Home solar in New Jersey: prices, net metering, what is left in 2026
What New Jersey homeowners pay for solar in 2026, how the state's export rules work, and which incentives survived - verified against state sources, town by town.
Installed home solar in New Jersey compares against the U.S. marketplace average of about $2.58 a watt - roughly $30,960 for 12 kW.
The 30% federal solar credit ended December 31, 2025 - New Jersey installations completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
A home battery in New Jersey runs about $12,000-$16,000 installed, before any state storage incentive.
Beware of any 2026 payback estimate that looks as good as the 2025 ones: with the federal credit gone, a third of the old subsidy math vanished. If a sales projection has not gotten noticeably worse since 2025, it is hiding something - usually an inflated utility-rate escalation assumption.
New Jersey rules that decide your payback
| Rule | New Jersey status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | Full retail-rate net metering: homeowners receive full retail credit on their utility bill for every kWh their system produces over a 12-month annualized cycle, systems must be sized not to exceed the customer's annual electric needs, and any excess generation existing when a customer switches suppliers or changes their anniversary date is credited at the wholesale Locational Marginal Price rather than retail. |
| State incentive | Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) Program - Administratively Determined Incentive (ADI) sub-program, which pays residential net-metered systems SREC-IIs for 15 years; the Board cut the residential rate from $85/MWh to $77/MWh for all registrations received on or after July 27, 2026, and opened a 300 MW residential block for Energy Year 2027 on June 1, 2026 (first-come, first-served until subscribed or June 1, 2027) |
| Sales tax on the system | Exempt |
| Property tax on added home value | Excluded |
The residential ADI block is chronically oversubscribed - registrations ran ~5.2 MW/week in EY2026 and the Board had to move 35 MW from the non-residential segment in April 2026 to keep the residential block from closing early - so homeowners should confirm block capacity remains before signing.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
What installed solar costs in 2026
| System size | Installed price (marketplace avg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,480 | Small roof / low usage |
| 8 kW | $20,640 | Typical starter system |
| 10 kW | $25,800 | Family home with AC |
| 12 kW | $30,960 | Large home / EV charging |
| Home battery (optional) | $12,000-$16,000 | Backup power + self-consumption |
Compare solar quotes for New Jersey
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
The 30% federal tax credit is gone for 2026 installations
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (30%) was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025. Per the IRS, the credit is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025 - and the IRS counts the installation completion date, not the contract date.
Common questions
Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
No. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit was repealed effective for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, per the IRS. Only systems finished by the end of 2025 qualified. State-level incentives are separate and some survive - check the state page in this guide.
What happens if my installer goes out of business?
Panel and inverter warranties come from the manufacturers and survive, but the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. That is a real risk in the post-credit shakeout - prefer installers with years of local history, and get manufacturer-backed workmanship coverage where offered.
Do I need a battery with my solar?
Not necessarily. Under full retail net metering, the grid effectively stores your surplus for free. Batteries earn their $12,000-16,000 price where export rates are low, outages are common, or time-of-use rates make evening self-consumption valuable.
How much does home solar cost in 2026?
The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed - roughly $15,500 for a 6 kW system and $31,000 for 12 kW, before any state incentives. Quotes meaningfully above that level deserve a written explanation of what justifies the premium.
Does solar raise my property taxes?
It depends on the state - many exempt solar's added home value from property tax, others do not, and some exemptions have expiration dates. This guide's state page lists the verified rule and source for your state.
How do I check if a solar quote is fair?
Divide the total price by the system's wattage. The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed; $2.30-3.00 covers most fair quotes depending on roof complexity. Above that, ask exactly what you are paying extra for - in writing.
