you’ve likely noticed your electricity bills climbing well above what most of the country pays.
New Hampshire’s electricity rates consistently run far above the national average. In 2024, NH residents paid about 23.3 cents per kWh, while the U.S. average was just 16.5 cents.
Solar installation offers Manchester homeowners a way to take control of these costs. By generating your own power, you can reduce how much electricity you buy at these higher-than-average rates.
Over the long term, solar panel installation can bring lasting stability to your energy costs. Instead of facing unpredictable rate hikes, you produce clean power from your own roof for years to come.
Price of Energy: New Hampshire vs National Average
Manchester Area Utility Providers
In Manchester, NH, most homes get their power from Eversource. In 2023 (the latest data available, as 2024 figures aren’t out yet), Eversource charged about 28.9¢ per kWh.
That 2023 rate sits far above the national average of 16.0¢ per kWh, though it’s close to New Hampshire’s state average of 28.20¢. Limited local energy generation and reliance on imported power help push these regional rates higher.
Because electricity here costs more than in most of the country, many Manchester homeowners look at solar installation. Solar panels generate power on-site, which can reduce how much you buy from the grid over time.
Manchester Utilities Electricity Rates
New Hampshire Solar Incentives
Manchester, NH homeowners can lower solar installation costs with state and local programs. Explore the available solar incentives in New Hampshire below.
One key option is the Eversource ConnectedSolutions Battery Storage Rebate, funded through the New Hampshire Clean Energy Fund. Eversource NH customers earn upfront rebates for enrolling battery capacity in summer demand response events.
The federal residential tax credit has ended. Still, state and local incentives remain. Solar leasing through LightReach also simplifies incentives, since Palmetto handles the commercial ITC and reflects savings in lower monthly payments.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource ConnectedSolutions Battery Storage Rebate (NHCEF) | Rebate | Eversource NH customers in Manchester can receive an upfront rebate of $230 per kWh of enrolled battery capacity (up to $3,000 for residential accounts) through the New Hampshire Clean Energy Fund ConnectedSolutions program, in exchange for participating in summer demand response events. | Learn More |
The Eversource New Hampshire Clean Energy Fund (NHCEF) ConnectedSolutions Battery Storage Program offers residential customers in Manchester an upfront rebate of $230 per kWh of battery capacity enrolled in the program, capped at $3,000 per residential account. Commercial customers can receive $250 per kWh, capped at $10,000. For example, a 10 kWh residential battery system would earn a $2,300 rebate. The rebate is paid by check once your battery receives permission to operate from Eversource’s interconnection group and is accepted into the demand response program.
To qualify, your battery storage system must have been purchased after October 1, 2022, and you must agree to participate in demand response events for a minimum of three years. During demand response events — which occur between June 1 and September 30, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM — Eversource may draw on your battery’s stored energy to help manage grid demand. You can expect approximately 40 events per summer, each lasting no longer than three hours. Eligible battery models include Sonnen eco (Gen 2+), ecoLinx, sonnenCore, sonnenCore+, Enphase IQ Batteries, FranklinWH aPower, and other approved models.
This program is available to Eversource NH customers only and has limited funding — as of late 2024, remaining funds were approximately $750,000, so availability may be restricted. Homeowners in Manchester are strongly encouraged to contact Eversource directly to confirm current funding availability before purchasing a battery system. Note that battery storage systems enrolled in this program may also qualify for the RSA 72:62 property tax exemption in participating municipalities.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with New Hampshire incentives.
Get a Free QuoteManchester Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.
Manchester experiences cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with seasonal daylight shifts affecting production. Despite New England’s cloudy reputation, well-designed systems here capture ample sunlight and generate reliable, meaningful solar energy year-round.
Solar Production in Manchester by Month
What Can Your Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
In July, your 10 kW system could power:
- 3.6 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Run central AC for 18 hours AND power all other appliances
- or Fully charge 5.4 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Winter Production (December)
In December, your 10 kW system could power:
- 2 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Keep your home heating system running for 15 hours
- or Fully charge 3 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Annual Production
Over a year, your 10 kW system could:
- Offset 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 175 trees
- or Save approximately $4,234 in electricity costs
Want to know exactly how much solar can power your home?
