Electricity rate as of 2026-06-01. Sun hours: TurbineGenerator.org, Trenton fixed-tilt annual average. Trenton at 4.3 hrs/day is slightly below Newark (4.47) and Toms River (4.75) but in line with the mid-Atlantic inland range.. Cost per watt: EnergySage marketplace data, June 2026, Mercer County. Competitive Mercer County install costs without the urban labor premium of Newark or Jersey City.. Payback estimate assumes zero federal residential credit (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025) and current utility net-metering tariffs.

Net metering in Trenton

PSE&G full 1:1 retail-rate net metering. Monthly credits roll over; annual true-up at wholesale rate (approximately $0.03-$0.05/kWh for any 12-month surplus). RS-TOU-3P three-period time-of-use rate effective June 1, 2026 for PSE&G customers: on-peak weekday evening hours approximately $0.31/kWh; off-peak approximately $0.21/kWh. Data as of June 2026; verify at nj.pseg.com.

Available programs

Solar incentives in Trenton, NJ for 2026

Incentives available in NJ

Federal residential solar credit (Section 25D): expired. The Section 25D residential investment tax credit expired December 31, 2025. The residential credit rate is 0%. State and local incentives below may still significantly reduce your net system cost. Commercial systems still qualify for Section 48E (30%).

Active solar incentives in NJ
Program	Benefit	Eligibility	Status	Source
NJ SuSI Administratively Determined Incentive (ADI) Local/State Incentive	$76.50 per MWh of solar electricity generated for 15 years. At 12.53 kW and 4.3 peak sun hours: approximately 14,600 kWh/year = approximately $1,117/year in ADI income. Rate as of March 6, 2026. Verify current ADI rate with NJBPU before signing. Combined with PSE&G's 26-cent rate, the ADI makes Trenton one of the strongest total-return solar markets in New Jersey.	PSE&G residential customers with newly registered solar installations. Systems registered on or after March 6, 2026 receive $76.50/MWh.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
PSE&G RS-TOU-3P Time-of-Use Rate Local/State Incentive	Solar exports credited at approximately $0.31/kWh during weekday on-peak hours. Off-peak approximately $0.21/kWh. Solar-plus-battery combinations optimize for the on-peak window. Rate effective June 1, 2026. Verify current on-peak hours and rates at nj.pseg.com before installation.	All PSE&G residential customers moved to RS-TOU-3P on June 1, 2026. 12-month risk-free trial.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
NJ CSEP Community Solar -- Environmental Justice Priority Local/State Incentive	Trenton's EJ designation gives residents priority access to CSEP community solar capacity allocations and a minimum 25% bill credit for qualifying LMI households (income at or below 200% FPL). NJBPU expanded CSEP to 3,000 MW total on March 4-5, 2026. CSEP expanded to 3,000 MW total by NJBPU order March 4-5, 2026, with rolling enrollment through December 31, 2029. 51% of capacity reserved for LMI subscribers statewide. Verify current subscription availability and Trenton-area projects at cleanenergy.nj.gov.	Trenton residents and businesses. LMI households (at or below 200% FPL) receive the minimum 25% EJ bill credit. Non-income-qualified residents access standard CSEP subscriptions. No rooftop installation required.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
NJ Solar Sales Tax Exemption Local/State Incentive	New Jersey's 6.625% sales and use tax waived on all solar equipment and labor at the point of sale. Permanent New Jersey law. No application required.	All New Jersey solar installations. Permanent, automatic.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
NJ Property Tax Exemption Local/State Incentive	Added assessed value of solar installation excluded from local property tax assessment permanently. Permanent under N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.113a. Notify Trenton/Mercer County tax assessor after installation.	All New Jersey homeowners with solar. Must notify local tax assessor post-install to activate.	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
EPA Solar for All (Status: Disputed) Local/State Incentive	Was a $156 million NJ grant targeting Trenton and other NJ disadvantaged communities for no-cost or low-cost solar access. EPA clawed back approximately 90% of the grant in August 2025. New Jersey joined a multi-state lawsuit in November 2025. Outcome uncertain. Do not rely on this program without confirming current legal status at nj.gov/bpu.	Originally targeted Trenton EJ communities. Status in legal dispute as of June 2026.	Limited	DSIRE (opens in new tab)

Data last verified June 29, 2026. Incentive programs change; verify current amounts and availability at dsireusa.org (opens in new tab) before committing to a project.

California property-tax exclusion sunsets December 31, 2026. Solar systems installed and permitted by December 31, 2026 lock in the exclusion for the life of the system under current California law (Revenue and Taxation Code Section 73). Systems installed in 2027 may not qualify if the Legislature does not extend the exemption. Verify current legislative status at ftb.ca.gov before signing a contract.

