This bill prohibits homeowners' associations in New Jersey from banning solar panel installation on roofs of single-family homes (where the roof isn't common property) and townhouses (where the owner, not the association, is responsible for roof repairs). Associations may still set limited rules about installer qualifications, placement, color matching, and size - but cannot impose rules that increase installation costs by more than 10% or reduce panel efficiency. The law applies to standard homeowner associations, excluding developer-controlled communities. It clarifies existing protections for solar adoption while ensuring reasonable regulations don't create undue financial or functional barriers.
This bill requires New Jersey to cover the cost of connecting residential, net-metered Class I renewable energy systems (such as home solar panels) to the electric grid. It amends state law to include these interconnection costs in the existing "societal benefits charge," a fee added to all electricity bills. This shifts the financial responsibility from homeowners or utilities to the state, with costs shared by all ratepayers. The bill also mandates that 25% of funding for renewable energy programs must support Class I projects.
This bill amends New Jersey's community solar program to allow "dual-use" solar facilities - those combining solar panels with ongoing agricultural production on farmland - to participate. It sets a 5-megawatt maximum per project, requires at least two participating customers, and mandates access for low- and moderate-income residents. The law also establishes phased registration goals (225 MW by 2024, then 3,000 MW total by 2029) and requires monthly reporting on energy generation and bill credits. This directly affects electric utility customers in New Jersey who can now access community solar projects on farmland, with specific protections for low-income participants.
This bill prohibits New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from approving electric or gas utility rate increases that would cause an average residential customer's annual bill to rise more than 2%. It directly affects residential utility customers and the BPU, which must deny any proposed rate hike exceeding this 2% annual cap on the average customer bill. The key provision sets a strict limit on total annual rate increases, regardless of individual utility company proposals or cost factors. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.
This bill requires New Jersey to amend its building code to ban burning high-emission fuels (like natural gas) in new construction. Starting 12 months after enactment, it prohibits such combustion in new buildings under seven stories; 36 months later, the ban applies to all new buildings regardless of height. Exemptions apply only to emergency systems, emergency facilities, and commercial food establishments, though these areas must still be designed to be "all-electric ready" where feasible. The bill also mandates a joint report on electric rate adjustments within 12 months and allows municipalities to impose stricter rules. (Pending before the Assembly Housing Committee as of 2026-01-13.)
This bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prioritize energy security, diversity, and affordability when creating the state's Energy Master Plan. It mandates the BPU to limit variable energy sources (like solar and wind) to no more than 50% of the state's energy portfolio and conduct detailed economic and ratepayer impact analyses for all major energy projects and the Master Plan itself. These analyses must break down costs, include public comment periods, and be published online for 10 years. The bill directly affects the BPU, energy companies seeking project approvals, and ratepayers through these new transparency and analysis requirements.
This bill exempts the retail sale of specific energy-saving products and services from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects consumers and businesses purchasing items like LED light bulbs, insulation, window caulk, furnace filters, weather stripping, tankless water heaters, and HVAC tune-up services. The key provision defines "energy-saving products" as those primarily designed to reduce energy consumption in homes and buildings, explicitly listing qualifying items. This tax exemption aims to lower costs for buyers of these efficiency-focused products.
This bill prohibits New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from approving rate increases for electric and gas utilities that use "inclining block rates" for residential customers. Inclining block rates charge higher prices once a household's energy use exceeds specific thresholds, regardless of when energy is consumed. The bill directly affects residential customers in New Jersey who currently face these tiered pricing structures, particularly during high-use seasons like summer. It requires the BPU to halt any rate hike approvals for utilities using this rate design, though it does not eliminate the rate structure itself. The sponsor cites a 2024 report stating such rates are outdated and not cost-reflective, aiming to reduce residential electricity costs.
This bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study the feasibility of developing advanced reactors statewide within 18 months. The study must examine suitable locations (including retired power sites), regulatory requirements, economic viability, safety, environmental impacts, and public input through three stakeholder sessions. It directs the BPU to recommend a potential program for deploying small modular reactors and publish findings online. The study expires 30 days after the report is submitted to the Governor and Legislature.
Bill A 2851 prohibits electric utilities in New Jersey from including "solar subscription fees" in community solar subscribers' monthly bills. These fees, paid to companies managing community solar projects (called "subscriber organizations"), would be removed from utility bills under the bill's requirements. The law directs the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to mandate that utilities develop a method to eliminate these fees, which currently appear alongside energy credits on subscriber bills. The bill affects community solar participants and the organizations that manage their enrollment in solar projects.
