South Jersey Energy Guide: Solar, Batteries, Backup Power and EV

In short: South Jersey has the state’s best sun and, on Atlantic City Electric’s grid, its highest power prices: about 23.4¢ per kWh in 2024, with one ACE home in ten already running solar. Cherry Hill and Mount Laurel are PSE&G territory instead, with shorter outages. Vineland’s city utility warns that new solar may not be accepted.

This page covers what is local to South Jersey, from Cherry Hill and Mount Laurel out to Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties: your utility, its prices and outage record, its programs and where permits come from. Statewide rules (full retail net metering, SREC-II payments, the plug-in solar law and contractor licensing) are in our New Jersey energy guide. The Atlantic and Cape May coast has its own Jersey Shore page.

South Jersey at a glance

• Atlantic City Electric (ACE): serves most of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties and parts of Camden and Burlington. Homes paid about 23.4¢ per kWh on average in 2024. Outages: 123 minutes per customer with major storms, 50 without (EIA-861, 2024).
• PSE&G: serves Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel, Camden and the river towns. About 20.4¢ per kWh in 2024; 45 minutes of outages with major storms, 39 without (EIA-861).
• City utilities: Vineland Municipal Electric Utility (about 17.8¢ per kWh for homes in 2024) and the Borough of Pemberton run their own systems; JCP&L serves part of Burlington County (EIA-861).
• Prices since then: those are 2024 averages; New Jersey homes paid 25.2¢ in July 2026 (EIA).
• Sun: about 4.07 kWh per square meter per day in Cherry Hill, a little more than North Jersey (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,190 kWh a year per kW of panels.
• Solar already installed: 52,216 home systems on ACE’s grid, about 10% of its homes, and 1,557 in Vineland (EIA-861, 2024).
• Top hazards: Camden and Gloucester are “very high” for winter weather; Burlington for ice storms, strong wind and winter weather (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
• Public charging: 62 public ports in Cherry Hill (AFDC, October 3, 2026).

Your utility and what it means

Your bill names the company. ACE and PSE&G own the wires, but their customers can buy the supply part of their power from a supplier licensed by the Board of Public Utilities, or stay on the utility’s regulated Basic Generation Service (NJ BPU, NJ Power Switch). About 7% of ACE homes used a supplier in 2024 (EIA). If you have solar, ask a supplier how it credits exports before switching.

• ACE: net metering follows the statewide rule: exports credited at the retail rate, with any yearly surplus paid at a lower wholesale rate. ACE’s Residential Make-Ready Rebate covers up to 50% of the wiring upgrade for a home Level 2 charger, up to $1,000, for a smart charger of at least 3.8 kW; you must share charging data, use a licensed electrician, and apply while funds last. The program runs to December 31, 2026 (ACE). ACE also offers a per-kWh credit for charging off-peak; check its EV page for the amount.
• PSE&G: same statewide net metering rule. Its state-approved EV charging program runs until its funds are used (NJ BPU, May 2026); we could not load PSE&G’s program pages, so check them for current amounts.
• Vineland: the city utility says net metering “may be available” for home systems, but that because of the high level of renewable energy already on its system, new systems may not be supported. You need its service agreement, and the city can change its tariffs. Ask Vineland Municipal Electric before you pay any deposit.
• Pemberton Borough: EIA lists no net metering there in 2024; ask the borough.

Backup power in South Jersey

South Jersey’s grid is fairly steady day to day: about 50 minutes a year without power on ACE and 39 on PSE&G, not counting big storms. Storm days more than double ACE’s figure, to about two hours. The risks FEMA rates highest inland are winter weather, ice storms in Burlington County and strong wind, so the outage to plan for is a cold one, with a furnace blower or a well pump to keep running. If your home draws water from a well, that pump needs power too. In July 2026 the Board of Public Utilities opened a review of how all utilities handled the early-July heat and storm outages statewide.

For short outages, a portable power station or a home battery covers lights, Wi-Fi, the fridge and a CPAP machine. For a well pump or a day-long ice storm, look at a generator on a transfer switch, or a battery charged by solar. Compare them in backup power, and size them with the battery backup calculator and the generator sizing tool. Run a portable generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors and windows, never in a garage (CPSC). A transfer switch or interlock must be installed by a licensed electrician, with a permit; see generator installation.

