New Jersey Solar 2026: TREC Income, Net Metering & Payback
New Jersey pays ~$85 per TREC (solar renewable energy certificate). See how TREC income shortens NJ solar payback, plus net metering, exemptions, and real 2026 numbers.
By The PVFig Editorial Team · 2026-08-10 · reviewed against EIA, NREL and DSIRE sources
New Jersey is a top solar state
New Jersey combines full-retail net metering, a strong SuSI TREC market (~$85/MWh in 2026), and full sales + property tax exemptions. A typical 8 kW system earns roughly 11 TRECs per year — about $900/year of extra income on top of bill savings.
How TREC income works
You earn one TREC per 1,000 kWh (1 MWh) your system produces, sold on the in-state market that the Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) program created. Prices fluctuate but have held near $80–90/MWh in 2026. That income goes to the system owner — a reason to buy, not lease, in New Jersey.
2026 payback estimate
With ~23.3¢/kWh electricity, ~1306 kWh/kW production, TREC income, and tax exemptions, a 6–8 kW New Jersey system typically pays back in 7–9 years — among the fastest in the nation even without the expired federal credit. Use the PVFig SREC calculator to estimate your own TREC income.
FAQ
What is the SREC/TREC price in New Jersey in 2026?
SuSI TRECs have traded near $85/MWh in 2026. A typical 8 kW system produces ~11 TRECs/year, worth ~$900.
Does New Jersey have net metering?
Yes — full retail 1:1 net metering, plus a 12-month rolling credit. Combined with TRECs, it makes NJ one of the best solar states.
Is solar worth it in New Jersey in 2026?
Yes — among the fastest paybacks in the US (7–9 years for a typical system) thanks to TRECs, net metering, and tax exemptions.
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Sources
- U.S. EIA — electricity rates by state, eia.gov/electricity/monthly
- NREL PVWatts v8 — solar production by location, pvwatts.nrel.gov
- DSIRE — state incentives and net metering, dsireusa.org
- See how every figure on this page is calculated — PVFig methodology.
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