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Is Plug-In Solar Legal in New Jersey?

Passed legislature — awaiting Governor   Avg rate ~18¢/kWh

Last verified: August 1, 2026 · source data

Quick answer: New Jersey is one signature away from its own plug-in solar law: the Garden State Plug-In Solar Act (S2368/A4836) passed both chambers unanimously on June 30, 2026 and awaits the Governor’s signature. Until it is signed and takes effect, plug-in (balcony) solar remains governed by your utility’s standard interconnection rules. Average residential electricity rate is around 18¢/kWh. Confirm wattage limits with your utility before buying.

Legal — but will it actually pay off in New Jersey? Run your numbers →

📝 Update (July 8, 2026): The Garden State Plug-In Solar Act (S2368/A4836) passed the Senate 40-0 and the Assembly 79-0 on June 30, 2026 and is awaiting Gov. Sherrill’s signature. It would allow plug-in solar systems up to 1,200W, taking effect 6 months after enactment. If signed, New Jersey becomes one of the next states with a dedicated plug-in solar law — watch this page and the changelog.
Two different jobs. Make sure you want the right one.

A grid-tie kit feeds power into your home while the sun is up, which lowers what you draw from the utility. It shuts down in a blackout by design, so that line workers are not exposed to your power.

A power station does the opposite. It will run your fridge in an outage and it lowers nothing on an ordinary day.

Most people who arrive on this page want the first one. If you want backup as well, that is a second purchase, not a bigger version of the first.

→ For daily bill offset: balcony solar kits
→ For outages: power stations

Two systems, one job. For plug-in solar that feeds your home and lowers the bill, the head-to-head worth reading is EcoFlow Stream vs Anker SOLIX — two balcony systems doing that same job.

A different job: a portable power station is backup power for an outage. It is not a substitute for a grid-tie kit and it does not lower your bill. If that is what you are after: Anker C1000 vs EcoFlow DELTA 3 · C1000 vs C2000 · Anker vs EcoFlow at brand level

Thinking about installing? See our best plug-in solar kits for 2026 and estimate your yearly savings.

Until the Garden State Plug-In Solar Act is signed and takes effect, New Jersey has no operative plug-in-specific statute, so day-to-day it still sits in the same legal gray area as most of the U.S.: generally not banned, but governed in practice by your utility's interconnection rules rather than a clear state statute. With roughly average electricity prices, a plug-in kit delivers steady savings and a typical payback in the mid-single-digit years. In New Jersey, residential power mostly comes from PSE&G and JCP&L, and their interconnection or notification policy is the real gatekeeper for a small grid-tied system. Before buying, confirm with them that a plug-in microinverter setup is permitted, stay within any wattage cap they specify, and choose a UL-listed (UL 3700 pathway) kit for safety.

Before you buy in New Jersey

Call your electric utility and ask: (1) do they allow small plug-in / behind-the-meter grid-tied solar, and (2) is any notification or interconnection form required? Stay within the wattage they specify, use a UL-listed microinverter, and keep written confirmation.

Then estimate your numbers with our savings calculator (pre-loaded with New Jersey's rate).

Ready to start? If you want backup power for outages rather than a grid-tied kit, see our power stations guide →

Nearby states: New York · Pennsylvania · Delaware · see the full 50-state tracker.

Status last reviewed 2026-06-14. Plug-in solar law is evolving quickly — verify current New Jersey rules and your utility's policy directly. Informational, not legal advice.