Toms River, NJ Solar Panels
Solar Power in Toms River
If you live in Toms River, you have likely noticed your electric bill climbing. New Jersey residential electricity rates now average 19.38 cents per kWh, and prices have jumped 21% from 2020 to 2024. For many Toms River homeowners, solar has become a practical way to take control of those rising costs.
This guide walks you through what solar installation looks like in Toms River, from how it works to what to expect. Want the basics first? Start with our guide to home solar panels.
NEW JERSEY by the Numbers
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Toms River, NJ?
See real solar costs for Toms River, built from our actual installations across neighborhoods like Silverton, Pleasant Plains, and North Dover. This calculator uses firsthand local data—not estimates—so you get a clear, honest picture of what solar could cost at your home. Explore the numbers and learn what fits you.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- New Jersey electricity rates have jumped 21% since 2020, now averaging 19.4¢ per kWh, making solar a practical way for Toms River homeowners to gain predictable energy costs.
- Toms River homeowners can save around $88,000 over 25 years with a typical system, with monthly savings near $202 and a payback period under 10 years.
- New Jersey offers strong solar incentives like full retail-rate net metering plus sales and property tax exemptions, and leasing lets you go solar with no upfront cost.
Toms River Electricity Prices
If your Toms River electric bill keeps climbing, you are not imagining it. New Jersey rates have been rising for years.
New Jersey electricity now averages about 19.4 cents per kWh, well above the national average. As the chart shows, rates here have climbed steadily since 2021, outpacing much of the country.
Solar offers one way to respond to these rising rates. By generating your own power, you rely less on the grid and gain more predictability over what you pay each month. Learn the basics in our guide to home solar panels.
Over time, that predictability adds up. While utility rates tend to rise, a solar system’s cost is fixed once installed. For many Toms River homeowners, that means more stable energy costs for decades to come.
Price of Energy: New Jersey vs National Average
Toms River Area Utility Providers
In Toms River, JCP&L is the main utility provider. In 2023, its residential rate averaged about 14¢ per kWh—below both New Jersey’s 17.70¢ average and the national average of 16¢ per kWh.
Why is the local rate lower? JCP&L serves a large, densely populated region, which can help spread costs. Still, utility rates shift over time based on fuel prices, grid upgrades, and demand—so today’s numbers may not hold tomorrow.
Because rates can change, many Toms River homeowners explore solar panel installation to make energy costs more predictable. Solar lets you generate your own power and rely less on shifting utility prices year after year.
Toms River Utilities Electricity Rates
New Jersey Solar Incentives
While the cost of going solar can feel steep, several solar incentives in New Jersey help Toms River homeowners lower the total price.
New Jersey offers full retail-rate net metering, a sales tax exemption, and a property tax exemption on your added home value. Community solar and upcoming battery storage rebates create even more ways for residents to save.
The federal residential tax credit has ended, but these state and local programs remain. Leasing through LightReach also simplifies things, since Palmetto manages the commercial credit and reflects savings in your monthly payment.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net Metering | Net Metering | New Jersey mandates full 1:1 retail-rate net metering for all residential solar customers across all four investor-owned utilities, allowing homeowners in Toms River to offset their electricity bills with excess solar generation. | Learn More |
| New Jersey Solar Sales Tax Exemption | Sales Tax Exemption | Solar energy systems and battery storage equipment are 100% exempt from New Jersey’s 6.625% state sales and use tax, saving homeowners $1,300–$2,200 at the point of purchase. | Learn More |
| New Jersey Solar Property Tax Exemption | Property Tax Exemption | Under N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.113a, the added home value from a solar installation is permanently excluded from New Jersey property tax assessments, saving homeowners $330–$1,000 or more per year. | Learn More |
| Community Solar Energy Program (CSEP) | Rebate | New Jersey’s Community Solar Energy Program allows renters, condo owners, and homeowners with shaded or unsuitable roofs to subscribe to a share of an off-site solar farm and receive a guaranteed discount of at least 20% on their electricity bill. | Learn More |
| Competitive Solar Incentive (CSI) Program | SREC | New Jersey’s Competitive Solar Incentive (CSI) Program awards SREC-II payments to large grid-supply solar, solar-plus-storage, and large non-residential net-metered projects through competitive solicitations designed to secure new solar capacity at the lowest possible incentive cost. | Learn More |
| Garden State Energy Storage Program (GSESP) – Phase 2 (Residential) | Rebate | New Jersey’s Garden State Energy Storage Program Phase 2 will provide residential homeowners with an upfront rebate and ongoing performance-based payments for installing behind-the-meter battery storage systems; Phase 2 is approved and expected to launch later in 2026. | Learn More |
New Jersey offers some of the strongest net metering protections in the country. When your solar panels produce more electricity than your home uses at any given moment, the excess is sent to the grid and your utility credits your account at the full retail rate — the same rate you pay for electricity. In 2026, that means credits of approximately $0.26/kWh (PSE&G), $0.24/kWh (JCP&L), or $0.23/kWh (Atlantic City Electric / RECO), depending on your utility. These credits roll over month to month throughout the year.