Why Trenton homeowners are moving now

After the January 2025 wildfires, battery storage became a priority

Trenton occupies a unique position in New Jersey's solar economy: it is the state capital where the NJBPU signed its March 4-5, 2026 omnibus clean energy order -- which simultaneously expanded the Community Solar Energy Program to 3,000 MW, updated energy storage incentive rules, and advanced other clean energy programs under newly inaugurated Governor Sherrill's agenda. This order was signed in Trenton and directly expands Trenton residents' access to community solar as an overburdened Environmental Justice community with priority CSEP access and a minimum 25% LMI bill credit. The financial case is also the strongest in the state: EnergySage marketplace data projects $93,988 in 25-year savings and a 7.06-year payback for a typical Trenton homeowner -- the best of the five NJ cities in this research, driven by PSE&G's 26-cent rate and competitive Mercer County install costs without the urban labor premium of Newark or Jersey City. A typical 900 kWh/month Trenton household spending $185/month on electricity stands to benefit most from going solar.

Source: NJBPU March 4-5, 2026 omnibus clean energy order signed in Trenton; CSEP expanded to 3,000 MW; Trenton EJ priority community solar access (2026).

Illustrative example

What does a typical Trenton solar system actually cost and save?

Zero federal residential credit applied (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). Figures are estimates based on market data as of 2026-06-29. Your numbers depend on your roof, your utility, and your bill.

System inputs

System size: 12.53 kW
Gross cost ($2.75/W): $34,458
Federal residential credit: $0 (expired Dec 31, 2025)
NJ SuSI ADI $76.50/MWh for 15 years (approximately $1,117/year based on estimated 14,600 kWh/year production): Applied
NJ Sales Tax Exemption (6.625% waived on equipment and labor at point of sale): Applied
Estimated net cost: $34,458

Estimated outcomes

Annual savings range: $2,800 to $3,900
Estimated payback: 7.06 years

A 12.53 kW system at $2.75/W costs approximately $34,458 before incentives. No federal residential credit applies in 2026 (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax is waived on all solar equipment and labor. There is no upfront state cash rebate; the primary ongoing incentive is the NJ SuSI ADI at $76.50/MWh for 15 years, generating approximately $1,117 per year in SREC income based on estimated production of 14,600 kWh annually. At PSE&G's 26-cent all-in rate and 4.3 peak sun hours, a 12.53 kW Trenton system produces strong annual bill savings for a household spending approximately $185/month on electricity. Combined with SuSI ADI income, total annual benefit runs approximately $4,017-$5,017 per year for the first 15 years. EnergySage marketplace data projects a 7.06-year payback and $93,988 in 25-year savings for Trenton -- the highest 25-year savings and among the shortest paybacks of the five NJ cities in this research. All figures assume zero federal residential credit and current PSE&G rates.

Run the savings calculator for your specific address

Ready to see what solar works out to for your Trenton home?

A free in-home assessment reviews your utility bill, your roof, your options, and every available incentive for your address. No pressure. No shared leads.

Book Your Free In-Home Estimate

Neighborhoods we serve

Solar in Trenton: high-adoption areas, equity zones, and post-fire demand corridors

High-adoption neighborhoods

Established solar saturation; higher installers per block, active neighbor referrals, and permit history at LADBS.

Ewing
Lawrence Township
Hamilton
West Windsor

Equity program target areas

Designated disadvantaged communities (DAC) eligible for SGIP equity resiliency, DAC-SASH, and other income-qualified programs. Income verification required.

North Trenton (city)
South Trenton (city)
Chambersburg (city)

Post-fire and growth corridors

Wildfire-affected and adjacent neighborhoods where battery storage demand surged following the January 2025 fires. Rebuilding homeowners and proximate neighbors with elevated grid-resilience priorities.

Robbinsville
Princeton Junction (adjacent)
Hopewell Township

LOCAL INSTALL PHOTO -- TRENTON -- TO BE PROVIDED

Permitting and interconnection

How solar permitting works in Trenton

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

Permit office: City of Trenton Division of Technical Services
SolarAPP+ status: SolarAPP+: Not adopted by this AHJ
Permit fee: $125 per 1-10 kW capacity block plus $125 per inverter plus $10 per microinverter, per City of Trenton fee schedule (eCode360 Ch. 77). Electrical sub-permit separate. Typical all-in permit cost for a 12-13 kW residential system: approximately $250-$500.
Typical contract-to-energization: 8 to 14 weeks total: online permitting with 10-14 business day typical approval; PSE&G interconnection adds 3-6 weeks. Trenton's improved online permitting has reduced processing times.

