MD NJ OH PA VA DC USA
Political Uncertainty Causes Class 1 Prices To Drop $4

New Jersey Class 1 prices dropped $4 in the past week. Class 1 RECs are mostly purchased from out-of-state wind farms in PJM by New Jersey Energy Energy Companies.
 
The prices dropped because of legislation proposed in the New Jersey Legislature S4300 https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S4300 and A5460 https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5460
 
Both of these bills were introduced by the legislators because the New Jersey BPU wants to eliminate payments to investors in New Jersey Solar that have already installed their panels. The BPU under Governor Murphy has in the past in both oral and written form has said that the panels are already installed and the money should be taken from the investors so that new solar can be installed at fixed payments. The aim is to lock in profits for solar investors at the expense of the ratepayers in New Jersey instead of using the competition of the market to determine prices. The introduction of these bills has created a chill in the energy investment community overnight. 
 
The view is that if the New Jersey BPU is willing to disenfranchise New Jersey homeowners, businesses and schools that installed solar the payments that go to out-of-state wind farms will most likely be the next target. 
 
New Jersey power prices have skyrocketed in the past year. Prices have risen mostly because back-up gas power plants that are needed to balance the grid during times of increased demand during extremely hot or cold days have been shut down by the Murphy backed BPU and Energy Master Plan of the last 8 years. The BPU is now scrambling to find money to keep installing new solar and has decided to eliminate SREC payments to New Jersey homeowners, businesses and schools who have already borrowed money to install solar panels. 

TAGS:
Press ReleasesSRECNJ Class 1

When is My New Jersey Solar Array Going to Stop Producing SRECs?

Solar installed in New Jersey prior to 2017 generate SRECs for 15 years. After that time they generate Class 1 RECs. SRECs are worth $200 or more. Class 1 RECs trade for $30 today and go only as high as $50.

 

It is confusing as to when your system is going to convert from SRECs to Class 1 RECs. Here is what you need to do to figure this out.

  1. Look up your initial online date for your solar facility on GATS. This is listed under the facility and it is also on each SREC as “Vintage (Utility Interconnection Date), ex. 05/2009.
  2. New Jersey law says that a solar array generates SRECs for 15 full energy years. This means that you get SRECs for up to 15 years and eleven months, depending on what month your array went online.
  3. Energy years start in June and end in May.

 

Here is a Key:

 

If your array went online from June 2008 and up to and including May 2009 the last SREC you will mint is May 2024. Your first Class 1 REC will be your June 2024 generation.

 

If your array went online from June 2009 and up to and including May 2010 the last SREC you will mint is May 2025. Your first Class 1 REC will be your June 2025 generation.

 

And so on…

 

When you produce Class 1 RECs you sell them the same way on Flett Exchange. You can either check the price on the Flett Exchange website https://www.flettexchange.com/ and transfer them on GATS to Flett Exchange, LLC or you can list them for sale on the Flett Exchange trading platform and transfer them on GATs to Flett Exchange,LLC. when you are filled. 

 

Since Class 1 RECs are lower priced we suggest to wait 6 months to a year to sell them in bulk. Class 1 RECs are only good for 3 energy years so do not wait too long or they will go worthless. SRECs are good for up to 5 energy years. 

 

It is very important to enter your meter readings within 30 days after your system gets converted to a class 1 facility. If you do not put in your meter readings within 30 days all of the months that you deserve to earn SRECs will be created as Class 1 recs. You may lose thousands of dollars!!!

(As of this writing we believe GATS is fixing this issue but we cannot confirm. Best practice is to make sure the meter reading is entered in a timely fashion.)

 

GATS will send you an email that says the following:

 

“Your solar electric generation facility's NJ SREC eligibility period will reach the end of its qualification life within Energy Year ("EY") 2021 which ends on May 31, 202X. All generation should be entered prior to the last business day in June. Facility eligibility will be changed from Solar (SREC) to Class I (REC) on July 1, 202X. “

 

Flett Exchange is the largest exchange for New Jersey Solar Class 1 RECs. Many energy companies compete to purchase SRECs and Class 1 RECs on our exchange which ensures you get the going market price. 

 

Edit: Updated GATS terminology.

 

TAGS:
New JerseySRECResearchSolarNJ Class 1

New Jersey Class 1 REC Eligibility for New Jersey Solar Facilities

All RECs registered in GATS from solar and wind facilities in PJM installed after January 1, 2003 can be used for New Jersey Class 1 compliance. Also, New Jersey Solar facilities that have outlived their SREC qualification of 15 years (or 10 years if the SRP registration for the solar project was filed on or before October 29, 2018) qualify as Class 1 RECs. These can be purchased by energy companies to satisfy their class 1 compliance. The life of the Class 1 rec is three energy years. Energy years run June to May. Compliance is done in the fall of each year.

How do I sell my Class 1 RECs?

If your New Jersey solar facility no longer qualifies for SRECs you can sell them as Class 1 RECs on Flett Exchange. It is the same process as you did with your SRECs except you sell them on the Class 1 market of Flett Exchange. If you have an account with Flett Exchange you can transfer them on GATS to the Flett Exchange account. Enter the Class 1 sell-now price published on the www.flettexchange.com homepage. We will process the trade, email you a confirmation and issue payment the next day. 

New Jersey Class 1 REC Value

The range for Class 1 RECs in New Jersey is $0 to $50. $50 is the Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP), or fine, that energy companies in New Jersey have to pay if they do not procure enough Class 1 RECs. The value for Class 1 RECs is $30 at the beginning of 2024 and is expected to move up to the $40 to $45 levels during the 2025 to 2030 timeframe. This rise is expected because New Jersey law requires energy companies to either produce more renewable energy or buy more Class 1 RECs in the coming years. 

TAGS:
New JerseyPress ReleasesSRECResearchSolarNJ Class 1