At your annual true-up, any remaining excess credits (generation above 100% of your annual usage) are paid out at the lower wholesale rate (approximately $0.03–$0.05/kWh). For most homeowners in Toms River who size their system to cover their annual usage, this rarely applies. Net metering is available to all residential solar customers on PSE&G, Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), Atlantic City Electric, and Rockland Electric (RECO) systems up to 5 MW in capacity.
Net metering is mandated by state law and is separate from — and stackable with — the SREC-II production payments you earn through the SuSI program. Together, these two programs form the financial backbone of residential solar in New Jersey. Contact your specific utility for details on interconnection requirements and net metering enrollment in your service territory.
New Jersey exempts solar energy systems — including panels, inverters, racking, wiring, installation labor, and battery storage installed as part of a solar system — from the state’s 6.625% sales and use tax. On a typical residential solar installation costing $20,000–$33,000, this exemption saves homeowners in Toms River approximately $1,300–$2,200 upfront, with no action required on your part.
The exemption is automatic and applied at the point of sale by your solar installer. You do not need to file any paperwork, submit an application, or claim anything on your state tax return. Simply confirm with your installer before signing a contract that they are applying the sales tax exemption — a reputable NJ installer will do this as a matter of course.
This exemption applies statewide to all residential solar purchases and is one of the simplest and most immediate financial benefits available to NJ solar buyers. It is fully stackable with the SREC-II program, net metering credits, and the property tax exemption.
Installing solar panels typically increases a home’s market value by $15,000–$25,000. In most states, that increase would raise your annual property tax bill. In New Jersey, it does not. Under N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.113a (P.L. 2008, c.90), the added assessed value attributable to a solar energy system is permanently excluded from your property tax calculation for as long as the system remains on the property. There is no expiration date and no 10-year cap.
Given that New Jersey has the highest average property taxes in the nation (approximately $9,500/year), this exemption is especially valuable. If solar adds $20,000 to your home’s assessed value, the exemption saves you an estimated $440–$690 per year depending on your county’s effective tax rate — that’s $6,600–$10,350 in savings over 15 years.
Unlike the sales tax exemption, the property tax exemption is not automatic. After your system is installed and operational, you must notify your local municipal tax assessor’s office and provide documentation including your final installation invoice, building permit, and inspection certificate. The assessor will then ensure the solar system’s added value is excluded from your property assessment going forward. Contact the Toms River tax assessor office promptly after installation to secure this benefit.
The Community Solar Energy Program (CSEP), established under P.L. 2018, c.17 and made permanent in August 2023, allows New Jersey residents who cannot install rooftop solar — including renters, condo owners, and homeowners with shaded or structurally unsuitable roofs — to benefit from solar energy by subscribing to a share of a community solar facility. Subscribers receive bill credits from their utility based on the electricity their subscribed share produces, with a guaranteed minimum discount of at least 20% on their subscribed share. Low- and Moderate-Income (LMI) subscribers receive a minimum 25% discount.
