New Jersey solar installer gone: quick answers

Possibly. In February 2024 the NJ Board of Public Utilities waived some Administratively Determined Incentive (ADI) deadline rules for “Affected Projects” of three named installers, so their customers could finish registering with a new installer or on their own.^[1] The relief rests on the circumstances those petitioners described, so it does not automatically cover every abandoned project.^[1] NJ Clean Energy’s customer guide for “distressed customers” says NJBPU and the program manager encourage them to seriously consider hiring a new installer to finish the project and registration.^[2] Details: abandoned-project page.

NJ Clean Energy’s ADI Customer Guide was written for customers abandoned by their solar installer or whose installer is non-responsive. Its records show such projects at various stages, from only an initial registration to permission to operate already issued.^[2]

NJ Clean Energy keeps a Trade Ally Database of installers in the ADI Program, with an “Assistance for Distressed Customers” category for installers who asked to be listed and say they are willing and able to help stranded customers, and an “Operations and Maintenance” category for upkeep and repair.^[2] It suggests getting proposals from at least three installers.^[2] The Trade Allies page is here.^[3] Listing is not an endorsement by us; check any contractor’s DCA registration too.

The ADI Customer Guide says that if your system is installed, you can choose not to engage another installer and instead prepare and submit the documents on your own.^[2]

The guide says an acceptance letter allows 12 months from the date of conditional acceptance to complete the installation, get permission to operate from your utility, and submit the final documents.^[2] For Affected Projects covered by the February 2024 order, the Board waived the related deadline rules.^[1]

After the post-construction packet is submitted, the project is issued a NJ Certification Number by email. The guide says you need it to register the system in PJM-EIS GATS, where SREC-IIs are created, and in InClime’s system to exchange SREC-IIs for payment.^[2]

The guide says that typically, if you pre-sold or otherwise gave ownership of your SREC-IIs to another party, that party manages the account. Otherwise you register your own GATS account and then register for payments with the SREC-II Administrator.^[2]

NJ Clean Energy describes three setups: you buy it; a PPA, where a third party installs, maintains and owns it; or a lease, where a third party installs, maintains and owns it for a fixed monthly price.^[4] If yours is a PPA or lease, start with the company you pay each month.

NJ Clean Energy says systems must be covered by a full (not “limited”) five-year warranty plus manufacturers’ warranties, and that a warranty does not guarantee a vendor will stay in business.^[4]

PSE&G says not to turn the system on until you receive a permission to operate (PTO) notice, except for testing.^[5] JCP&L says generation should not be energized before an electrical inspection and receipt of Approval to Operate.^[6] Ask your utility whether PTO was issued.

PSE&G says it is not associated with any solar company and does not install or maintain solar systems.^[5]

DCA says all residential home improvement contractors must be registered with Consumer Affairs, and to check registration at newjersey.mylicense.com/verification/ or by calling 1-888-656-6225.^[7] Electrical work needs a licensed electrical contractor with a valid business permit.^[8]

DCA says contracts over $500 must be written and include the contractor’s legal name and address, start and completion dates, a description of the work, the total price and the registration number, and you may cancel a signed contract for any reason before midnight of the third business day after you receive your copy.^[7]

DCA says not to pay in cash or for the whole job up front, and to be wary if a contractor asks for more than a third of the total before work begins.^[7]

DCA says to first give the contractor a chance to resolve it, then file a complaint at njconsumeraffairs.gov, call 1-800-242-5846 to ask for a form by mail, or call your county or municipal consumer affairs office.^[7] Its complaint page warns that what you send may be public under the Open Public Records Act.^[9]

No. NJ Clean Energy says New Jersey has no program that offers free solar panel installation, and any claims otherwise are false.^[10]

The ADI Customer Guide lists [email protected] as the ADI program contact.^[2] More contacts are in the box below.

See our pages on Sunnova, PosiGen and Titan Solar. Each sticks to court, company and regulator facts and marks the rest (unverified).