We handle the permit and interconnection filings

LADBS permit application and plan set preparation
SolarAPP+ submission for qualifying systems
LADWP or SCE interconnection application
Inspection coordination and utility sign-off
Certificate of Completion delivery to homeowner

No New Jersey jurisdiction uses SolarAPP+ as of June 2026. A statewide automated permitting platform is expected mid-2027 per S4100/A5264. Trenton's Division of Technical Services has improved processing times through online permitting. Trenton's fee schedule is publicly documented in eCode360 Chapter 77; verify current schedule before application.

Your local Trenton advisor

One advisor. No door-knockers. No shared leads.

Serving Trenton and surrounding NJ communities

Book Your Free In-Home Inspection

Ewing, NJ REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial with bill comparison and SuSI ADI income detail from Ewing homeowner]

System: 12.5 kW rooftop solar, PSE&G territory, SuSI ADI registered

Hamilton, NJ REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial mentioning PSE&G TOU rate and Trenton permitting experience]

System: 13 kW rooftop solar, PSE&G TOU rate

Lawrence Township, NJ REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial from Lawrence Township homeowner on solar-plus-battery TOU optimization]

System: 11.5 kW rooftop solar plus battery, PSE&G territory

For business owners and property managers

Commercial Solar in Trenton: Section 48E and State Government Opportunity

Trenton's proximity to the NJBPU, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, and the Governor's Office means commercial solar projects here carry political visibility that can accelerate approvals and community support. The federal Section 48E commercial investment tax credit (30% base for projects beginning construction by July 4, 2026) combined with PSE&G commercial net metering and the NJ SuSI ADI creates a compelling 2026 window for Trenton commercial property owners and landlords along Route 1 South and the Route 29 Delaware waterfront. C-PACE financing is available in New Jersey. MACRS accelerated depreciation adds further first-year tax benefit.

See commercial solar options

Commercial solar projects must begin construction by July 4, 2026 to qualify for the 30 percent Section 48E federal tax credit. After that date, the system must be placed in service by December 31, 2027.

Schedule a Free Commercial Assessment

Trenton solar questions

What Trenton homeowners ask

City-specific answers. Every number references your utility and your permit office.

Why does Trenton have the best solar ROI in New Jersey?

Trenton combines PSE&G's 26-cent all-in electricity rate (high enough to create meaningful savings) with competitive Mercer County install costs ($2.75/W) that do not carry the urban labor premium of Newark or Jersey City. A typical 900 kWh/month Trenton household spending $185/month on electricity has more total electricity cost to offset than smaller-consumption urban households. The NJ SuSI ADI adds approximately $1,117/year in SREC income for 15 years on a typical 12.53 kW system. EnergySage marketplace data projects a 7.06-year payback and $93,988 in 25-year savings for Trenton -- the highest 25-year figure of the five NJ cities in this research.

What solar incentives are available in Trenton in 2026?

Trenton homeowners on PSE&G access: NJ SuSI ADI at $76.50/MWh for 15 years, PSE&G's 1:1 retail net metering with TOU on-peak credits at approximately $0.31/kWh, the NJ 6.625% sales tax exemption on all solar equipment and labor, and the permanent NJ property tax exemption. Trenton's Environmental Justice designation also gives residents priority access to CSEP community solar capacity and a minimum 25% bill credit for qualifying LMI households (income at or below 200% FPL). The NJBPU expanded CSEP to 3,000 MW in a March 2026 omnibus order.

Does Trenton's Environmental Justice designation help with solar?

Yes, in two ways. First, Trenton residents with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level receive a minimum 25% bill credit through CSEP community solar subscriptions -- a higher floor than the standard LMI rate in non-EJ areas. Second, Trenton has priority access to community solar project capacity allocations under NJBPU's EJ rules, meaning there are more subscription slots available relative to demand than in non-priority markets. For homeowners who cannot install rooftop solar, community solar subscriptions are the most accessible entry point.

Is there a federal solar tax credit in 2026?

No. The Section 25D residential solar credit expired December 31, 2025. Trenton's primary solar incentives are the NJ SuSI ADI ($76.50/MWh for 15 years), PSE&G's 1:1 retail net metering with TOU rate, the NJ 6.625% sales tax exemption, and the NJ permanent property tax exemption.

More solar resources for New Jersey:

New Jersey solar guide All cities

Ready for your free in-home solar estimate in Trenton?

An independent advisor visits your Trenton home, reviews your utility bill and roof, and explains every incentive available at your specific address. No pressure. No shared leads. No commissions.

Book Your Free In-Home Estimate Run the Savings Calculator First

Solar Installers in Trenton, NJ: Your 2026 Guide