Hampton residents face new Unitil default electricity rate beginning Aug. 1

Unitil’s new default electricity supply rate for eligible customers in Hampton took effect Aug. 1, 2026, after approval by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission. The Town of Hampton lists the rate at $0.14348 per kilowatt-hour.

The change directly affects customers who receive default electricity supply service through Unitil. It does not necessarily apply to every electricity customer in Hampton, because some customers may receive supply service through another supplier or arrangement.

The town published its notice for residents on July 20, 2026. That notice identifies the approved rate and its effective date, giving eligible customers the key dates to use when reviewing electricity charges beginning with the Aug. 1 service period.

What the rate includes

The $0.14348-per-kilowatt-hour figure is the approved Unitil default electricity supply rate. It is not the complete rate for an electric bill and should not be read as the total amount a household, business or other customer will pay.

Electric bills also include delivery and other charges. Those charges are separate from the supply rate listed in the Hampton notice, so the approved figure represents only one part of the bill.

The practical effect will vary among customers. A customer’s total bill depends in part on whether the account receives Unitil default service and how much electricity the account uses. Customers receiving supply service from a different supplier are not necessarily covered by this Unitil rate.

What the notice does not show

The available town notice does not state the prior Unitil default service rate. It therefore does not establish whether the new rate is higher or lower than the previous rate, nor does it provide a percentage increase or decrease.

The notice also does not provide a household-specific dollar impact. That calculation would require information about the customer’s electricity use and the prior rate, neither of which is supplied in the available notice.

For Hampton renters, homeowners and local businesses that receive Unitil default supply service, Aug. 1 marks the start of the approved $0.14348-per-kilowatt-hour supply rate. The amount appearing on any individual electric bill will depend on the account’s eligibility, electricity usage, delivery charges and other bill components.