Why the SREC-II registration date is worth planning around
- Now
A residential rooftop system registered under New Jersey's SuSI program earns one SREC-II per MWh generated, worth $85, locked for 15 years.
- July 27, 2026
For systems registered on or after this date, the residential SREC-II drops to $77 per MWh, a step-down that applies for the full 15-year term.
- The math
On a typical home system generating several MWh a year, the $8 per MWh difference compounds over 15 years into real money. If you are close to installing, the registration date is worth planning around.
New Jersey's lowest big-utility rate
Jersey Central Power & Light's average residential electricity price has risen from 13.34 cents per kWh in 2015 to 15.65 cents in 2024, an increase of about 17 percent, or roughly 1.8 percent per year. The chart shows JCP&L's average residential price by year. Hover any point for the exact figure.
What rising JCP&L rates could cost you
JCP&L rates have risen about 1.8% per year. Enter your bill to see what that pace of increase could compound to over time, and what you have likely already absorbed. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Estimate only. Projects your current bill forward at JCP&L's historical average rate increase (1.8% per year, from EIA data); it assumes your usage stays the same except for any add-ons you select. Actual rates depend on your usage, rate plan, and the utility's future filings, and are not guaranteed. This is general information, not financial advice.
Current residential rates
JCP&L residential rates are shown below, from the utility's published tariffs and the public Utility Rate Database. Rates vary by plan, season, and usage and change over time.
| Plan | Energy charge | Fixed / basic |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Service (Rate Schedule RS, standard) | A Basic Generation Service supply charge plus a delivery charge; the combined winter price is about 20 cents per kWh, with a steeply tiered summer delivery charge | $4.27 per month customer charge |
| Residential Time-of-Day Service (RT) | On-peak (8 am to 8 pm weekdays) and off-peak supply prices vary by season | about $8.07 per month |
The RS price combines a Basic Generation Service (BGS) supply charge with a delivery charge, plus riders. The all-in residential average was about 15.7 cents per kWh in 2024 per EIA, the lowest of New Jersey's three large utilities, and it rose on June 1, 2025 when the annual BGS auction raised a typical JCP&L residential bill by about 20.2 percent, the steepest increase among the state's utilities. Confirm current figures on JCP&L's rate pages.
Full retail netting plus SREC-II
New Jersey requires full retail-rate net metering, and JCP&L credits exported solar on a 1:1 kWh basis at the full retail rate, with your system sized up to your annual usage. Monthly kWh credits roll forward at retail through the annualized period, and any net excess left at the end is paid at the wholesale rate (PJM real-time locational marginal pricing) rather than retail, not forfeited. A timing note worth acting on: New Jersey pays a separate incentive through the SuSI program, where a residential rooftop system earns one SREC-II per MWh for 15 years, currently $85 per MWh, but that drops to $77 per MWh for registrations received on or after July 27, 2026, so the enrollment date matters. And a current caveat: statewide net-metering enrollment passed its 5.8 percent cap in energy year 2024, so the Board of Public Utilities is designing a successor program, and terms for brand-new customers could change; confirm the current rules before installing. JCP&L has New Jersey's lowest of the three big-utility rates, so each offset kWh saves a bit less than on PSE&G or Atlantic City Electric, though the SREC-II income applies equally. Whether solar makes sense depends on your usage, roof, and rate plan, so get a site-specific quote.
The clock on the incentive
JCP&L is the affordable one of New Jersey's three big utilities, with an all-in price around 16 cents, the lowest of the trio, though it saw the steepest 2025 supply increase. Lower rates mean each offset kWh saves a bit less than on PSE&G or Atlantic City Electric.
What levels the field is that the SREC-II income is identical statewide. A JCP&L rooftop system earns the same $85 per MWh for 15 years as one anywhere in New Jersey, plus full retail net metering during the year. Because that incentive steps down on July 27, 2026, and because the state crossed its net-metering cap in 2024, timing matters more here than the rate level alone. Get a site-specific quote.
JCP&L service area
JCP&L serves central, northern, and coastal New Jersey, across 13 counties including Monmouth, Ocean, Morris, and Middlesex.
To confirm whether a specific address is served by JCP&L, check your electricity bill. A ZIP lookup tool is coming to this site.
Full data and sources
Per-utility prices are computed from EIA Form 861 (bundled residential revenue divided by sales), which reconciles to the EIA's published figures. These are public-domain U.S. government data.
| Year | JCP&L (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 13.34 |
| 2016 | 13.06 |
| 2017 | 12.98 |
| 2018 | 13.09 |
| 2019 | 13.15 |
| 2020 | 13.41 |
| 2021 | 13.42 |
| 2022 | 13.98 |
| 2023 | 14.87 |
| 2024 | 15.65 |
Sources: EIA Form 861 annual data (Sales_Ult_Cust files, 2015-2024) · EIA Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price (Table 6) · NJ Clean Energy Program: net metering and interconnection · NJ BPU: net metering successor stakeholder notice (5.8% cap) · NJ BPU: SuSI ADI SREC-II incentive order (May 2026) · JCP&L New Jersey residential rates (bill insert)
FAQ
Does JCP&L have net metering?
Yes. New Jersey mandates full retail-rate net metering statewide, so JCP&L credits exported solar 1:1 at retail, with your system sized to your annual usage. Monthly credits roll forward at retail, and year-end net excess is paid at the wholesale rate rather than retail.
When does the New Jersey solar incentive drop?
The residential SREC-II falls from $85 to $77 per MWh for systems registered on or after July 27, 2026. Because the rate is locked for 15 years at registration, an earlier registration date preserves the higher payment for the life of the system.
Why are JCP&L rates lower than other New Jersey utilities?
JCP&L's all-in residential average, about 16 cents per kWh in 2024, is the lowest of the state's three large utilities, largely a function of its delivery and supply mix. Its June 2025 supply increase was the steepest of the group, at about 20 percent, so the gap has narrowed.
Is solar worth it on JCP&L?
The rate is lower, but the SREC-II income and full retail net metering are the same statewide, which keeps New Jersey attractive. Size to your usage so year-end excess stays small, mind the July 2026 incentive step-down, and note that the state's net-metering rules for new customers are under review. Get site-specific numbers.