Last reviewed 2026-09-01
New Hampshire plug-in solar status
The key facts
- Bill or law
- SB 540
- Size limit
- 1200 watts
- Enacted
- 2026-05-28
- General effective date
- 2027-01-01
Timing and implementation
- Most provisions begin January 1, 2027; the building-code section is contingent.
The law caps systems at 1,200 watts, bars utilities from charging extra fees or requiring prior approval, and allows self-installation without a permit.
Wait for the applicable provisions to take effect — and for certified products to be available — before relying on the law.
Confirm your local codes and any landlord or homeowners association (HOA) rules before installing.
Before you buy in New Hampshire
This page is informational research, not legal advice — and it can fall out of date quickly. Before installing anything, confirm the current law and its start date, any size limit, your local building and fire codes, your utility’s requirements, that the kit is certified as a complete system, your landlord or homeowners association (HOA) rules, a safe way to mount it, and the maker’s instructions.
A “no dedicated statewide law found” status does not settle those other utility, electrical, building, fire, property, or product-safety requirements.
New Hampshire plug-in solar FAQ
Is plug-in solar legal in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire is currently listed as: Enacted — effective later. New Hampshire enacted SB 540 as Chapter 262. Most plug-in-solar provisions take effect January 1, 2027, and the building-code section is contingent. Always confirm current state law, local code, utility rules, and product certification before installing.
Do I need utility approval for plug-in solar in New Hampshire?
That depends on the current state rule, your utility tariff, the product, and your installation. Read the cited sources on this page and confirm directly with your utility before buying or plugging in a kit.
What should I check before buying a plug-in solar kit in New Hampshire?
Check the law or bill status, effective date, size limit, utility requirements, complete-system certification, local building and fire codes, landlord or HOA rules, mounting safety, and the manufacturer's instructions.
Estimate your savings in New Hampshire
Use the calculator to get a rough idea. For a truer number, swap the national average electricity price for your own rate (it’s on your bill), and remember that surplus power you send back may earn nothing unless your state and utility specifically pay for it.
A planning estimate, not a promise. It doesn’t check whether plug-in solar is legal where you live, whether a kit is certified, whether your outlet or mount is suitable, or whether your utility pays for surplus power.
Sources
- SB 540 final textNew Hampshire General Court; accessed 2026-09-01