New Jersey Community Solar Program

Please visit the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities website to obtain information on the Community Solar Program as well as how to apply.

Community Solar Energy Program (CSEP) | NJ OCE Web Site (njcleanenergy.com)

Applications and paperwork for the solar project will be submitted for approval to New Jersey Interconnection (JCP&L).

During this phase, the Developer or Contractor will need to work directly with Engineering or Interconnection on status of the project, approvals and project completion.

New Jersey Interconnection (firstenergycorp.com)

When the solar project is complete and all required paperwork, inspections and applicable fees are received the Interconnection department will request a bi-directional meter be installed.

After the bi-directional meter is installed at the solar site, an account will be established for the Host and the Subscriber Organization ID Number created.

Subscriber Lists can be submitted up to 60 days prior to project completion but the list will not be processed until the meter is installed, account is established and required information is available.

1.) Required Subscriber Organization or Third-Party information

1.a. The Subscriber Organization will need to contact their developer or contractor to ensure the project has been completed, bi-directional meter is installed and permission to operate was received.                     

1.b. If there will be a Third Party representing the Subscriber Organization, a Letter of Authorization (LOA) will need to be filled out and returned using “Contact Supplier Services”

before any information can be released to the Third Party.

1.c. Prior to submitting the Subscriber Organization Customer List, a Subscriber Organization should already have: the Subscriber Organization ID Number (obtained from JCP&L).

 

2.)   Submitting the Initial Subscriber Organization Customer List

2.a. The completed Subscriber Organization Customer List form must be completely filled out and emailed to Supplier Services using the "Contact Supplier Services" form at Contact Supplier Services (firstenergycorp.com) by the 20th of each month.

2.b. Once the review has been completed, a communication will be sent to the subscriber organization informing them of the status and if any ineligible customers were found, as these ineligible customers will be treated as banked energy.   

Any generation delivered to the grid that has not been allocated to a subscriber may be “banked” by the project operator during the first 12 months of operation. The banked credits may be distributed by the project operator to any new or existing subscriber during the initial 12 months of operation or the subsequent 12 months of operation, in conformance with subscription requirements set forth in N.J.A.C. 14:8-9.6 and Board Order 8F (dated 4/12/23). At the end of 24 months of operation, any remaining banked credits and any unallocated generation will be compensated at the avoided cost of wholesale power, calculated at the nearest node to the point of delivery of the community solar project.

3.)   Submitting subsequent Subscriber Organization Customer Lists

3.a. Every month, a Subscriber Organization will be required to submit any changes to their original customer list, such as Add(A), Change(C), Drop(D), or even if customer remains Same(S).

The customer list must be received by the 20th of each month prior to the start of the generation month.

The Subscriber Organization Customer List must contain at least 10 Subscribers to be processed.

Per tariff rules, this form needs to be submitted prior to the start of the generation month in order for the customer information to be reviewed.

3.b. Once the review has been completed, a communication will be sent to the subscriber organization informing them of the status and if any ineligible customers were found, as these ineligible customers will be treated as banked energy.   

Any generation delivered to the grid that has not been allocated to a subscriber may be “banked” by the project operator during the first 12 months of operation. The banked credits may be distributed by the project operator to any new or existing subscriber during the initial 12 months of operation or the subsequent 12 months of operation, in conformance with subscription requirements set forth in N.J.A.C. 14:8-9.6 and Board Order 8F (dated 4/12/23). At the end of 24 months of operation, any remaining banked credits and any unallocated generation will be compensated at the avoided cost of wholesale power, calculated at the nearest node to the point of delivery of the community solar project.

4. Utility Consolidated Billing

Jersey Central Power & Light provides consolidated billing services for community distributed generation hosts and subscribers as of January 1, 2025, through on bill recovery of the subscription fee that would have otherwise been remitted directly from the Subscriber to the Subscription Organization / Subscription Coordinator.  Utility Consolidated Billing is required for residential subscribers but is optional for Non-Residential subscribers. 

4.a. Enrollment 

Hosts may enroll a subscriber in net crediting via the Community Solar Host Template.  Enrollment is required for residential subscribers, and optional for commercial subscribers.  To enroll, the host must enter a savings rate no less than 10% on the spreadsheet, in the format of 10 or 10.X (no percent sign).  If the savings rate is 0 – 9.9, an invalid message will show.  If the savings rate is entered as less than 10%, a message will show, and it will default to 10%.   

4.b. Unenrollment 

To unenroll a subscriber from net crediting, the host must leave the savings rate column blank on the Community Solar Host Template when submitting their list.  

If you are a JCP&L customer and need more information about New Jersey Community Solar, please visit the New Jersey BPU website.

Community Solar | NJ OCE Web Site (njcleanenergy.com)     

You may subscribe to a community solar project that is located in the same service territory as your electric utility–whether you get your electricity from the utility or a retail supplier.

You will get a bill credit based on the amount of electricity produced by your share of the project.

Please visit the New Jersey BPU website below to learn how the credit will apply.

Community Solar Bill Credits | NJ OCE Web Site (njcleanenergy.com)

Customers participating in the New Jersey Solar Program would contact their Subscriber Organization with questions about the program including credit allocation.