- A 6 kW roof in Plainfield makes about 7,900 kWh a year. That is the modeled output for ZIP 07060 at 4.71 peak sun hours a day, enough to cover most of a typical home’s electricity use (NREL PVWatts v8, modeled for 07060, as of 2026).
- PSE&G bills are high, which is exactly what makes solar pay. New Jersey’s residential rate averages about 23.5 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), and a typical PSE&G customer’s all-in rate runs closer to 28 cents once delivery and riders are added (PSE&G Price to Compare, as of 2026).
- New Jersey kept full-retail net metering. PSE&G credits every kWh you export one for one at the retail rate, banked across a 12-month year with a year-end true-up (NJ Clean Energy, as of 2026).
- New Jersey also pays you to produce, through SREC-II. A residential system earns one SREC-II per 1,000 kWh generated, now worth $77 each for systems registered on or after July 27, 2026 (down from $85), locked for 15 years (NJ Board of Public Utilities order, May 21, 2026).
- No state sales or property tax on your system. New Jersey waives its 6.625% sales tax on solar equipment and exempts the added home value from property tax (NJ Division of Taxation, as of 2026).
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended after December 31, 2025. A Plainfield homeowner who buys solar in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026).
Plainfield homeowners have two things working in their favor that make rooftop solar pay: high PSE&G electric bills, and a New Jersey program that pays you to produce solar power on top of crediting your bill. Your utility, PSE&G (also written PSEG), still credits your exported power at the full retail rate, so every kilowatt-hour your roof sends to the grid offsets one you would have bought. On top of that, the state’s SREC-II earnings pay you separately for the power you generate. This page runs the actual Plainfield numbers: what a system produces here, what it likely costs, how long it takes to pay back, how PSE&G net metering works, the New Jersey earnings and tax breaks that change the math, and what the city’s older Victorian roofs mean for a solar project. Then you can check your own address in about a minute.
Is solar worth it in Plainfield in 2026?
For most owner-occupied Plainfield homes with decent sun, yes, and the reason is the size of the PSE&G bill it offsets. New Jersey’s residential electricity averages about 23.5 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), and once you add PSE&G’s delivery charges and riders, the all-in rate a typical PSE&G customer actually pays is closer to 28 cents per kWh (PSE&G Price to Compare, as of 2026). Every kilowatt-hour your roof makes offsets one of those expensive grid kilowatt-hours, so a Plainfield home spending $150 or more a month on electricity is a strong solar candidate. For the full statewide picture, see our New Jersey solar guide and our PSE&G solar guide.
Plainfield’s sun and roof size set your production. A standard 6 kW system in Plainfield’s ZIP 07060 is modeled to make about 7,900 kWh a year, based on 4.71 peak sun hours per day for this location (NREL PVWatts v8, modeled for 07060, as of 2026). That covers most of a typical home’s annual use. Output scales with system size, so a smaller 4 kW system makes roughly 5,300 kWh and a larger 8 kW system about 10,500 kWh a year. Your own number depends on your roof’s pitch, orientation, and shading, which matters twice in New Jersey because your production also sets your SREC-II earnings.
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What does solar cost in Plainfield, and how fast does it pay back?
Here is the part most Plainfield pages skip: the actual payback math for this ZIP, not a national average. We built the estimate below from the production PVWatts models for Plainfield (07060), the rate a PSE&G customer pays, and New Jersey’s SREC-II earnings, against a typical installed cost. A 6 kW system that makes about 7,900 kWh a year offsets roughly $2,050 of PSE&G power in year one (at about 26 cents per kWh of avoidable supply and delivery), and earns about $608 more a year in SREC-II income for 15 years. Set against a typical installed cost near $18,000 before financing, that combined value points to a simple payback of about seven years, with the SREC-II income continuing to year 15.
