How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in New Jersey in 2026? (SuSI / SREC Edition)

New Jersey is one of the few US states where solar economics actually got better in 2026, not worse. The reason: the Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) program continues to pay homeowners ongoing income for every megawatt-hour of solar production. That income partly offsets the loss of the 25D federal credit.

The 2026 New Jersey number: $2.80–$3.40 per watt installed

An 8 kW NJ system runs $22,400–$27,200 turnkey before incentives. Labor and permitting in NJ are middle-of-the-pack nationally; the state's strict interconnection process adds modest install cost.

SuSI: the ongoing income most NJ installers under-explain

The Successor Solar Incentive replaced the older SREC program. For residential systems, NJ pays a fixed $77 per MWh of solar production for 15 years (registrations received on or after July 27, 2026; earlier registrations locked $85). An 8 kW system in NJ produces roughly 9–10 MWh/year — that is about $700–$770/year in SuSI income, on top of bill savings.

Across 15 years: roughly $10,000–$11,500 in additional income, materially closing the gap left by 25D termination. It is generally reported as income for tax purposes — factor it in. Full breakdown, including who receives it on a lease or PPA: New Jersey SREC-II in 2026.

Most installer proposals quote either bill savings OR SuSI income — rarely both stacked. Always ask for the 15-year combined revenue table.

Post-25D math for NJ

25D — the 30% federal residential credit — was terminated for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 (26 U.S.C. 25D(h), as amended by P.L. 119-21 §70506(a)). That is every homeowner-owned system, however you pay for it, and an expenditure counts when the installation is completed — paying in 2025 for a system finished in 2026 does not preserve it. A lease or PPA does not hand the credit back to you either: the provider owns the system and is the taxpayer, nothing goes on your tax return, and whether the provider actually qualifies on a residential roof is its problem, not something we assert on your behalf. Any value it passes along reaches you only as the monthly payment — a price the provider sets, and whether that stays a saving depends on the escalator over the term.

Critical NJ wrinkle: most NJ TPO/PPA contracts give the SuSI revenue to the installer, not the homeowner. If you go TPO/PPA, verify in writing who collects SuSI for the 15-year SuSI window. If the installer keeps it, your effective lease rate is much higher than the quoted "per kWh" number suggests.

Net metering in NJ — still good (for now)

NJ retains full retail net metering through 2026 for systems interconnected before utility-specific caps fill. NEM 3.0-style export-rate cuts have not landed in NJ as of 2026-05. This is a reason NJ is still a strong solar state — combined with SuSI, the stack works.

That said: BPU is reviewing net metering quarterly. Lock your interconnection date as soon as you sign — interconnection date is what determines your NEM regime.

What to verify before signing in NJ

1. Who collects SuSI? You or the installer? Get it in writing.
2. What is the projected interconnection date? Sooner is better.
3. Is the proposal pricing in 100% NEM credits? Or is it discounting them?
4. If TPO/PPA: what is the escalator clause? Refuse anything over 2.5%/yr.

Honest broker take: NJ is still a top-3 solar ROI state in 2026 if you stack SuSI + NEM + cash math correctly. The trick is making sure the installer isn't eating the SuSI income through a TPO contract. Free contract check at reviewingsolar.com.

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