Compare New Hampshire Electric Rates & Prices

The latest average residential electricity rate in New Hampshire is 22.43 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is just over 29% higher than the national average of 16.68 cents per kWh. Commercial electricity rates in the state are slightly lower than residential rates, coming in at 19.21 cents per kWh, more than 40% higher than the U.S. average of 12.76 cents per kWh.

As you’re shopping for a new electricity plan on Choose Energy, you’ll likely come across a few different plan types, including fixed-rate and variable-rate options. Here’s how some of the most popular plan types work: 

• Fixed-rate plans: If you sign up for a fixed-rate plan, you’ll enter into a contract with your energy provider (usually for 12–36 months). During this time, your electricity rate won’t change. However, if you cancel your plan before it expires, you’ll typically have to pay an early termination fee (ETF).
  
• Variable-rate plans: With a variable-rate plan, your electricity rate can change on a monthly basis, depending on price fluctuations in the energy market. Unlike fixed-rate plans, these are month-to-month agreements, so you don’t have to sign a contract and won’t need to pay an ETF if you decide to switch plans.
  
• Prepaid and no-deposit plans: This type of plan helps you avoid an initial deposit, something many companies require if you don’t meet their credit threshold. No-deposit plans, such as a prepaid plan, allow you to pay for your energy upfront. You’ll receive alerts when your account is low, so you’ll know when it’s time to top up.
  
• Renewable energy plans: Some providers offer green energy plans, which offset your electricity usage with energy from renewable sources, like solar and wind power. Renewable energy is common in New Hampshire, with 14% of electricity coming from renewable resources in 2022.

Energy suppliers

Energy suppliers (also known as electricity providers or power companies) set rates and sell energy plans to residents and business owners. You’re free to shop around and choose the New Hampshire electric supplier that best meets your needs. You can find affordable energy options from Smart Energy, a New Hampshire energy supplier, on the Choose Energy marketplace.

Utility providers

Your utility provider is determined by where you live, so you can’t choose your own, even in a deregulated market. These companies deliver power to homes and businesses, respond to power outages, and take care of power lines and other infrastructure within their service areas. There are currently four New Hampshire electric utilities: 

• Eversource Energy
• Liberty Utilities
• New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC)
• Unitil Energy Systems

If you don’t choose your own electricity provider, you’ll have to buy power from your utility company. Each utility has a default rate — also known as the price to compare (PTC) — that it charges for electricity. For example, the current PTC from Unitil Energy Systems is 10.72 cents per kWh, while NHEC charges 10.16 cents per kWh.

For New Hampshire residents, the average monthly electricity bill is $139.74. This is based on the state’s average electric rate (22.43 cents per kWh) and the average residential monthly energy consumption (623 kWh per month). This comes out to about 7% less than the national average bill of $149.95 per month.

In 1996, the New Hampshire legislation passed RSA 374-F, which gave consumers the power to choose their own energy provider. This legislation went into effect in 1998. It took until 2003 for deregulation to spread throughout the state. At this time, New Hampshire does not have a deregulated natural gas market.

Deregulation forces energy companies to be more competitive in their rate and plan offerings, which ultimately benefits consumers. As an electricity customer in New Hampshire, you may be able to save even more on your energy bills by shopping for a new electricity plan during low-demand periods of the year (such as spring or fall). You can enter your ZIP code on the Choose Energy marketplace to compare some of the cheapest energy plans available in New Hampshire.

With Choose Energy, you can compare electric rates in New Hampshire in one convenient place. When you’re ready to buy a new plan, you can take the following steps: 

• Type in your ZIP code. Once you’ve entered your ZIP code on our free marketplace, you’ll see a list of plans from New Hampshire electric suppliers in your area. You can sort and filter them by price, plan type, and other specifics.
  
• Select a plan. When you’re ready, you can sign up online in just a few minutes. If you have questions or want to sign up over the phone, call a Choose Energy expert at the number on your screen.
  
• Enjoy your plan. Your new energy supplier will manage the transfer process with no interruption to your service, so there’s nothing else to do on your end.

Is a deposit required for my energy plan?

Many providers require a deposit before they begin service. If you’d rather avoid this part of the process, look for a no-deposit electricity plan.

How can I lower my electric bill?

There are multiple ways to lower your electric bill, including using smart appliances and light bulbs, patching up drafty areas in your home, and maintaining your HVAC system. You can also try switching energy providers to see if you can lock in a better rate.