Get a personalized solar analysis based on your actual home, energy usage, and roof characteristics.
Get My Custom EstimateSolar Panel Systems in Manchester
We’ve mapped solar installations across the country, right down to the neighborhood level. Explore this interactive map to see how many homes in Manchester have made the switch to solar. Click any hexagon to discover how your neighbors and community are embracing clean energy.
Leasing Solar Panels
In Manchester, NH, your solar financing option depends on your utility. If you’re served by Eversource, Unitil, or Liberty Utilities, you can go solar through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Palmetto’s LightReach program. (Homes served by NH Electric Cooperative aren’t currently eligible.)
With a PPA, you don’t pay upfront for the system. Instead, you simply pay a set price for each kilowatt-hour your panels produce. Because solar output rises in summer, your payments follow production—more in sunny months, less in winter—while your yearly savings stay similar to a fixed lease.
Unlike paying in cash, there’s no large investment and no maintenance to manage. Palmetto owns and cares for the system, so you can enjoy clean energy without the hassle. Learn more about buying versus leasing solar to see what fits your home.
Go solar without the investment
With LightReach, there are no investment costs to recoup, loan payments to manage, or maintenance needs to take on. As soon as your panels are active, your solar savings are too!
Explore LightReach LeasingFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. Manchester, NH homes served by Eversource have access to monthly net metering. Each month, the power your panels send to the grid is netted against what you use at nearly a 1:1 rate, minus a few small non-bypassable charges of about 1.5 cents per kWh.
If you produce more than you use in a billing period, you earn a monetary bill credit (roughly 21 cents per kWh in 2023). Extra credits roll over month to month and year to year.
In Manchester, NH, owned or purchased solar panel systems can increase your home’s value. A Zillow study found homes with solar panels sold for about 4.1% more than comparable homes without them.
This benefit applies to systems you own outright, not leased or third-party-owned systems. With a lease, the buyer may assume the agreement, so resale can be affected differently since you don’t own the equipment.
Many Manchester homeowners go solar with no upfront cost through a LightReach lease, paying a low fixed monthly amount (around $138/month for a medium-sized home) while Palmetto owns and maintains the system.
You can also buy your system in cash, with a medium home averaging about $27,453. Note that following the 2025 federal law change, the 30% tax credit no longer applies to residential cash purchases. See the calculator above for pricing based on your home size.
With a solar lease through Palmetto’s LightReach program, you make one simple monthly payment that covers everything: the panels, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee. There’s no upfront cost, and payments are typically lower than your current bill, so you save from day one.
For a typical 9.24 kW system in Manchester, NH, expect around $138/month. Because Palmetto owns the system, it claims the commercial tax credit and passes those savings to you through lower payments.
Yes. Solar panels work well in Manchester’s climate, generating power year-round despite cold, snowy winters and New England’s cloudy reputation. Manchester averages about 4.5 peak sun hours per day, and modern panels still produce energy on overcast days.
Production shifts with the seasons. Longer summer days deliver the most output, while shorter, cloudier winter days produce less. A well-designed system captures ample sunlight across all four seasons for reliable, meaningful energy.
For many Manchester homeowners, solar can make financial sense because New Hampshire electricity rates near 23.3¢ per kWh run well above the national average. Generating your own power reduces how much you buy from the grid.
With a LightReach lease, there’s no upfront investment. Your fixed monthly payment is typically less than your current electricity bill, so you can start saving from day one—without the cost or maintenance of owning the system.
Solar panels are low maintenance. They have no moving parts and are built to withstand Manchester’s snowy winters and warm summers, so occasional cleaning is usually all they need.
With a LightReach plan, Palmetto owns the system and handles all maintenance, monitoring, and repairs at no extra cost. This includes a 90% Production Guarantee, so you can enjoy clean energy without the upkeep.