Remote Net Metering Requirements
All remote net metering host customers must be public entities.
- The Board approved process in the “2018 RNM order defines “public entity,” for purposes of RNM eligibility, consistent with the list of entities identified as eligible for aggregated net metering in the Solar Act of 2012 (L. 2012, c. 24): State entity, school district, county, county agency, county authority, municipality, municipal agency or municipal authority. The Board further determined that the definition of “public entity” expressly includes public universities.”
- RNM Registration with a solar facility sized over 5 MW (dc) will automatically be rejected.
- Solar project owners or their developers must follow the interconnection process required by New Jersey law at N.J.A.C. 14:8-1 through 14:8-5.9 and facilitated by their Electric Distribution Company (EDC).
- The solar equipment must be new. N.J.A.C. 14:8-11.4 (c) Any equipment used in an RNM-eligible facility must be new; that is, none of the equipment may have been used prior to the installation.
- Solar facilities must be connected to a distribution or transmission system owned or operated by a New Jersey public utility.
- Solar facilities receiving incentives that are 1 MW (dc) or greater in size are subject to the Prevailing Wage Act N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25, et seq.
- All RNM projects must reach permission to operate on or before the expiration date noted in the acceptance letter.
- Solar facilities on contaminated site or landfills are subject to New Jersey Solar Erosion and Sediment Control Act N.J.S.A. 4:24-39 et seq, its implementing rules at N.J.A.C. 2:90 and NJDEP’s Stormwater Management rules under N.J.A.C. 7.8.
- ADI Program does not permit RNM solar facilities on prime agricultural soils and soils of Statewide importance, as identified by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, which are located in Agricultural Development Areas certified by the State Agricultural Development Committee.
- Remote Net Metering Solar Facilities are prohibited from "Commencing Construction," (defined as obtaining permission to operate or PTO) prior to receipt of acceptance into the ADI program. Solar facilities that obtain PTO prior to the issuance of the acceptance letter will be required to petition the Board of eligibility in the ADI program.
The solar systems can be located on property owned, licensed or leased by public entity or on any suitable private property.
Remote Net Metering solar facilities are prohibited from being installed on the following site types:
- Land preserved under the Green Acres Program
- Land designated as freshwater wetlands as defined pursuant to P.L.1987, c.156 (C.13:9B-1 et seq.), or coastal wetlands as defined pursuant to P.L.1970, c.272 (C.13:9A-1 et seq.)
- Forested lands, as defined by the board in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection
- Prime agricultural soils and soils of Statewide importance, as identified by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, which are located in Agricultural Development Areas certified by the State Agricultural Development Committee
- Preservation area of the pinelands area and land designated as forest area within the pinelands comprehensive management plan
- RNM Initial Registration Checklist (PDF)
- RNM Registration Certification Form (PDF)
- RNM Milestone Reporting Form (Excel)
- NJ Department of Environmental Protection Permit Readiness Checklist
- Contaminated Site and Landfill Eligibility Verification Form (if applicable)
* A RNM Milestone Reporting Form is required to be submitted for solar facilities over 1 MW (dc) with the initial registration package and quarterly thereafter, up until the submission of the Final As-Built (Post Construction Certification) Package.
RNM solar facilities can increase up to 20 percent or 25 kW (dc), whichever is smaller from the system size submitted in the original RNM registration. Systems that are increased more than the 20 percent or 25 kW, whichever is smaller will be required to submit a petition to the NJBPU Board Secretary to request a waiver to this rule. A RNM solar facility cannot increase the system’s capacity beyond 5 MW (dc).
The ADI Program does permit RNM solar facilities to decrease the system from the original system size that was submitted with the initial RNM registration.