The NJBPU approved a historic 3,000 MW expansion of the CSEP on March 5, 2026 — the largest community solar expansion in state history — with project registrations open through December 31, 2029. Community solar projects receive an incentive rate of $60/MWh (for registrations received on or after March 6, 2026). At least 51% of all CSEP capacity is reserved for LMI households, prioritizing access for lower-income New Jerseyans. The CSEP online registration portal opened to new project registrations on March 6, 2026.
CSEP is available to customers of all four NJ investor-owned utilities: PSE&G, JCP&L, Atlantic City Electric, and Rockland Electric (RECO). Typical subscriber savings range from 10–40% on the electricity portion of your utility bill. There is no equipment to install and no upfront cost to subscribe. Visit the official NJ Clean Energy Program portal to find available community solar projects in your utility territory.
The Competitive Solar Incentive (CSI) Program is New Jersey’s market-based complement to the residential SuSI/ADI program. Rather than a fixed administratively set rate, the CSI Program uses competitive solicitations (reverse auctions) to award Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC-IIs) to eligible large-scale solar projects, ensuring the state secures new solar generation at the most cost-effective incentive levels. Eligible project types include grid-supply solar, solar-plus-storage systems, and large non-residential net-metered projects.
The program has completed three solicitation rounds to date, with the most recent awarding incentives to three projects totaling 24.1 MW of new solar generation. The fourth CSI solicitation launched in early 2026, with pre-qualification beginning March 11, 2026, and bids due by April 24, 2026. The fourth round introduced a new tranche specifically for projects of 20 MW and above, reflecting the program’s evolution toward utility-scale solar development.
The CSI Program is primarily relevant to commercial, industrial, and large-scale solar developers rather than individual residential homeowners. Residential homeowners with systems under 5 MW are served by the SuSI/ADI program instead. For the latest solicitation details, eligibility requirements, and bid documents, visit the official NJ Clean Energy Program website or the NJBPU portal.
The Garden State Energy Storage Program (GSESP), approved by the NJBPU on June 18, 2025, is New Jersey’s primary vehicle for meeting its goal of 2,000 MW of energy storage by 2030 under the Clean Energy Act of 2018. Phase 2 of the program — covering residential behind-the-meter battery storage for homeowners — is expected to launch later in 2026 and will be New Jersey’s first dedicated residential battery incentive program. (Phase 1, focused on large transmission-scale storage, awarded incentives for 355 MW of projects in March 2026.)
Phase 2 is anticipated to include two types of incentives: a Distributed Fixed Incentive (an upfront cash rebate to offset the purchase and installation cost of your home battery) and a Distributed Performance Incentive (ongoing annual payments from your utility based on how much power your battery contributes to the grid during peak demand events). Early proposed rules suggest upfront rebates in the range of $1,250–$1,625, though official Phase 2 program rules and final incentive amounts have not yet been published by the NJBPU as of mid-2026. Funding will be released in annual capacity blocks on a first-come, first-served basis by application date.
Important: Do not purchase a battery based solely on installer claims about rebate amounts. Verify all incentive figures against the official NJBPU order and program rules at the NJ Clean Energy Program website before making a decision. Adding a battery to a solar system does not affect your SREC-II eligibility — you continue to earn $85.00/MWh for 15 years on all solar generation regardless of whether a battery is paired with the system.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with New Jersey incentives.
Get a Free QuoteToms River Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.
Toms River enjoys sunny summers and mild coastal weather, though winter days are shorter. Even with seasonal shifts and occasional Atlantic storms, a well-designed solar system produces plenty of clean energy year-round.
Solar Production in Toms River by Month
What Can Your Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
In July, your 10 kW system could power:
- 3.6 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Run central AC for 18 hours AND power all other appliances
- or Fully charge 5.4 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Winter Production (December)
In December, your 10 kW system could power:
- 2 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Keep your home heating system running for 15 hours
- or Fully charge 3 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Annual Production
Over a year, your 10 kW system could:
- Offset 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 175 trees
- or Save approximately $4,234 in electricity costs
Want to know exactly how much solar can power your home?
