NJ S618

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) must adopt interconnection standards for Class I renewable energy systems (solar, wind, fuel cells, geothermal, small hydropower, landfill methane) within 18 months, conforming to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council's 2019 Model Interconnection Procedures

BPU must establish fixed "grid modernization fees" paid by renewable energy project owners to utilities for interconnection costs, assessed per kilowatt and potentially tiered by project size or energy type

Residential net-metered systems of 10 kilowatts or less are capped at $50 per kilowatt in grid modernization fees for the first three years

Electric utilities may recover interconnection costs exceeding collected fees from ratepayers through base rates or surcharges, subject to BPU approval, and may recover necessary infrastructure upgrade costs if demonstrated at rate case proceedings

BPU must establish maximum interconnection cost thresholds, create enforceable timelines with penalties for non-compliant utilities, and submit a report within 12 months of adoption analyzing economic impacts and progress toward Global Warming Response Act goals