New Jersey at a glance

New Jersey treats solar installers as home improvement contractors, which means registration, a written contract with specific notices, and a three-day right to cancel. The Consumer Fraud Act here is one of the strongest in the country, and the state still offers full retail net metering.

If you were misled, you have options

Being told your bill would disappear, that the system was free, that a tax credit would pay off the loan, or that you were only signing up for an inspection can all matter, even long after a cancellation window has closed.

  1. Your state's consumer protection law. Every state has a law against deceptive and unfair business practices. False promises about savings, costs, tax credits, or who you were dealing with may fall under New Jersey's law.
  2. Missing paperwork and disclosures. Many states require specific disclosures and a written cancellation notice. If you never received them, a deadline may not have started, or the contract may have other problems.
  3. Your lender may share responsibility. When a seller arranges your financing, federal rules often let you raise the same claims against the lender that you have against the seller, up to the amount you paid. Check your loan for a notice about the FTC Holder Rule.
  4. Official complaints. Complaints to New Jersey's agencies are free, create a record, and can lead to mediation or an investigation.
  5. Professional help. A solar attorney or solar exit company can review your documents and tell you which of these options fit your situation.

Not sure which option fits? Tell us what happened and we will help you see your options. It takes about two minutes.

See my options

Your right to cancel

New Jersey cancellation window

3 business days after you receive the contract

You can cancel a home improvement contract for any reason before midnight of the third business day after you receive a copy of it. A solar installation sold as home improvement work is generally covered.

Source: N.J.S.A. 56:8-151(b) · Checked November 7, 2026

Conditions that matter

  • Cancel in writing by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested, or by personal delivery to the address in the contract. Keep a copy.
  • Any money you paid must be refunded within 30 days of the contractor receiving your notice.
  • If you signed a credit or loan agreement through the contractor to pay for the work, it must also be canceled without penalty.

Home improvement contracts over $500 must be in writing and include the contractor's state registration number. A financing agreement arranged separately, not through the contractor, may follow different rules.

Canceling one agreement does not always cancel another. A separate loan, lease, or power purchase agreement can have its own terms, so check each document you signed. If the sale was made in Spanish or another language, read your rights when a contract is not in your language. To compare deadlines, see the cancellation period in every state.

Laws that protect you in New Jersey

These are the state laws that come up most often in solar disputes here. Each one links to the official text or the agency that enforces it.

N.J.S.A. 56:8-1 et seq.

Consumer Fraud Act

Prohibits deception, false promises, and misrepresentation in any sale. Homeowners who lose money can recover three times their damages plus attorney's fees, which is why many New Jersey consumer lawyers take these cases.

N.J.S.A. 56:8-136 to 56:8-152

Contractors' Registration Act

Home improvement contractors, including solar installers, must register with the Division of Consumer Affairs. Contracts over $500 must be in writing and include the contractor's registration number, start and completion dates, the total price, and a notice of your right to cancel within three business days.

How your utility credits solar in New Jersey

Full retail net metering with an annual true-up

New Jersey's investor-owned utilities credit excess solar power at the full retail rate. Credits carry forward month to month. At the end of each 12-month period, any remaining credits are paid out at the much lower wholesale avoided-cost rate. A system sized well beyond your yearly usage won't earn retail value on the extra power.

Source: PSE&G: Solar power and net metering

Check your New Jersey solar contract

Pull out your paperwork and look for these. Anything missing is worth noting in a complaint or showing to an attorney.

  • The contractor's New Jersey registration number is on the contract.
  • The contract includes the three-day cancellation notice.
  • Start and completion dates are written in.
  • Any savings claim matches what net metering will actually pay for your usage.
  • You received a copy of everything you signed.

Where to get help in New Jersey

These are official agencies. Filing a complaint is free. An agency can investigate or mediate, but most cannot act as your lawyer or guarantee a refund.

Contractor and consumer complaints

New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs

Registers home improvement contractors and takes complaints. You can check whether a contractor is registered and has complaints or actions against it.

Visit the official page 800-242-5846

Utility billing and service

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Division of Customer Assistance

Contact your utility first, then file a complaint if the issue is unresolved.

Visit the official page 800-624-0241

Lender problems

New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance

Takes complaints about state-regulated lenders and other financial companies through its Consumer Inquiry and Response Center.

Visit the official page 800-446-7467

Before you contact anyone

  1. Gather every document you signed. The sales or installation agreement, any loan, lease, or power purchase agreement, and any change orders.
  2. Identify each company. The seller, installer, lender, and current servicer may be different businesses. Your latest statement shows who services your account now.
  3. Write down the timeline. When you were contacted, when you signed, when work started, and every promise made about savings or cost.
  4. Keep proof of every notice. Save emails, certified mail receipts, and the date you sent anything.

Guides for your situation

Questions to ask

  • Which agreement am I trying to cancel or change, and who is the other party to it?
  • What does my agreement say about cancellation, notice, and where to send it?
  • Did the seller give me the cancellation notice and disclosures required in my state?
  • Is my loan separate from my installation contract, and what happens to it if the contract is canceled?
  • Was a dealer fee built into my loan? Estimate it with our calculator.

New Jersey solar questions

How do I check a New Jersey solar contractor's registration?

Search the Division of Consumer Affairs license lookup at njconsumeraffairs.gov. An unregistered contractor is itself a violation of state law.

Can I get triple damages for a misleading solar sale?

The Consumer Fraud Act allows treble damages and attorney's fees when you prove a violation caused you a loss. A lawyer can tell you whether your facts fit.

Who handles utility billing problems with my solar credits?

Start with your utility. If that doesn't resolve it, contact the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

National resources

General information, not legal advice.

This page can’t tell you whether a right applies to your agreement. For that, contact a licensed attorney or the agencies above.

Other states

Solar rules change at the state line. See every state and the review status of each.