Get a personalized solar analysis based on your actual home, energy usage, and roof characteristics.
Get My Custom EstimateSolar Panel Systems in Toms River
See how many of your Toms River neighbors have switched to solar. We’ve organized solar installation data from across the country and mapped it here. Explore the heatmap below to discover which neighborhoods and communities near you are embracing clean energy—one home at a time.
Leasing Solar Panels
Going solar in Toms River doesn’t have to mean paying thousands upfront. If your home is served by JCP&L, PSE&G, Atlantic City Electric, or Rockland Electric, you can go solar through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Palmetto’s LightReach program.
With a PPA, you don’t buy the panels—you simply pay for the power they produce at a set price per kilowatt-hour. Since panels generate more in summer, your bills may rise slightly then, but savings even out across the year. Unlike paying cash, there’s no large investment and no maintenance to manage on your own.
Palmetto owns and services the system, so repairs and upkeep are covered. Curious which path fits you best? Compare your options in our buy or lease guide.
Go solar without the investment
With LightReach, there are no investment costs to recoup, loan payments to manage, or maintenance needs to take on. As soon as your panels are active, your solar savings are too!
Explore LightReach LeasingFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. Toms River, NJ has full 1:1 retail-rate net metering. If your home is served by JCP&L (the main local provider), PSE&G, Atlantic City Electric, or Rockland Electric, excess solar energy sent to the grid earns credits at the same rate you pay for electricity.
These credits carry over month to month on a per-kWh basis. At your annual true-up, any remaining excess is paid out at the lower avoided-cost rate (about 3–5 cents/kWh), then your account resets.
Yes. When you own your solar panels—by purchasing with cash or a loan—they can increase your Toms River home’s value. A Zillow study found that homes with solar panels sell for approximately 4.1% more. New Jersey also exempts that added value from property taxes.
This benefit applies to owned systems, not leased or PPA (third-party owned) systems. With a lease, the buyer may assume the agreement, so resale is handled differently.
Many Toms River homeowners go solar with no upfront cost through a LightReach lease, paying a low fixed monthly rate that starts around $120/mo for a typical medium-sized home while Palmetto owns and maintains the system.
If you prefer to buy, a cash purchase for that same system runs about $26,857. Note that following the 2025 federal law change, the 30% tax credit is no longer available for residential cash purchases. See the calculator above for pricing by home size.
With a solar lease like Palmetto’s LightReach program, one simple monthly payment covers everything—the panels, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee—with no upfront cost. In Toms River, a typical 9.02 kW system runs about $120/month, based on New Jersey’s production ratio and a rate of $0.145/kWh.
Because Palmetto owns the system, it claims the commercial tax credit and passes those savings on through lower payments. Since your lease is often less than your current electric bill, you can start saving from day one.
A typical 10 kW home solar system in Toms River produces roughly 13,800 kWh per year, according to NREL PVWatts data. Smaller systems generate about 6,900 kWh (5 kW) or 9,700 kWh (7 kW) annually.
Production shifts with the seasons, peaking near 47 kWh per day in July and dropping to about 22 kWh per day in December. Your actual output depends on roof orientation, shading, and local weather.
Yes. Toms River averages about 4.8 peak sun hours per day, which is plenty for solar panels to perform well. Panels run on daylight, not just direct sun, so they still produce energy on cloudy days and through mild coastal weather.
Production does shift with the seasons. Sunny summers with long days bring the highest output, while shorter winter days produce less. A well-designed system accounts for these changes and generates clean energy year-round.
For many Toms River homeowners, solar can be worth it financially. New Jersey electricity rates now average about 19.4¢ per kWh and have climbed 21% since 2020, so generating your own power adds up over time.
With a LightReach lease, there’s no upfront investment, and your monthly payment is typically less than your current electric bill. That means many homeowners start saving from day one, without waiting years to recoup a large purchase.