Solar in South Jersey

This is New Jersey’s best solar region on paper. The sun is about 4% stronger than in Newark, about 1,190 kWh a year per kW by our rough estimate, and ACE’s 2024 price was the highest of the state’s big utilities, so each kWh your panels make offsets more. One ACE home in ten had net-metered solar in 2024, more than double PSE&G’s share. In Cherry Hill and Mount Laurel, on PSE&G, the price is a little lower but the sun is the same. Check your roof with the solar potential tool and run the solar savings calculator with your current rate and a real quote. Read solar installation and how net metering works.

Vineland is the exception: its city utility warns that new systems may not be supported because so much renewable power is already connected. Get written approval from Vineland Municipal Electric before you sign.

Batteries in South Jersey

With retail-rate net metering on ACE and PSE&G, a battery is mainly for backup. It makes most sense for homes on a well, homes with medical equipment, and solar owners who want their panels to keep working in an outage (grid-tied panels shut off when the grid goes down unless a battery or backup inverter is installed). We found no utility battery rebate in South Jersey that we could confirm. Read home battery installation.

EV charging in South Jersey

Cherry Hill has 62 public charging ports (AFDC, October 3, 2026), and home charging is still the cheapest option. ACE customers have the clearest local offer: up to $1,000 toward the wiring for a smart Level 2 charger, through December 31, 2026, plus an off-peak charging credit. A Level 2 charger needs a 240 V circuit by a licensed electrician and a town permit. Estimate your cost with the EV charging calculator and read EV charger installation.

Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Cherry Hill: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.

Permits and inspections

• Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel and other towns: every New Jersey town enforces the state Uniform Construction Code through its own construction office, which issues building and electrical permits for solar, batteries, generators and chargers. Forms are on the NJ Division of Codes and Standards site.
• Vineland: Uniform Construction Code Enforcement, plus the city utility’s own renewable energy application.
• Utility: solar and batteries need interconnection approval from ACE, PSE&G or your city utility; installers usually file it.
• HOAs: if you live in a planned community, get the association’s approval in writing before you sign.

Cities we cover

• Cherry Hill
• Mount Laurel

Get help

Tell us about your project and we will connect you with a licensed, independent installer who serves the South Jersey area. It is free, there is no obligation, and only the installer you choose gets your details. Read how it works.

South Jersey energy FAQ

Is Cherry Hill on Atlantic City Electric or PSE&G?

PSE&G, as are Mount Laurel and Camden. Atlantic City Electric serves most of the rest of South Jersey, including Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties, and Vineland has its own city utility. Your bill shows which one you have.

Does Atlantic City Electric have an EV charger rebate?

Yes. ACE’s Residential Make-Ready Rebate pays up to 50% of the electrical upgrade for a smart Level 2 home charger, up to $1,000, first come, first served, through December 31, 2026 or until funds run out. You must use a licensed electrician and agree to share charging data.

Can I add solar in Vineland?

Maybe. Vineland Municipal Electric says net metering may be available but that, because of high renewable energy levels on its system, new systems may not be supported. Apply to the utility and get its approval in writing before you sign an installation contract.

Is solar worth more in South Jersey than in North Jersey?

Often a little. Cherry Hill gets about 4% more sun than Newark by NASA’s data, and ACE’s 2024 average price was higher than PSE&G’s or JCP&L’s. Your own roof, shade and current rate still decide the answer.

Sources

Utilities, 2024 prices, outages, supplier customers and solar counts: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 data for 2024. Service areas: HIFLD electric retail service territories. Atlantic City Electric Residential Make-Ready Rebate page; Vineland Municipal Electric Utility solar net metering page; City of Vineland construction office. NJ Board of Public Utilities: NJ Power Switch, EV program extension order (May 21, 2026) and July 15, 2026 release. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Charging: Alternative Fuels Data Center, October 3, 2026. Generator safety: CPSC. Read October 3, 2026.