Maria — Maplewood area (070)
8.4 kW DC · Installed March 2024 · PSE&G territory
What got put on the roof
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| System size | 8.4 kW DC |
| Panel count (est.) | 21 panels — assuming 400 W modules |
| Installed | March 2024 |
| Utility | PSE&G |
| Location | ZIP 070xx (New Jersey) |
Predicted vs actual production
The PVWatts number is what we used pre-install. The observed number is what the meter actually counted.
| Source | Annual production |
|---|---|
| NREL PVWatts prediction | 10,584 kWh |
| Observed (utility data) | 10,847 kWh |
| Delta | +2.5% — over the prediction |
What the SRECs paid out
NJ SREC-II / ADI in PSE&G territory — each MWh produced earns one SREC, sold quarterly into the NJ market.
10.84 MWh
SRECs registered through the homeowner’s NJ GATS account for the trailing 12-month window. One MWh = one SREC.
$848
First-year SREC-II payout. NJ’s administratively determined incentive currently sets $76–95/MWh for 15 years — this study’s number reflects what cleared.
Before vs after the install
| Window | Average monthly bill |
|---|---|
| Before solar | $245 |
| After solar (est.) | $50 — baseline service + non-offset usage |
| Monthly savings | $195 — before SREC income |
Post-solar bill is a conservative $50/month estimate covering the utility delivery charge and seasonal non-offset usage. Real-life results vary month to month with weather and household load.
Homeowner quote
“I expected the savings. I didn't expect Chris to actually answer the phone on a Sunday when my inverter threw an error code.”
Notes from the project
Maria’s 8.4 kW PSE&G install came in over the production model and tracked exactly to the SREC-II registration timeline we planned at intake. Maplewood is dense Bergen/Essex circuit, so I ran the suitability map before signing and confirmed the address sat on a non-saturated section — saved us a 6-week interconnection delay several of her neighbors weren’t so lucky to avoid.
How I measure these numbers
- Production: pulled from the homeowner’s utility net-metering portal (export kWh out of the meter back to the grid + self-consumed kWh from a Sense / inverter API where available). Partial-year installs are annualized in 12-month windows starting at permission-to-operate (PTO).
- SREC payout: the homeowner’s NJ GATS account quarterly statement. Reported figure is the first full 12-month window post-registration. NJ SREC-II / ADI in PSE&G territory.
- Predicted production: the NREL PVWatts v8 number we used in the original quote — same azimuth, tilt, and system loss inputs your installer would file with the utility.
- Before-bill: 12-month average from the utility account history pulled at intake. After-bill is an illustrative $50/month estimate covering delivery charges and non-offset usage; actual months vary with weather and household load.
- Privacy: ZIP3 only (never ZIP+4), first name only, photo only with the homeowner’s written permission.
Want Your Numbers Tracked This Way?
Every install I broker gets the same predicted-vs-observed tracking treatment. Run the calculator with me and I’ll show you what to expect from your roof.