Compare solar quotes for New Jersey
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
Prices by city
Absecon · Allendale · Allenhurst · Allentown · Alpha · Alpine · Andover · Asbury Park · Atlantic City · Atlantic Highlands · Audubon · Audubon Park · Avalon · Avon-by-the-Sea · Barnegat Light · Barrington · Bay Head · Bayonne · Beach Haven · Beachwood · Bellmawr · Belmar · Belvidere · Bergenfield · Berlin · Bernardsville · Beverly · Bloomingdale · Bloomsbury · Bogota · Boonton · Bordentown · Bound Brook · Bradley Beach · Branchville · Bridgeton · Brielle · Brigantine · Brooklawn · Buena · Burlington · Butler · Caldwell · Califon · Camden · Cape May · Cape May Point · Carlstadt · Carteret · Chatham · Chesilhurst · Chester · Clayton · Clementon · Cliffside Park · Clifton · Clinton · Closter · Collingswood · Corbin City · Cresskill · Deal · Demarest · Dover · Dumont · Dunellen · East Newark · East Orange · East Rutherford · Eatontown · Edgewater · Egg Harbor City · Elizabeth · Elmer · Elmwood Park · Emerson · Englewood · Englewood Cliffs · Englishtown · Essex Fells · Estell Manor · Fair Haven · Fair Lawn · Fairview · Fanwood · Far Hills · Farmingdale · Fieldsboro · Flemington · Florham Park · Folsom · Fort Lee · Franklin · Franklin Lakes · Freehold · Frenchtown · Garfield · Garwood · Gibbsboro · Glassboro · Glen Gardner · Glen Ridge · Glen Rock · Gloucester City · Guttenberg · Hackensack · Hackettstown · Haddon Heights · Haddonfield · Haledon · Hamburg · Hammonton · Hampton · Harrington Park · Harrison · Harvey Cedars · Hasbrouck Heights · Haworth · Hawthorne · Helmetta · Hi-Nella · High Bridge · Highland Park · Highlands · Hightstown · Hillsdale · Ho-Ho-Kus · Hoboken · Hopatcong · Hopewell · Interlaken · Island Heights · Jamesburg · Jersey City · Keansburg · Kearny · Kenilworth · Keyport · Kinnelon · Lake Como · Lakehurst · Lambertville · Laurel Springs · Lavallette · Lawnside · Lebanon · Leonia · Lincoln Park · Linden · Lindenwold · Linwood · Little Ferry · Little Silver · Loch Arbour · Lodi · Long Branch · Longport · Madison · Magnolia · Manasquan · Mantoloking · Manville · Margate City · Matawan · Maywood · Medford Lakes · Mendham · Merchantville · Metuchen · Middlesex · Midland Park · Milford · Millstone · Milltown · Millville · Monmouth Beach · Montvale · Moonachie · Morris Plains · Morristown · Mount Arlington · Mount Ephraim · Mountain Lakes · Mountainside · National Park · Neptune City · Netcong · New Brunswick · New Milford · New Providence · Newark · Newfield · Newton · North Arlington · North Caldwell · North Haledon · North Plainfield · North Wildwood · Northfield · Northvale · Norwood · Oakland · Oaklyn · Ocean City · Ocean Gate · Oceanport · Ogdensburg · Old Tappan · Oradell · Palisades Park · Palmyra · Paramus · Park Ridge · Passaic · Paterson · Paulsboro · Peapack and Gladstone · Pemberton · Pennington · Penns Grove · Perth Amboy · Phillipsburg · Pine Beach · Pine Hill · Pitman · Plainfield · Pleasantville · Point Pleasant · Point Pleasant Beach · Pompton Lakes · Port Republic · Princeton · Prospect Park · Rahway · Ramsey · Raritan · Red Bank · Ridgefield · Ridgefield Park · Ridgewood · Ringwood · River Edge · Riverdale · Riverton · Rockaway · Rockleigh · Rocky Hill · Roosevelt · Roseland · Roselle · Roselle Park · Rumson · Runnemede · Rutherford · Saddle River · Salem · Sayreville · Sea Bright · Sea Girt · Sea Isle City · Seaside Heights · Seaside Park · Secaucus · Shiloh · Ship Bottom · Shrewsbury · Somerdale · Somers Point · Somerville · South Amboy · South Bound Brook · South Plainfield · South River · South Toms River · Spotswood · Spring Lake · Spring Lake Heights · Stanhope · Stockton · Stone Harbor · Stratford · Summit · Surf City · Sussex · Swedesboro · Tavistock · Tenafly · Teterboro · Tinton Falls · Totowa · Trenton · Tuckerton · Union Beach · Union City · Upper Saddle River · Ventnor City · Victory Gardens · Vineland · Waldwick · Wallington · Wanaque · Washington · Watchung · Wenonah · West Cape May · West Long Branch · West New York · West Wildwood · Westfield · Westville · Westwood · Wharton · Wildwood · Wildwood Crest · Wood-Ridge · Woodbine · Woodbury · Woodbury Heights · Woodcliff Lake · Woodland Park · Woodlynne · Woodstown · Wrightstown