Nashua, NH Solar Panels
Solar Power in Nashua
If you live in Nashua, you’ve likely noticed your electric bill climbing. New Hampshire has the 9th highest utility prices in the nation. Rates have also risen 23% from 2020 to 2024. For many homeowners, that makes solar worth a closer look.
This guide covers what solar installation looks like in Nashua—how the process works and what to expect. New to solar? Start with our guide on home solar panels.
NEW HAMPSHIRE by the Numbers
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Nashua, NH?
See real solar costs for your Nashua home, based on our actual installations across the area—from Amherst and Hollis to Merrimack and Hudson. This calculator uses firsthand local data, not guesses, so you get a clear, honest estimate for your neighborhood. Explore your numbers below and learn what solar could mean for you.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- Nashua homeowners pay some of the highest electricity rates in the nation—New Hampshire rates rose about 17% from 2021 to 2024, making solar worth a look.
- A typical Nashua home could save around $75,000 over 25 years with solar, and leasing through LightReach lets you go solar with no upfront cost.
- The federal tax credit has ended, but state and local incentives remain—like the Eversource ConnectedSolutions battery rebate of up to $3,000.
Nashua Electricity Prices
If you live in Nashua, you’ve likely noticed your electric bill trending higher over the past few years. Here’s what the numbers show.
New Hampshire’s electricity rates climbed from 19.9 cents per kWh in 2021 to 23.3 cents in 2024—about a 17% rise. That’s well above the 2024 national average of 16.5 cents per kWh.
Because Nashua homeowners pay more than most of the country, solar can be a practical way to offset those higher rates. Panels generate power on-site, reducing how much electricity you buy from the grid. Learn more in our guide on home solar panels.
Over time, that steady on-site generation can help protect your budget from future rate swings. While utility prices shift year to year, sunlight is free—giving Nashua homeowners more predictable energy costs for decades to come.
Price of Energy: New Hampshire vs National Average
Nashua Area Utility Providers
In Nashua, New Hampshire, most homes get their power from Eversource, the area’s main utility. In 2023, Eversource charged about 28.9¢ per kWh—well above the 16.0¢ national average and slightly higher than New Hampshire’s 28.20¢ average.
Why so high? New England relies heavily on natural gas for electricity, and limited pipeline capacity drives prices up during peak demand. Nashua also faces higher delivery and transmission costs, which push local rates above much of the country.
When utility rates stay this far above the national average, home solar becomes worth understanding. Producing your own power can reduce how much electricity you buy from Eversource, giving Nashua homeowners more predictable energy costs over time.
Nashua Utilities Electricity Rates
New Hampshire Solar Incentives
Nashua homeowners can tap state and local programs to lower solar costs. Explore the available solar incentives in New Hampshire below.
One key program is the Eversource ConnectedSolutions battery storage rebate, funded through the New Hampshire Clean Energy Fund. It rewards you for sharing stored energy during summer demand events.
The federal tax credit has ended, but state and local incentives remain. Leasing through LightReach also simplifies things, since Palmetto handles the commercial ITC.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource ConnectedSolutions Battery Storage Rebate (NHCEF) | Rebate | Eversource NH customers in Nashua 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 Nashua 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 Nashua 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 QuoteNashua 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.
Nashua’s four distinct seasons shape solar production, with long summer days boosting output and snowy winters reducing it. Despite cold weather myths, New Hampshire’s clear skies make solar surprisingly effective year-round.
Solar Production in Nashua 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 Nashua
We’ve mapped solar installations across the country, right down to the neighborhood level. Explore this interactive map of Nashua, NH to see how many of your neighbors have switched to solar. Click any hexagon to discover the number of installations in that area of your community.
Leasing Solar Panels
In Nashua, most homes are served by Eversource Energy, which means you can take advantage of a solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) through Palmetto’s LightReach program. A PPA is a simple way to go solar without buying the system yourself.
With a PPA, you don’t pay for panels upfront. Instead, you pay a set price per kilowatt-hour for the power your system produces. Because panels generate more electricity in summer than winter, your solar bill rises and falls with the seasons—but over a full year, your savings work out much like a fixed monthly lease.
Compared to paying cash, a PPA means no large investment and no maintenance to manage. Palmetto owns and cares for the system, so you can simply enjoy the power. To weigh your options, explore our guide on whether to buy or lease solar.
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. Nashua, NH homes served by Eversource Energy qualify for monthly net metering. Each month, the solar power you send to the grid is netted against what you use at nearly a 1:1 rate, minus a couple of small non-bypassable charges (around 1.5 cents per kWh).
If you produce more than you use in a billing period, you earn a monetary credit. Extra credits roll over year to year, and you can request a payout after the March billing cycle if your balance exceeds $100.
Yes, but it depends on how you get your panels. When you own or purchase a solar system, it can raise your Nashua home’s value. In fact, a Zillow study found homes with solar sell for about 4.1% more.
Leased systems, like Palmetto’s LightReach, work differently. Since Palmetto owns the panels, the added value doesn’t transfer the same way. Instead, a buyer may assume the lease agreement, which can affect resale in Nashua.
In Nashua, you can go solar with no upfront cost through a LightReach lease. For a medium-sized home, that’s a low fixed payment around $138 per month, and Palmetto owns and maintains the system for you.
If you prefer to buy, a cash purchase for a typical Nashua home runs about $27,000 before financing. Note the federal 30% tax credit is no longer available for residential cash purchases after the 2025 federal law change. See the calculator above for pricing based on your home size.
With LightReach, Palmetto’s all-inclusive solar lease, one simple monthly payment covers your panels, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a comprehensive protection program with a 90% Production Guarantee—all with no upfront cost. For a typical 9.24 kW system in Nashua, that’s about $138/month.
Because Palmetto owns the system, it claims the commercial 30% Investment Tax Credit and passes those savings to you through lower payments. Since the lease is often less than your current electric bill, you can start saving from day one.
At Palmetto, we combine national scale with a local focus to serve Nashua homeowners. Since 2011, we’ve helped over 20,000 customers across 31 states, using real installation data from communities like Amherst, Hollis, Merrimack, and Hudson to guide your project.
We offer some of the best financing options in the industry, including our LightReach lease, which lets you go solar with no upfront cost. Our trusted install network and dedicated support help make the process simple and transparent from start to finish.
Based on NREL PVWatts data for Nashua, a typical 10 kW home solar system produces roughly 12,700 kWh per year. Smaller systems generate less—about 6,400 kWh for a 5 kW system and 8,900 kWh for a 7 kW system.
Output shifts with the seasons. Long summer days can produce around 45 kWh daily in July, while shorter, snowier December days drop closer to 22 kWh. Your actual production depends on roof direction, shading, and system size.
For many Nashua homeowners, solar can be worth it financially—especially with high New Hampshire electricity rates. With a LightReach lease, you can start saving from day one, because your monthly lease payment is typically less than your current Eversource bill.
There’s no upfront investment and no maintenance to manage, since Palmetto owns and cares for the system. You simply pay for the power your panels produce, helping protect your budget from rising utility rates over time.