What New Jersey still offers after the federal credit ended
Every incentive on this page is verified against New Jersey government sources - and the expired ones salespeople still quote are called out.
The 30% federal solar tax credit ended for installations finished after December 31, 2025 - North Wildwood systems completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
Under New Jersey's export rules, compensation for surplus power decides the payback - which typically runs 10-14 years on unsubsidized 2026 math.
Installed home solar for North Wildwood homeowners averages about $2.58 a watt across the U.S. marketplace - roughly $30,960 for a 12 kW system before incentives.
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit - the 30% one every solar ad still quotes - was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025. Per the IRS, it is not available for any system placed in service after December 31, 2025, and 'placed in service' means the installation completion date, not the contract date.
If a salesperson in North Wildwood tells you a 30% federal tax credit applies to your 2026 installation, they are quoting a dead law. What may still exist: New Jersey's own incentives and tax treatment, listed below, and lease/PPA arrangements where a company claims commercial credits - in which case the credit belongs to them, not you.
The 2026 numbers
| 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 |
Get solar quotes for North Wildwood
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.
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 this means for North Wildwood roofs
The honest 2026 answer for North Wildwood: solar pays back slower without the 30% credit - paybacks that ran 7-10 years often now run 10-14 - but electricity rates keep rising and hardware is the cheapest it has ever been. The deciding factor is New Jersey's export compensation, covered in the net metering section.
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.
Getting North Wildwood quotes
Marketplace platforms collect bids from multiple NJ installers against the same spec, which is the only clean way to compare - same roof, same size, different prices. Getting quotes is free and does not commit you to anything; prices come from the installers, never from this site.
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.
Common questions
How long do solar panels actually last?
Panels are typically warrantied for 25 years of production and commonly outlive it, losing about 0.5% output per year. Inverters are the component that usually needs replacement - typically once, around year 12-15, at a few thousand dollars.
What is net metering and why does it decide everything?
It is the rule for how your utility credits electricity you export. Full retail net metering credits exports at the same rate you pay - the grid works like a free battery. Net billing or avoided-cost rules pay far less per exported kWh, which lengthens payback and strengthens the case for a home battery.
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.
Should I lease, get a PPA, or buy?
Buying keeps all savings and any incentives with you. Leases and PPAs put a company's equipment on your roof for 20-25 years, complicate a home sale, and in 2026 any tax benefits they advertise belong to the company under commercial rules - not to you. Read escalator clauses carefully.
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.
Get solar quotes for North Wildwood
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.