New Jersey

NJ

S 2368 / S 688 — Plug-In Solar Device Consumer Access Act

Pending
Current Status
Last verified: March 2026

Legislative Status

S 2368 passed full Senate 38-0 on March 23, 2026. Now in Assembly for a vote. Strong bipartisan support.

Sponsored by: Sen. Bob Smith (S 2368)

Legislation Progress

Passed One Chamber

65%

pipeline complete

Introduced
In Committee
Passed Committee
One Chamber
Both Chambers
Gov. Desk
Enacted

Passage Likelihood

82%

Passed full Senate 38-0 — unanimous. Strong bipartisan support. New Jersey meets year-round. Governor Murphy (D) has been a strong clean energy advocate. Utility opposition from PSE&G is manageable given the Senate vote margin.

Session Deadline

Year-round (no fixed adjournment)

Legislative calendar cutoff

Expected Timeline

Assembly vote expected April–May 2026. Governor Murphy signature expected if passed. Could be enacted by summer 2026.

New Jersey Solar Data

Avg. Electricity Rate18.4¢/kWh
TOU Peak Spread
8¢/kWh
Est. Annual Savings
~$230/yr
Last UpdatedMarch 2026
Calculate NJ Savings
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Key Provisions

Would exempt certified plug-in solar devices from BPU interconnection requirements. Prohibits utilities from charging extra fees.

Effective DateNot specified in bill text
Wattage Limit1,200 watts
UL 3700Not mentioned
PermitNot addressed
Utility ApprovalWaived (utilities cannot require prior approval, charge fees, or require additional equipment or notification)
UL 3700 DetailsUL or equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory certification required (UL 3700 not named specifically)
HOA / DeedNot addressed in the bill text.
RentersNot explicitly addressed; applies to any "customer" using a portable solar generation device.
Net MeteringNot explicitly addressed. Device is exempt from interconnection requirements.
What Makes This State Unique

Passed the NJ Senate 38-0 with unanimous support. S2368 is the carryover of S4982 from the 221st Legislature. Uniquely prohibits utilities from requiring even notification — most other states allow a simple registration form.

Notable Gaps

Does not address HOA restrictions or renter rights. Does not address net metering or compensation for excess generation. Does not specify building permit requirements.

What This Means for You

What You Can Do

If passed: self-install without PSE&G or JCP&L approval.

Current Limitations

Law not yet enacted. New Jersey utilities currently require interconnection agreements.

Official Bill Reference

Passed Senate 38-0 · In Assembly (March 2026)
View Full Bill Text — S 2368 / S 688

Opens official state legislature website in a new tab.

New Jersey State Overview

Key data on solar potential, demographics, utilities, and incentives.

Solar Resource
Peak Sun Hours4.76 hrs/day
Optimal Tilt40°
Best FacingDue South (180°)
Est. Annual Output (800W)1,094 kWh/yr
Best MonthsMarch-August

The PVWatts energy estimate is based on an hourly performance simulation using a typical-year weather file that represents a multi-year historical period for Philadelphia, PA for a Fixed (open rack) photovoltaic system. The kWh range is based on analysis of a nearby data site.

Major Utilities
Jersey Central Power & Light
~1.1 million customers
Net metering
PSE&G
~2.4 million electric customers
Net metering
Atlantic City Electric
~560,000 customers
Net metering

Population
9,288,994
Total Households
3,543,944
Owner-Occupied
2,257,535
Renter-Occupied
1,280,922
Single-Family Homes
1,987,484
Apartment Units (5+)
847,911
Median Income
$104,294
Median Home Value
$454,400

36% of New Jersey households are renter-occupied — approximately 1,280,922 households that could benefit from plug-in solar without owning their home.

New Jersey SuSI SREC-II Program provides fixed incentive payments per MWh of solar generation over 15 years. NJ sales tax exemption (6.625%) on solar systems. NJ property tax exemption for solar system added value. The federal 30% ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025.

New Jersey has a fully deregulated electricity market. You may be able to get plug-in solar bundled with your electricity plan through a Retail Energy Provider (REP) — potentially at lower cost than buying hardware outright.

Learn about REP partner offers →

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