How we estimate this (so you can follow the math): production from NREL PVWatts v8 for ZIP 07060 (6 kW, scaled linearly for other sizes); an avoidable-power value of about 26 cents per kWh, set conservatively between the EIA statewide average (23.5 cents) and PSE&G’s typical all-in rate (about 28 cents), because fixed monthly charges are not offset by net metering; SREC-II income at $77 per MWh generated for registrations on or after July 27, 2026; and a typical New Jersey installed cost near $3.00 per watt before financing, and no federal tax credit, because the residential Section 25D credit ended after December 31, 2025. These are estimates, not quotes. Your real numbers depend on your roof, your usage, your financing, and the current SREC-II value, so check your own address.
| System size | Est. annual production (PVWatts, 07060) | Est. year-1 bill offset (about 26c/kWh) | Est. SREC-II income per year ($77/MWh) | Est. installed cost (about $3.00/W) | Est. simple payback | Est. 15-year net value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | about 5,300 kWh | about $1,370 | about $405 | about $12,000 | about 7 years | about $14,600 |
| 6 kW | about 7,900 kWh | about $2,050 | about $610 | about $18,000 | about 7 years | about $21,900 |
| 8 kW | about 10,500 kWh | about $2,740 | about $810 | about $24,000 | about 7 years | about $29,300 |
SolarFY original estimate for Plainfield, ZIP 07060. Inputs: NREL PVWatts v8 production; avoidable-power value about 26 cents per kWh (between the EIA statewide 23.5 cents and PSE&G’s typical all-in about 28 cents); SREC-II at $77 per MWh (NJ BPU, May 2026); installed cost about $3.00 per watt; and no federal tax credit, since the residential Section 25D credit ended after December 31, 2025. The 15-year net value is the estimated bill offset plus SREC-II income over 15 years, minus the installed cost, before financing and before counting electricity-rate inflation or panel degradation, which roughly offset each other; bill savings keep going after year 15 while the SREC-II income ends. Estimates, not quotes.
How PSE&G net metering works in Plainfield
New Jersey is one of the states that kept the simple, generous version of net metering, and that is good news for Plainfield. PSE&G credits every kilowatt-hour you export to the grid at the full retail rate, one for one, and banks it against the power you pull at night or on cloudy days (NJ Clean Energy, as of 2026). Credits build month to month across a 12-month period, and at the end of that year PSE&G runs a true-up that settles any leftover credits at the wholesale value of electricity and resets the balance. New Jersey did not follow states like California and Connecticut, which replaced retail net metering with lower export rates, so a Plainfield system sized to your annual usage can still wipe out most of your supply charges across the year.
One honest caveat on net metering: it does not zero out your entire bill. Net metering offsets the power you use, but PSE&G still charges a fixed monthly customer charge and some non-bypassable riders that solar does not erase. That is why a well-sized system cuts most of the bill rather than all of it, and it is the main reason the payback math above uses about 26 cents per kWh of avoidable power rather than the full 28-cent all-in rate. For the mechanics in plain English, see how net metering credits your solar exports, and for the full PSE&G rules, see our PSE&G solar guide.
What is the New Jersey SREC-II worth now, and what changed in 2026?
On top of net metering, New Jersey pays you a separate earning for the solar electricity you generate. Through the Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) program run by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, a registered residential rooftop system falls under the Administratively Determined Incentive track and earns one SREC-II for every 1,000 kWh (one megawatt-hour) it produces (NJ Clean Energy, as of 2026). This is real income, paid on your generation, and it is separate from any tax credit.
What changed in 2026: The Board of Public Utilities cut the residential SREC-II value by $8, from $85 to $77 per MWh, for all registrations received on or after July 27, 2026 (NJ Board of Public Utilities order, May 21, 2026). Systems registered before that date keep $85. So a Plainfield homeowner going solar now should plan on $77 per MWh, locked for 15 years from registration. One more thing that matters on a lease or PPA: the party that registers the system earns these SREC-IIs, so if a company owns your panels, the company usually keeps the credits, not you. Confirm the current value with your installer before you sign.
| Plainfield value stream | How it works | Who keeps it |
|---|---|---|
| PSE&G net metering | Exports credited 1:1 at the retail rate, banked over a 12-month year with a year-end true-up at the wholesale value | The customer of record on the account |
| SREC-II earnings (SuSI) | $77 per MWh generated (registrations on or after July 27, 2026), locked 15 years | The registered system owner (you if you buy; the company on a lease or PPA) |
| State tax exemptions | No 6.625% state sales tax on equipment; no property tax on the added home value | The homeowner |
Because these are statewide programs that change over time, we keep the full detail on our New Jersey net metering and SREC guide and our New Jersey solar guide rather than repeating all of it on every city page.
New Jersey’s solar tax breaks, and the federal credit that ended
Beyond the bill credits and the SREC-II income, New Jersey lowers your cost two more ways, and both apply to a Plainfield home. First, a 100% sales-tax exemption on qualifying solar equipment waives New Jersey’s 6.625% state sales tax with no cap (NJ Division of Taxation, Bulletin SU-6, as of 2026). Second, a property-tax exemption on the added home value means your Plainfield assessment should not rise because of the panels (NJ Division of Taxation, property-tax exemptions, as of 2026). New Jersey has no state personal income-tax credit for solar, so these two exemptions plus the SREC-II income are the state’s role.
The federal homeowner credit is gone, but New Jersey’s programs are not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so a Plainfield homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit; SEIA, as of 2026). You will still see search results and installer ads asking whether the 30% credit is going away in 2026; the accurate answer is that the homeowner version already ended after December 31, 2025. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, can apply to a leased or PPA system, but the business that owns the panels claims it, not the homeowner. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax-credit change means in 2026.
| Incentive or program | Status for a 2026 Plainfield install | What it is worth |
|---|---|---|
| PSE&G full-retail net metering | Active | 1:1 retail credit on exports, banked 12 months |
| NJ SREC-II (SuSI / ADI) | Active, value reduced in 2026 | $77 per MWh generated, locked 15 years |
| NJ sales-tax exemption | Active | Waives 6.625% state sales tax, no cap |
| NJ property-tax exemption | Active | Added home value is not taxed |
| Federal 30% credit (Section 25D), ended after December 31, 2025 | Ended; not available in 2026 | Not available to 2026 homeowner-buyers |
Going solar on a Plainfield home: Victorian roofs and city permits
Plainfield is Union County’s “Queen City,” and its housing is what shapes its solar projects. The city of about 54,670 people, spanning ZIP codes 07060 to 07063, is known for its 19th-century Victorian architecture, including the Van Wyck Brooks Historic District (Plainfield, New Jersey; Van Wyck Brooks Historic District, as of 2026). Those beautiful homes often come with steep, complex, multi-gabled roofs, dormers, and sometimes slate, which a good installer plans around with a layout that fits the roof planes and preserves the look from the street. It is worth a quick note that Plainfield in Union County is a different place from South Plainfield, a separate borough in Middlesex County, which is why a search for local solar can mix the two.
Check this before you sign in Plainfield: If your home sits in a designated historic district such as Van Wyck Brooks, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission may review exterior changes, including roof-mounted solar, so ask your installer to confirm whether your address needs that review and to design the array with it in mind (City of Plainfield historic preservation controls, as of 2026). Separately, many older Plainfield homes still run a 100-amp electrical service that may need an upgrade to carry a modern solar system, a battery, or EV charging. Both are routine, but both are easier to plan for up front. If your roof is shaded or shared, community solar is an alternative that credits your PSE&G bill without a rooftop system.
Paying for solar in Plainfield: cash, loan, lease, or PPA
There is no single right way to pay for solar in Plainfield; the best fit depends on whether you want to own the system and keep the SREC-II earnings, or avoid an up-front cost. You may also see ads for “free solar panels,” and it is worth being clear that solar is not free; those are almost always lease or PPA offers, a long-term contract with monthly payments rather than a giveaway, and on those the company that owns the panels keeps the SREC-II credits. A solar loan is a popular way to own the system with little up front, while a lease or PPA can mean no up-front cost where you qualify. To weigh the long-run numbers, see whether solar panels are worth it, and if you are weighing a battery, see our guide to solar battery cost.
| Path | Up-front cost | Who keeps net metering + SREC-II | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash purchase | Full system cost | You, the owner | You want the fastest payback and the most lifetime savings |
| Solar loan | Little to none, financed | You, the owner | You want ownership without paying cash up front |
| Lease or PPA | $0-up-front where eligible | The third-party owner | You prefer no up-front cost and a simpler, fixed monthly bill |
How to choose a solar installer in Plainfield
Search “plainfield nj solar” and most of the first page is national review sites and directories rather than the companies doing the work, so it pays to know how to screen a company directly. Plainfield has an active market of licensed installers, from local New Jersey firms to national lease and PPA brands, which means real competition on price and service. Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria:
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- A valid New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor registration and a licensed electrician on the job.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Real experience with PSE&G interconnection, Plainfield city permitting, and SREC-II registration, plus any Historic Preservation Commission review if your home needs it.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote that models net metering plus the current $77 per MWh SREC-II value, not an old figure.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation. See how MySolarFY works and our data and methodology. You can also compare notes with nearby Union County homeowners on our Elizabeth solar and Edison solar pages, or read the Newark solar and Jersey City solar guides for other PSE&G cities.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it in Plainfield in 2026? For most owner-occupied Plainfield homes with decent sun, yes. New Jersey’s residential electricity averages about 23.5 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), and a typical PSE&G customer’s all-in rate runs closer to 28 cents, so every kilowatt-hour your roof makes offsets an expensive one. A 6 kW system in ZIP 07060 is modeled to produce about 7,900 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8). New Jersey also pays you twice: PSE&G credits your exports at the full retail rate, and the state’s SREC-II program pays $77 for every 1,000 kWh you generate, locked 15 years. On our estimate that points to a payback near seven years, though savings depend on your roof, usage, and financing and are not guaranteed.
What is the New Jersey SREC-II worth now, and did it change? Yes, it changed in 2026. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities cut the residential SREC-II value from $85 to $77 per MWh for all registrations received on or after July 27, 2026 (NJ Board of Public Utilities order, May 21, 2026). Systems registered before that date keep $85. A registered residential system earns one SREC-II for every 1,000 kWh it generates, and the value is locked for 15 years from registration. Only the party that registers the system earns the SREC-IIs, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels usually keeps them. Because the value can be reset, confirm the current figure with your installer before you sign.
Is the 30% federal solar tax credit gone in 2026? Yes, for homeowners. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so a Plainfield homeowner who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). You will see pages and ads that still imply the credit is available; for a 2026 install it is not. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. New Jersey’s net metering, SREC-II earnings, and tax exemptions were not affected by the federal change.
Can you get solar for free in New Jersey? No. Solar panels are not free. When you see an ad for free solar in Plainfield, remember that solar is not free: it almost always means a lease or a power purchase agreement (PPA), where a company installs and owns the system at no up-front cost to you and you pay a monthly amount instead, usually for 20 to 25 years. That can be a good fit if you want predictable payments and no up-front spend, but it is a long-term contract, not a giveaway, and on a lease or PPA the company keeps the net-metering credits and the SREC-II income. If you want to own the system and keep those earnings yourself, a cash purchase or a solar loan is the route.
How does PSE&G net metering work in Plainfield? PSE&G credits every kilowatt-hour you send to the grid at the full retail rate, one for one, and banks it against the power you draw when your panels are not producing (NJ Clean Energy, as of 2026). Your credits build across a 12-month period, and at the end of that year PSE&G runs a true-up that settles any remaining credits at the wholesale value of electricity. Because the credit is at full retail value, a system sized to your annual usage can offset most of your supply charges. It will not zero out your whole bill, because a fixed monthly customer charge and some riders remain, but New Jersey kept this full-retail structure when other states moved to lower export rates, which is a big part of why the Plainfield payback case is strong.
Do I need historic-district or city approval for solar in Plainfield? Possibly, depending on where your home is. Every rooftop solar project in Plainfield needs standard city building and electrical permits and a PSE&G interconnection approval. If your home is in a designated historic district such as Van Wyck Brooks, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission may also review exterior changes, including roof-mounted panels (City of Plainfield historic preservation controls, as of 2026). A good local installer handles the permits, the interconnection paperwork, and any historic review, and designs the array to fit the complex Victorian roof lines the city is known for. Ask any company to confirm whether your specific address needs historic review before you sign.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY editorial team on July 9, 2026. Figures were verified against New Jersey (NJ Board of Public Utilities, NJ Clean Energy, NJ Division of Taxation, DSIRE), PSE&G, EIA, and IRS sources; see our data and methodology. The SREC-II value is set by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and can change, and PSE&G rates change on a schedule, so confirm current terms with the Board of Public Utilities, PSE&G, and your installer before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, tax advisor, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation; solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA the net-metering credits and SREC-II earnings go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. The federal residential clean energy credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so 2026 homeowner-buyers cannot claim it. Incentives, savings, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.