Enter your zip code to instantly compare New Hampshire electricity rates and energy plans.
By Jordan Watts
This section highlights the average New Hampshire electricity rates for residential and commercial customers.
Located in the heart of New England, the Granite State of New Hampshire is known for its countless granite formations and quarries. As the first colony to declare independence from Britain, New Hampshire has not detoured from its core beliefs.
New Hampshire's deregulated energy market reflects these values by offering residents and business owners the freedom to choose the electric provider who most closely meets their needs. At EnergyBot, we can help you navigate the market and compare electric suppliers in New Hampshire to ensure you're getting the best rates on your energy.
New Hampshire electric prices are the fifth-highest electricity retail rates in the continental U.S. The average commercial rate in 2021 was 15.76 cents per kilowatt-hour (¢/kWh) — a rate 35% higher than the national average — while the residential rate was 40% higher than the national average at 19.59 ¢/kWh.
On the other hand, New Hampshire had lower total electricity retail sales per capita in 2020 than all but six other states. The residential sector in the state accounts for the largest share of total energy consumption, and more than two-fifths of New Hampshire households choose fuel oil as their main source of heat, meaning electricity sales remain low.
EnergyBot helps consumers sort through these higher average prices and find the lowest rates from top New Hampshire power companies, allowing you to ensure your costs are consistently below average for the state.
New Hampshire began the process of deregulating its energy market in the mid-1990s. In 1996, the state legislature took the first step by approving RSA 374-F. This directive asked the state's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to develop a restructuring plan to implement energy choice for all New Hampshire customers by January 1998.
The PUC issued their plan ahead of schedule in early 1997, but hangups in legislature presented delays and complications. Instead, the existing New Hampshire electric utilities, Granite State Electric Company and the Public Service Company of New Hampshire, restructured individually over the next several years. In 2003, the third and final utility company, Unitil Energy Systems, restructured, completing the state's deregulation.
Deregulated energy markets are designed to provide residential and commercial consumers with the power of energy choice, allowing them to select the energy supplier with the best rates and services. In a deregulated market, energy suppliers are forced to compete for customers, which leads to lower rates and more customer-centric services.
Because New Hampshire's transition to a deregulated market was complicated and delayed, many consumers don't understand the opportunities and options they have for choosing their own suppliers. At EnergyBot, we do our best to explain the deregulated market in simple terms and help residents and business owners effectively manage their monthly electric costs and save by switching providers.
To understand New Hampshire's electric rates, it's essential to understand the difference between utilities and energy providers. Utilities are part of the public service of New Hampshire, operating and maintaining energy infrastructures like wires and towers. Each utility company is responsible for transporting electricity from the generators to residential homes and businesses.
Some local utilities in New Hampshire include Eversource Energy and Liberty Utilities — formerly National Grid and Granite State Electric Company.
New Hampshire electric suppliers like Direct Energy and XOOM Energy are competitive energy retailers. These entities purchase energy from the generators wholesale, then resell it to consumers in the state. Consumers in New Hampshire have the power to select the provider that sells them their energy, which their regional utility company will then deliver through their power lines.
Across the country, consumers have placed an ever-growing emphasis on generating electricity through alternative, environmentally friendly sources like solar, wind and hydroelectric. Currently, about one-fifth of New Hampshire's in-state electricity generation is from renewable resources, with the largest portions generated by hydroelectric and biomass means.
New Hampshire is home to the two largest hydroelectric plants in New England and one-fourth of the region's hydroelectric generating capacity. In a push for more renewable energy sources, the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requires its electricity providers to acquire 25.2% of the energy they sell from renewable sources by 2025.
When you use EnergyBot to view plans from energy providers in your area, we'll let you know how much of their power comes from renewable energy, allowing you to choose a provider who most closely matches your own priorities.
Most energy providers you find on EnergyBot will offer two types of electric plans — fixed-rate and variable-rate. As a New Hampshire consumer, it's important to understand these two types of plans so you can be sure you've found the best option to power your home or business.
