How does Jersey Central Power & Light net metering work?

Jersey Central Power & Light's (JCP&L’s) net metering program allows for customers with solar panel systems to offset the amount of energy bought from the utility by the amount of energy generated by the solar panel system. This makes it possible customers to have power at all times as renewable energy source can be intermittent and also be financially compensated for selling any excess energy produced by their solar panel system back to the grid.

Where does Jersey Central Power & Light offer net metering?

Net metering is available to all customers within JCP&L’s service territory. Jersey Central Power & Light serves all or part of the following counties in New Jersey:

• Burlington County
• Essex County
• Hunterdon County
• Mercer County
• Middlesex County
• Monmouth County
• Morris County
• Ocean County
• Passaic County
• Somerset County
• Sussex County
• Union County
• Warren County

What are Jersey Central Power & Light rates and prices for net metering?

Jersey Central Power & Light’s net metering rates are determined by multiplying the amount of net metering credits produced annually by the current retail rate. Credits are applied to future bills until used up and extra credits are credited to the customer account at the end of the year.

Jersey Central Power & Light has three main levels of system size for determining the rates and prices for its net metering program. Level 1 applies to solar panel systems that are limited to 10kW (most residential customers), Level 2 applies to facilities limited to 2,000kW and Level 3 applies to facilities that do not qualify for either Level 1 or 2 interconnection procedures.

What is Jersey Central Power & Light’s net metering cap?

New Jersey's net metering cap limits net metering to 2.9% of the total annual kWh sold in the state by each electric power supplier during the previous year. There is no firm limit on net metering – the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is authorized to cease offering net metering if the capacity is reached, but can also continue to allow net metering even if this threshold is reached. This is otherwise known as a “trigger” instead of a firm cap.

Is Jersey Central Power & Light net metering the best in New Jersey?

Both Atlantic City Electric and PSE&G's service territories include counties also covered by Jersey Central Power & Light. These utilities offer similar solar panel system net metering programs and have the same interconnection fees: free for Level 1, $50 + $1/kW for Level 2, and $100 + $2/kW for level 3. Exact retail electricity rates vary and can be viewed on their respective utility websites.

What will happen to my Jersey Central Power & Light net metering bill credits?

In some cases, Jersey Central Power & Light customers may generate more electricity then they use. This is known as net excess generation (NEG) and results in extra net metering credits applied monthly and at the end of the year.

Customers are credited at full retail rate for each kWh of NEG produced up to the total amount of electricity used by a customer during that annualized period. These credits are applied to future bills until used up, and expire at the end of the year. In the event there is any unused credit at the end of the years, the value of the NEG is credited to a customer's account at the wholesale cost of power.

Does Jersey Central Power & Light offer other solar incentives?

Jersey Central Power & Light does not have any company-sponsored rebate or incentive programs available for solar panel systems. Learn more about these and other New Jersey rebates & incentives with EnergySage’s New Jersey Solar Incentives guide.

Jersey Central Power & Light solar interconnection policies and costs

Level 1 customer interconnection policies and costs consist of submitting an Interconnection Application Agreement, a One-Line Diagram which details connection specifics, and a Site Plan. There is no application fee for Level 1 customers. After these documents are submitted, Jersey Central Power & Light reviews the application and once approved installation can begin. Once installation is complete, the customer must submit the Certificate of Completion with the Interconnection Application.

From here, Jersey Central Power & Light will review and approve the installation and final documentation, determine the need for a witness test, authorize system operation, and arrange for the installation of a net energy meter where appropriate. The process for Level 2 and 3 customers are the same, except the interconnection cost for Level 2 is $50 plus $1/kW of system’s capacity and the cost for Level 3 is $100 plus $2/kW of the system’s capacity.