New Hampshire electricity rates
As of May 2026, the average residential electricity rate in New Hampshire is 27.33 cents per kilowatt-hour, 48.2% above the U.S. average of 18.44¢. That is the 9th highest rate of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Year over year
- ▲ +13.8% from 24.02¢ in May 2025
- Vs. U.S. average
- +48.2% U.S. average 18.44¢
- National rank
- #9 of 51 · #43 cheapest
- Supply market
- ISO New England Retail choice statewide
Why New Hampshire pays what it pays
New Hampshire buys most of its power from the same ISO New England pool as the rest of the region, so it inherits the regional constraint: a marginal generation fleet dominated by natural gas, fed by pipelines that fill up in cold weather. The state's own generation mix is unusual for New England, since the Seabrook nuclear station alone supplies a large share of in-state output. That plant sells into the regional market, though, rather than serving New Hampshire ratepayers at cost.
The visible driver of recent movement is the default-service reset. Utilities procure default supply in six-month terms, and each reset republishes the market's view of forward gas prices as a step change in the residential rate. That mechanism makes New Hampshire look jumpy next to regulated states that smooth costs across a full rate case.
How New Hampshire compares
New Hampshire ranks #9 of 51 jurisdictions by residential price, making it the 43rd cheapest. Within the New England division, 1 of 5 neighbouring states are cheaper.
| State | ¢/kWh | YoY | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 24.89 | +4.8% | #11 |
| New Hampshire | 27.33 | +13.8% | #9 |
| Connecticut | 27.37 | -13.4% | #8 |
| Maine | 28.63 | +2.6% | #6 |
| Massachusetts | 28.82 | -3.6% | #5 |
| Rhode Island | 29.46 | +1.6% | #4 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State. Data period May 2026. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
What a bill looks like at this rate
The figures below apply the May 2026 New Hampshire average to four usage levels. They are arithmetic, not quotes. A real bill also carries fixed customer charges, taxes and any rider specific to your utility.
Estimate your New Hampshire bill
Multiply your own usage by the May 2026 state average. Enter the kilowatt-hours from your last statement. This is a supply-and-delivery blended average, not a utility quote.
Rate used: …. U.S. average 18.44¢/kWh, May 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
Who sells electricity in New Hampshire
Eversource is the largest distribution utility, with Liberty Utilities and Unitil covering other territories. New Hampshire has full retail choice, and it also has one of the more active municipal aggregation movements in New England. A number of towns and cities buy supply collectively on behalf of residents who do not opt out.
Aggregation contracts are negotiated locally and signed at different times, so two households a few miles apart can pay noticeably different supply rates while sharing an identical delivery charge.
What you can actually do about it
If your community runs an aggregation programme, compare the aggregation price against the utility default-service price at every reset. Neither is permanently cheaper. Both are procurement outcomes, and which one wins depends on when the contract was signed.
New Hampshire applies no sales tax to electricity, but it does charge a system benefits charge and a stranded-cost recovery charge. Both live on the delivery side of the bill and do not change when you switch supplier.
Closest states by price
These jurisdictions charge within a fraction of a cent of New Hampshire, which is useful if you are comparing a move or a multi-state operating cost.
New Hampshire electricity rates: common questions
What is the average electricity rate in New Hampshire?
The average residential electricity rate in New Hampshire is 27.33 cents per kilowatt-hour as of May 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is +48.2% relative to the national average of 18.44¢/kWh.
How much is a typical monthly electric bill in New Hampshire?
At the May 2026 average rate of 27.33¢/kWh, a household using 900 kWh a month would pay about $246, and one using 1,500 kWh about $410. Actual bills vary with usage, rate schedule, fixed customer charges and taxes.
Have electricity rates in New Hampshire gone up?
New Hampshire rates rose 13.8% over the year to May 2026, from 24.02¢ in May 2025 to 27.33¢.
Can I choose my electricity supplier in New Hampshire?
Retail choice statewide. Residential customers in New Hampshire can buy supply from a competitive provider while the local utility continues to deliver it and maintain the wires.
Where does this New Hampshire rate figure come from?
It is the residential-sector average revenue per kilowatt-hour reported by utilities to the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Form EIA-861M and published in the Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A. It blends supply and delivery across every residential customer in the state, so it is a statewide average rather than a quote for any individual household.