Maximizing your solar investment requires understanding how utilities handle the energy you send back to the grid. For PSE&G (New Jersey) and PSEG Long Island customers, the "buy back" process primarily functions through , a system that allows you to bank excess energy as credits rather than receiving immediate cash. How PSEG Net Metering Works
: In most cases, you receive a full 1-to-1 credit for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) exported. These credits are "banked" to offset your future usage during cloudy days or at night. pseg solar buy back
: This is where the rate changes. Unlike the 1-to-1 monthly credit, the annual payout is usually at the avoided cost (wholesale market rate), which is significantly lower than the retail rate you pay for electricity. These credits are "banked" to offset your future
: You can often request a one-time change to your reconciliation date. Setting it for the end of winter (e.g., February) may allow you to use up summer credits during high-heating months before they are converted to the lower wholesale cash value. Key Benefits and Considerations Solar Power and Net Metering - PSE&G : You can often request a one-time change
: PSEG installs a special meter that tracks both energy "In" (drawn from the grid) and energy "Out" (exported to the grid).
: Your monthly bill only reflects the "net" difference. If you exported 500 kWh and used 400 kWh, you pay only the fixed customer charges (typically around $0.40/day) and bank the remaining 100 kWh. The Anniversary "True-Up"
: If you have a remaining credit balance after 12 months, PSEG "buys back" those credits.