New Jersey Community Solar Program

What is Community Solar

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approved rules for a new community solar pilot program that will give many renters, low-income families, businesses and others an easy and affordable way to go solar for the first time. The Community Solar Energy Pilot Program will enable utility customers to participate in a solar energy project that is remotely located from their property. For more information, visit the New Jersey Community Solar Pilot Program here: Community Solar | NJ OCE Web Site (njcleanenergy.com)

 

Subscriber Organizations

  • The solar developer will be responsible for the application, building, and maintenance of the solar array.    

Step 1 - Apply to become a Community Solar Developer

Step 2- Work with New Jersey Interconnection for solar site

  • 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)

Step 3 - Bi-directional Meter installation

  • 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.

Step 4 - Provide Bill Credits with the Subscriber Organization Customer List

  • 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) and the

    Subscriber Organization Interconnection GEN Number from the BPU.

     

    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.

Community Solar Host Template

This template is format protected. Please do not alter the format associated with this template. If this format is changed or updated, list processing may be delayed.

Please attach the completed form using the “Contact Supplier Services” form at www.firstenergycorp.com/customerchoice. Select “NJ Community Solar” from the web form drop-down selection.

If the subscriber template is submitted through another mailbox rather than “NJ Community Solar” the customer list may not get processed in a timely manner.

Per the BPU, Community Solar final rules, a subscriber organization must ensure and certify that any customer’s total subscriptions and net-metered generation do not exceed 100 percent of each customer’s baseline annual usage. As such, a subscriber organization may request a customer’s 12-month historical usage. In order to receive this information, the subscriber organization must provide a customer signed Letter of Authorization (LOA) form as provided below.     

NJ Usage LOA 


Please attach the completed form using the “Contact Supplier Services” form 
Contact Supplier Services (firstenergycorp.com). Select “New Jersey Community Solar” from the web form drop-down selection.

Subscribers

  • A subscriber can be a home or business that wants to use renewable energy but does not have an array on site. This may be because they are a renter or because their site is not optimal for an on-site solar system. 

     

How do I participate in Community Solar as a subscriber?

How do I choose a Subscriber Organization?

  • 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.

How does the credit apply to my bill?

What if I have questions about the credit from the Subscriber Organization?

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