PSEG Long Island Solar Program Overview

Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) Long Island is a subsidiary of the Public Service Enterprise Group and has been around for 117 years. Operating under an agreement with the state-owned Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), it provides service to about 1.1 million people in New York. PSEG generates energy from nuclear, oil, natural gas and coal sources.

PSEG Long Island supports many solar customers (and more every day!) who are connected to the energy grid. Customers can also purchase clean electricity, sometimes including solar-generated energy when they enroll and pay extra for the Green Choice plan. In the long run, installing your own home solar system is a less costly option, especially when you take advantage of existing solar rebates and incentives from state and federal governments.

How the PSEG Long Island Solar Program Works

Solar energy generated from your own solar panel system can be used to power your home, store energy in a home battery, or sell the power back to the electricity grid. To power your home, you need a solar system and sunlight. To store energy for future use (like at night), you need a special home battery. To sell power back to the grid, you need a two-way system and a meter that is hooked up to the utility grid. These function together to send energy back to the grid and offset your electric bill, a program which is called net metering, Net Energy Metering or NEM.

PSEG Long Island offers net metering almost everywhere. There is an online tool for checking the validity of your location, and EnergyPal can help you determine if your home is applicable. The energy you sell back to PSEG Long Island is purchased at rates set by your state and is typically somewhat less than what you pay for your retail electricity. This amount you sell back to the PSEG Long Island grid becomes a credit that’s added to your Energy Credit Bank. Credits go against the cost of retail electricity you use when you cannot supply yourself with enough solar energy. However, credits do not apply to basic charges or taxes.

Overall, you can offset your monthly electric bill to near zero! If you produce more electricity than you consume, the energy credit in kWh (kilowatt-hours) goes towards your next month’s PSEG Long Island bill. EnergyPal will help you size and configure your solar and home battery system appropriately to ensure you maximize your financial savings and energy independence.

Becoming a PSEG Long Island Solar Customer

In addition to reducing fossil fuel consumption and diminishing your carbon footprint, you can reduce your PSEG Long Island monthly bill, improve the resale value of your home and avoid power loss during outages with your own solar (or solar-battery) system. EnergyPal will help you follow these steps:

  1. Download your PSEG Long Island bill information on your annual usage.
  2. Assess the solar potential for your home, and analyze your roof.
  3. Compare quotes for solar panel systems and finance options.
  4. Prepare the interconnection application, and sign documentation.
  5. Install your solar system using qualified workers.
  6. Pass inspection with local inspectors and PSEG Long Island.
  7. PSEG Long Island will install a new meter so you can get credit for generating your own power!

Upfront PSEG Long Island Solar Incentives

There are multiple incentive programs available to reduce the upfront costs associated with solar system installations. They are the:

  • Megawatt Block Incentive. This incentive is a per-watt amount paid to new solar panel system customers. The amount paid (up to $1 per W) depends on how much solar is already being utilized in your area. Enrollment is limited.
  • New York State solar tax credit. You can reduce your state tax payment by $5,000 or 25% of what you spent on a solar system. If your tax liability is too low this year, you can even roll it over into next year.
  • Rooftop Solarize campaigns. Home and business owners in the same area who get together and all install solar can get special group rates on equipment and installation.
  • Energy Storage Rewards Program. This program pays New York state residents who allow PSEG Long Island partners to use the energy they store in a home battery for four hour increments between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m in the summer months. Residents are notified in advance, and use will not occur during severe weather.

EnergyPal is available to help you navigate PSEG Long Island bills and the PSEG Long Island solar program requirements and steps for installing solar. Start by requesting a quote, and we’ll help you through the whole process so you get the right system at the right price and offset your PSEG Long Island electric bill.

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