Building Your Solar Installation
Three Steps to Get Connected
PLEASE NOTE: PSE&G is not associated with any Solar Company and does not install or maintain solar systems.
Find out how to get approval to build your residential solar energy system and connect it to the PSE&G energy grid.
Complete the three steps below to connect your residential solar energy system to the PSE&G electric grid.
Step 1: Interconnection Application Process
You or your renewable energy contractor will need to complete a net metering or interconnection agreement, as applicable. If the contractor completes the application, you, as the customer, must still sign the agreement.
- Enter the address where your solar energy system will be located into our Solar Power Suitability Map
This will preliminarily determine if the PSE&G electric circuits in the area will be able to accommodate your solar energy system. - Determine the level of your project as defined below. Level 1 <10KW Level 2 >10KW Level 3 >10KW and special relaying or metering required contact us if you're unsure about your project level.
- Submit the appropriate application. Note: the application process requires TWO parts. The second part of the application must completed after construction. It is discussed in Step 3 below.
Application for systems 10 KWAC and under (Level 1)Application for systems greater than 10 KWAC (Levels 2 and 3)
- Submit the application.
Level 1 applications
Email the application to CINETMETER@PSEG.com
Level 2 and Level 3 applications
When submitting Level 2/3 Attachment A interconnection requests, please email the Attachment A, Site Plan, Line Diagram, and PV Watts Calculator (NREL version only, please) to PSEG-CINetMeterLevel2@pseg.com
Please indicate “Commercial or Residential” in the subject line of your email so that it can be routed to the appropriate team for processing.
Additionally, if there is a non-utility transformer, please highlight it and indicate the configuration on the one line/3-line diagram accompanying your Attachment A submission.
You will no longer need to mail in an application and check for the interconnection fee to Construction Inquiry – Net Metering. The interconnection fee will be invoiced upon creation of the notification for the interconnection request.
In order to pay your invoice, you may go to https://nj.myaccount.pseg.com/user/login, or you may mail the invoice and payment to the address listed on the invoice. Please do not forward net meter checks for invoiced notifications to the Net Meter Department, as they will be processed via the Customer Payment Processing Center (CPPC), as indicated on the invoice.
Application Information and Fees
Level |
Specifications |
Response |
Cost
|
1 |
The facility is inverter-basedThe facility has a capacity of 10 KW or less Complies with UL 1741 and IEEE 1547 design standards |
Initial response within three business days, and an additional 10 days for engineering review |
No fee |
2 |
The facility is inverter-based and has a capacity of >10 KW Complies with UL 1741 and IEEE 1547 design standards |
Initial response within three business days, 15 days for engineering review |
$50 plus $1 per kW of installed capacity |
3 |
Does not meet the technical requirements for level 1 or level 2 |
Varies |
$100 plus $2 per kW of installed capacity |
Step 2: Preliminary Solar Project Approval Phase
- Within three business days of receiving the interconnection application, PSE&G will contact you or your contractor to confirm that the review process has started.
- Within 18 business days of receiving the application for a Level 1 or Level 2 project, PSE&G’s engineering department will determine if it meets our specifications and requirements.
- The review period for Level 3 projects will depend on the degree of study needed. Additional documentation may be required.
- Within 21 business days of receiving the application for a Level 1 or Level 2 project, PSE&G will email notice of project approval or denial to you or your contractor. If the project is approved, you may move forward with the construction.
Note: DO NOT TURN THE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM ON UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A PERMISSION TO OPERATE (PTO) NOTICE FROM PSE&G (except for testing purposes).
Step 3: Construction and Final Approval Phase
- Complete the application process. Upon completion of solar project construction, you or your contractor must send an approved Uniform Construction Code (UCC) and Certificate of Completion to PSE&G. Please email this documentation to: PSEG-CINetMeterPart2@pseg.com, indicating “Commercial” or “Residential”, along with the notification number in the subject line.
- The Certificate of Completion can be found in Part 2 of the Level 1 application or in Attachment B of the Level 2 and 3 application.
