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Plug-In Solar in New Jersey

That's right. A plug-in solar law in New Jersey lets kits listed to UL 3700 with output up to 1,200 watts use a standard outlet, and after it takes effect, no utility approval, fee, or town permit is needed.

A home with a plug-in solar panel on the porch railing, the kind of kit New Jersey's rules apply to

Before connecting in New Jersey, choose a kit rated no higher than 1,200 W. The kit needs a UL 3700 listing or an equal, plus an inverter that halts power output during a grid outage.

New Jersey Law: What It Says

Signed on Sep 1, 2026, S 2368 and A 4836 comes into force on Mar 1, 2027. This law is cited as P.L.2026, c.82.

The limit is 1,200 W, and a simpler tier allows up to 400 W.

Safety listing: The kit must carry a listing or certification to UL 3700, or an equivalent standard, from a nationally recognized testing laboratory. That Outline of Investigation covers Interactive Plug-in Photovoltaic Equipment and Systems. During an outage, a feature must stop export to the grid.

Approval from your utility isn't required. No interconnection agreement is needed for the device, and the utility can't demand approval before you install or use it.

Telling the utility: No notice step to the utility is set by law. Renters must give the landlord or association 14 days' written notice.

Fees: The utility may not charge a fee tied to the device, or require added controls or extra equipment. Permits, applications, fees, licenses and other approvals can't be required by a town.

Renters and landlords: When a tenant pays their own electric bill, the landlord may not block device use within the leased premises, such as a leased balcony or patio. Reasonable size and placement rules are allowed. Written notice of 14 days and proof that the device qualifies come from the tenant, who also is responsible for damage. Negligent installation or use may lead the landlord to require indemnity.

HOAs: An HOA, condo association or co-op association cannot enforce governing documents that bar a device from a unit's exterior. These groups can set reasonable rules for size and placement, and conflicting provisions are void.

Net metering: Your device isn't eligible. Net metering program requirements don't apply to the device.

  • You may go above 1,200 W only if you obtain an interconnection agreement for the combined output of every device at one service address, or a single dwelling unit in multi-family housing.
  • Devices at or under 400 W, as measured at the outlet, don't face listing or code rules calling for wiring or panel changes at the building. This isn't a separate notice tier.
  • Devices that are larger must meet the product listing, plus the latest installation provisions of the National Electrical Code and the State Uniform Construction Code.
  • A town may not ban the device on residential property.
  • In a civil action, the utility isn't liable for damage from a customer's device.

View the bill

Larger Systems and Rules That Apply Before the Law

Before connection: Until the law takes effect, customer-generators must first get an interconnection agreement from their electric distribution company, as the BPU requires.

Net metering: This program is available. For every kWh a system produces over a year, customers get full retail credit, and the wholesale value covers any excess remaining when the year ends. Every BPU-regulated utility must offer it.

Savings from a Kit in New Jersey

PVWatts estimates that each 1 kW of panels in Newark produces 1,336 kWh a year. In New Jersey, the residential rate is 24.1 cents per kWh in 2026 so far. Results for an 800 W kit vary by placement:

Where the panels gokWh a yearSaved a year
Tilted south on a stand1,069$257
Upright on a railing673$162
Facing east or west855$206

Each Month in Newark

With panels tilted south, the kWh an 800 W kit makes.

Kits Below the 1,200 W Cap

KitkWh a yearSaved a yearPays back inPrice
US Solar Supplier 1180 W EZ1 Kit1,576$3802.4 years$899
Bright Saver 360 W Balcony Kit481$1163.6 years$414
EcoFlow STREAM 800 W Kit1,069$2574.3 years$1,099

All tilted south and used at home. Compare all kits

Facts to Know in New Jersey

  • New Jersey's law applies directly to people who rent, own a condo, or belong to an HOA. Most residents therefore can't be blocked from using a balcony kit.
  • Customers in New Jersey can choose their electric supplier, and top-selling retail marketers include Constellation NewEnergy.
  • In 2024, the average New Jersey home power cost was 19.34 cents/kWh, above the national norm and helping a kit pay back.

Do You Rent or Use a Balcony?

The hookup falls under New Jersey's law, but the mount doesn't (its renter rule is above), so check with your landlord or HOA first. Learn about balcony solar and solar for apartments.

Leading Utility Companies

  • Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G)
  • Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L)
  • Atlantic City Electric
  • Rockland Electric

Savings from a Kit in New Jersey

  1. Pick a kit that has 1,200 W or less. We compared 7 kits, and every one of the 7 stays under that cap. The kit you choose needs the listing named in the law. Compare kits.
  2. Check the notice rule above first. If it applies to you, tell your electric utility. Store the kit's spec sheet with your documents.
  3. Plug the kit into a grounded outlet on a circuit that has little else on it. Never use a power strip instead.

Sources

View every state at a glance or check a nearby state: New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania.