Solar Panels in Bergen County, NJ: A 2026 Homeowner’s Guide
If you are a homeowner thinking about solar panels in Bergen County, 2026 is a meaningful year to run the numbers. PSE&G rates have climbed, New Jersey’s incentive stack remains one of the strongest in the country, and the way solar pays off has shifted now that the federal tax credit is gone. As a local company headquartered right here in Mahwah, we want to give you the honest picture before you commit to anything.
Here is what going solar actually looks like for Bergen County homeowners this year.
Why Bergen County Electric Bills Keep Climbing
Most of Bergen County is served by PSE&G, New Jersey’s largest utility. In 2026, the average all-in PSE&G residential rate sits at roughly 26 cents per kilowatt-hour once supply, delivery, and the various riders are added together. The typical monthly residential bill rose to about $180 starting June 1, 2026.
There is also a structural change worth knowing about. PSE&G is rolling out new Time-of-Use rates, where electricity during the 4 PM to 9 PM peak window costs significantly more than off-peak power. For households that run air conditioning, EVs, and appliances in the evening, that peak pricing can sting.
Solar does not make these rate hikes disappear, but it does let you produce your own power instead of buying all of it at retail prices that keep rising.
What Solar Incentives Do Bergen County Homeowners Still Get?
What many homeowners do not realize is that New Jersey’s state-level incentives are still fully intact in 2026:
SuSI SREC-II program. Through the Successor Solar Incentive program, your system earns certificates for the power it generates, and that income is locked in for 15 years from registration. This is money on top of the bill savings from the electricity you use yourself.
1-to-1 net metering. When your panels produce more than your home uses, PSE&G credits you at the full retail rate, not a discounted export rate. Those credits roll forward to offset future bills, which is especially useful in winter months.
Sales tax exemption. Solar equipment is exempt from New Jersey’s 6.625% sales tax, which saves you a meaningful amount right at the point of purchase.
Property tax exemption. Solar typically raises a home’s value, but in New Jersey that added value is permanently exempt from property tax assessment. You get the home-value benefit without a higher tax bill.
What Does Solar Payback Look Like in Bergen County?
Payback depends on your roof, your usage, and the system size, so anyone who quotes you an exact figure sight unseen is guessing. That said, the combination of high PSE&G rates, SREC-II income, and 1-to-1 net metering keeps Bergen County among the more favorable places in New Jersey for solar economics in 2026.
Northern New Jersey, including Bergen County, averages roughly 4.1 to 4.3 peak sun hours per day. That is plenty for a well-designed system to offset a large share of a typical household’s annual usage.
We always encourage homeowners to compare two numbers: what you would spend on electricity over the next 15 to 25 years at today’s rising rates, versus the cost of owning a system that produces that power for you. When PSE&G rates climb, that comparison tends to move in solar’s favor, not against it.
What About Interconnection Delays?
One honest caution for our area. In 2024 and 2025, some Bergen County homeowners waited several months for interconnection approval after their panels were installed. This is the utility’s process of granting permission to operate, and it is largely out of any installer’s hands.
What a good installer can do is file your paperwork correctly the first time, keep your project moving, and set realistic expectations. We handle permitting and interconnection in-house so that nothing falls through the cracks while you wait for approval.
Do I Need a New Roof First?
Many Bergen County homes have roofs that are 15 to 20 years old. If your roof is near the end of its life, it usually makes sense to replace it before or during your solar install, so you are not paying to remove and reinstall panels a few years later.
Because we have an in-house roofing division, we can handle both the roof and the solar as a single coordinated project. That keeps the timeline tighter and avoids the headache of juggling two separate contractors.
Why Work With a Local Bergen County Installer
Infinity Energy has been installing solar across New Jersey since 2009, and our headquarters is in Mahwah, right in Bergen County. We have completed more than 10,000 installations and we are an Elite+ installer on EnergySage, which places us in the top 4% of installers nationally. We were also named EnergySage Installer of the Year.
Our systems are backed by a 25-year panel and production warranty, a 10-year inverter warranty, and a 5-year workmanship warranty. We are also Tesla Powerwall certified if you want battery backup to pair with those new Time-of-Use rates, and we offer EV charging installation. $0 down financing is available for homeowners who want to start without a large upfront cost.
The Bottom Line for Bergen County Homeowners
New Jersey’s incentives, rising PSE&G rates, and strong net metering make solar a sensible move for many Bergen County households in 2026. The right answer depends on your specific roof and usage, and the best way to find out is to see the real numbers for your home.
If you would like an honest, no-pressure look at what solar could do for your Bergen County home, reach out to our team for a free quote. We are happy to walk you through the math, incentives, and timeline so you can decide what makes sense for you.