- Within 5 business days of receiving the approved UCC, PSE&G will schedule an inspection. In certain locations, this appointment may be waived.
- Within 20 business days of receiving the UCC, PSE&G will inspect the solar energy system. This inspection is mandatory for final approval.
- If the system passes inspection your meter will be immediately replaced with a bi-directional (net) meter. You will lose power momentarily for this to occur.
- Within 25 business days of receiving the UCC, PSE&G will contact you or your contractor with the official outcome of the inspection.If the system passes inspection, you will receive a Permission to Operate (PTO) notice, which authorizes you to turn the system on.If the system fails inspection, you will be notified as to what actions need to be taken.
A SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM THAT IS TURNED ON BEFORE RECEIVING A PTO POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO PSE&G ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION WORKERS.
DO NOT TURN THE SYSTEM ON UNTIL YOU RECEIVE THE PTO.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Solar energy systems covert sunlight directly into direct current (DC) power through an array of solar cell modules mounted on your roof. An inverter converts this DC power into alternating current (AC) power that can be used in your house.
Your solar energy system will be interconnected with PSE&G’s distribution system. If your system produces more electricity than your home is using, PSE&G will credit your utility account for the excess power being returned to the distribution system. This is called net metering.
PSE&G will continue to provide power as usual at night and during the day when your electricity demand exceeds that which is produced by your system
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Solar photovoltaic panels work best when mounted on an unobstructed roof with limited shading at an angle that captures the most possible sunlight.
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Yes. Solar energy systems are designed to be compatible with utility power.
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In most cases, your system will automatically shut down in the event of an outage to protect utility workers as they restore power. However, some system designs include isolation circuitry that allows continued operation. We recommend that you discuss with your solar contractor.
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Sunlight must be present for solar modules to produce power, so you will still need to draw power from your utility at night. Under an overcast sky, solar panels typically only produce a nominal amount of electricity
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The average size of a residential solar energy system in New Jersey is approximately eight kilowatts (kW).
However, the size of your system is limited to your home’s annual electricity needs. Your solar contractor should be able to provide you with further guidance. The amount of money you will save on your energy bill depends on many factors, such as the efficiency of your solar energy system. Your solar contractor can review the specific details with you.
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No. You must hire a solar contractor.
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A standard electric meter does not register the flow of electricity in two directions.
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The meter has two registers which share the same display, so it is always cycling back and forth between the two. The Identifiers for the 2 registers are the numbers “100” and “101”. It will cycle between the number “100” with a 5 digit number associated and “101” with a 5 digit number associated. The 5 digit numbers are the readings and we need both. The “100” register equates to the usage “In” and the “101” register equates to “Out”. Readings can be forwarded to SolarBilling@pseg.com.
For additional information, view How to Read Your Net Meter.
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Your account will be removed from the Equal Payment Plan and you’ll receive monthly bills based on your net consumption.
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When you have solar power you’re still connected to the electric system, which serves as a 24/7 backup to your PV system. Every month, you’ll receive some power from the electric system, like at night. Your bill will include the credits you received for the excess power and a daily service charge that covers your connection to the electric system.
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Each Time-of-Use period has its own Energy Credit Bank. Excess generation during a "Peak" period is credited to the "Peak" period energy bank, and can only offset future "Peak" period usage. Similar energy banks are created for other periods. “Peak” and “Off Peak” energy banks cannot be combined.
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“In” is the electric drawn from PSEG when the Solar Panels are not providing enough electric to meet household needs. “Out” is when the Solar Panels’ production exceeds household needs and the customer exports the excess to PSEG. “Out” gets credited against “In” & customer is billed the difference. If the difference is negative, that is in the customer’s favor and that excess gets banked against the account to be used in later months. There is a once-yearly reckoning of this bank called the Anniversary True-up.
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PSEG is only recording the customer’s unused excess of the Solar Panel’s electricity. The difference in the production versus the “Out” is what the customer uses of the Panel’s electricity.
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At its most basic, any bill from PSEG is for what electric isn’t covered by the Solar Panel’s Production. The higher the bill, the more electric the customer requires from PSEG.
