New Hampshire’s supply rates do not change in October. Default energy service is reset every six months, on February 1 and August 1. The current rates took effect on August 1, 2026.
This article covers default supply rates for Eversource and Liberty, with notes on Unitil and community power. It does not cover the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative.
Quick Summary: Supply Rates, August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027
| Provider | Rate | Supply cost at 650 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Eversource default service | 14.009¢/kWh | About $91 |
| Liberty default service | 15.835¢/kWh | About $103 |
| Community Power, Eversource areas | 14.949¢/kWh | About $97 |
| Community Power, Liberty areas | 14.729¢/kWh | About $96 |
Source: Valley News. Supply only. Delivery charges are added on top.
Our math: 650 × $0.14009 = $91.06. 650 × $0.15835 = $102.93.
Why Rates Rose
New Hampshire Public Radio reported three causes:
- A harsh winter, which pushed wholesale prices up.
- Higher natural gas prices after tensions in the Strait of Hormuz in February 2026.
- A newer purchasing rule. Since February 2025, utilities must buy half of default supply on the daily spot market. That makes costs harder to predict.
Because costs came in above estimates, utilities are also recovering shortfalls: $38 million at Eversource, $9 million at Liberty and $3 million at Unitil. NHPR put the overall effect at about $6 to $18 more a month.
Shopping Around
New Hampshire customers can buy supply from a competitive supplier or, in many towns, from a community power program. The table shows the answer depends on where you live. Community power was cheaper than Liberty’s default rate but more expensive than Eversource’s for this period.
What This Means for Homeowners With Solar
We did not verify New Hampshire’s current net metering or export credit rules for this article, so we give no export rates here. Ask your utility for its current solar tariff, and check how exported energy is credited before sizing a system. Fixed monthly charges are not reduced by solar.
Our solar payback guide shows how the retail rate and the export credit change the math.
What to Check on Your Bill
- Who your supplier is: the utility, a community power program or a competitive supplier.
- The supply rate against the table above.
- The customer charge and delivery rates.
For help sorting the lines on your bill, see our guide to reading your electric bill.
What Happens Next
Default service rates reset on February 1, 2027. Utilities file proposed rates with the Public Utilities Commission in the weeks before.
Limitations
Rates come from the Valley News and New Hampshire Public Radio. The Public Utilities Commission’s rate page could not be opened. We did not find Unitil’s rate or the previous period’s rates, so we do not give a percentage change.
Sources
- Valley News, “New Hampshire’s CPCNH, Eversource, Liberty rates compared,” June 30, 2026
- New Hampshire Public Radio, “Electricity prices are about to go up in NH. Here’s why,” July 20, 2026
- New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, Electric Rates
Frequently asked questions
Did New Hampshire electric rates change on October 1, 2026?
We found no change on that date. Default energy service rates changed on August 1, 2026 and are set through January 31, 2027.
What is Eversource's default energy rate in New Hampshire?
14.009 cents per kWh from August 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027, according to the Valley News. That is the supply portion only.
Is community power cheaper?
It depends on the territory. From August 2026, the Community Power Coalition's rate is 14.729 cents in Liberty areas, below Liberty's 15.835 cents, and 14.949 cents in Eversource areas, above Eversource's 14.009 cents.