Before you decide on a plan, you should conduct an audit of your energy usage to understand which type of plan will most closely meet your needs.
When you choose a fixed-rate plan, you sign a contract with an energy provider for a set rate. Your rate will remain constant over the course of your contract, which may last six, 12, 24 or 36 months. Fixed-rate plans protect you from fluctuations in rates that may result from weather, natural events like tornados or general market volatility.
With a variable-rate plan, your rate may change on a monthly basis throughout the duration of your contract based on market factors. While these plans present more volatility of rates, they also offer more flexibility. Some months your electricity bill may be higher, but it may also be lower, helping you save during certain months.
In a competitive energy market like New Hampshire's, consumers have the opportunity to exercise energy choice, selecting a provider, rate and plan that meets their needs. The easiest way to ensure you always have the best rates is to reevaluate your provider and plan at the end of each contract and switch if you find a better option.
It's important to be aware of your contract's renewal date so that you know when it's time to look at your options. You can compare your current plan with other offers in the area and switch if you find a lower rate or better services. Follow these five steps to find and switch to the provider and plan with the lowest energy rates.
If you've reached the end of your contract and are considering a switch, the best place to start is online with a quick comparison tool like EnergyBot. It takes less than five minutes to enter basic information like your zip code, usage and monthly electric bill's cost, and we'll compile a list of options from top energy suppliers in New Hampshire.
Our website offers easy visualizations of all the information you need, so you can compare plans, providers and rates directly and find the best option for your home or business.
Although our comparison tool is super fast, we encourage you to take your time shopping for a new energy provider. It will pay — literally — to carefully review the plan details, contract terms and legal copy for each option you're considering.
Many energy companies try to entice consumers with low rates. Still, there may be a catch — sometimes the fine print will reveal a variable rate, and sometimes the rate is only applicable when you stay within a specific range of energy usage each month. It's crucial to do your research to ensure you're signing up for the right plan.
Whether you're searching with EnergyBot, another website or an energy supplier directly, it's likely that the site will ask you to upload your most recent electricity bill. Doing so supplies important information that helps us understand how you use energy and what you need from your new provider.
Your new energy provider may also require proof of your energy usage before you can sign a contract and switch. Your electricity bill is often the easiest way to meet those requirements.
If you own or manage a larger business in New Hampshire, you may have unique energy requirements. Many businesses like yours require more energy than the average consumer or use power inconsistently. In these cases, it's often beneficial for you to request a custom pricing quote. Your prospective energy supplier will conduct a comprehensive review of your business's energy usage and provide a quote for a plan and rate specially designed for you.
At EnergyBot, you can request custom quotes for free using our online tools.
Once you decide on your new provider and plan, go ahead and make the switch. You'll receive a confirmation email with the details of your plan and your start date, which you should review to ensure everything is correct.
Your transition to your new supplier will be seamless, and you won't notice a difference until you get your first energy bill from the new supplier.
New Hampshire's growing economy is home to over 132,000 small companies, which make up 99% of the state's business. These companies are primarily in the industries of health care, food service and retail. The state's unique tax policies — which charge no income tax or state tax — have encouraged investments and growth across industries, from the small bio and light industry to professional service and technology firms.
Businesses of all sizes can benefit from both the state's tax policies and the deregulated energy market. When you shop annually for the lowest rates on energy with EnergyBot, you can save money and get the best prices, allowing you to make a better profit or invest your money elsewhere to grow your business.
Consumers in New Hampshire have the opportunity to take advantage of their deregulated energy market and shop around for the best rates on electricity. While the state's average rates may be higher than the national average, EnergyBot can help you find the cheapest electricity providers and plans available in your area to help you save.
Get started today by entering your New Hampshire zip code and answering a few questions to help us compile a list of options for you to compare. If you have any questions about your state's energy market or EnergyBot's services, you can get in touch with our team online or give us a call at 888-743-1870.
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