One of the most common concerns New Jersey and New York homeowners have before going solar is whether the panels actually produce power when it is cloudy or cold outside. The short answer: yes, solar panels work on cloudy days and throughout the winter. They produce less than on a clear summer afternoon, but they do not stop working. In Monsey, Bergen County, Ocean County, and across the PSE&G, R&O and JCP&L service territories, NJ homeowners generate meaningful solar electricity year-round.
As of February 26, 2026: NJ solar performance data confirms year-round production. The federal 30% residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) has been repealed, but NJ state incentives and net metering remain active.
Official sources (last checked: February 26, 2026):
Yes, solar panels produce electricity on cloudy days. On a light overcast day, panels typically generate 20% to 30% of their rated output. On a heavily overcast day, production drops to roughly 10% to 15%. The panels respond to ambient light, not just direct sunshine, so even diffuse light passing through clouds generates a measurable amount of electricity.
This matters because New Jersey averages about 100 to 120 fully or partly cloudy days per year. If panels produced nothing on those days, solar would be impractical here. But because panels still generate power under clouds, NJ consistently ranks as one of the top states for residential solar installations despite not being the sunniest state in the country.
Modern monocrystalline panels (the standard for residential installations in 2026) are better at capturing diffuse light than older polycrystalline panels. If you are comparing quotes, panels with higher efficiency ratings tend to perform relatively better under cloudy conditions.
Claim: Solar panels on a cloudy day in NJ can still produce enough electricity to run a refrigerator, router, and basic lighting.
Evidence: A typical 8 kW residential system producing at 15% capacity on an overcast day generates about 1.2 kW at any given moment. A refrigerator uses approximately 150 W, a router about 10 W, and LED lighting for several rooms totals around 100 W — roughly 260 W combined. At 1,200 W of cloudy-day output, the system covers those loads nearly five times over.
Solar panels in NJ generate roughly 40% to 60% less electricity in December and January compared to June and July. The main reasons are shorter daylight hours (about 9.5 hours in December vs. 15 hours in June) and a lower sun angle that reduces the intensity of light hitting the panels.
Here is a realistic monthly production breakdown for a typical 8 kW system in central New Jersey:
| Month | Estimated Production (kWh) | Relative to Peak |
|---|---|---|
| January | 550–650 | ~50% |
| February | 600–700 | ~55% |
| March | 800–900 | ~75% |
| April | 950–1,050 | ~85% |
| May | 1,050–1,150 | ~95% |
| June | 1,100–1,200 | 100% |
| July | 1,100–1,200 | 100% |
| August | 1,000–1,100 | ~90% |
| September | 850–950 | ~80% |
| October | 700–800 | ~65% |
| November | 550–650 | ~50% |
| December | 475–575 | ~45% |
These estimates are based on NREL PVWatts data for central NJ locations. Your actual numbers will vary based on roof orientation, tilt, and local shading.
Claim: Winter solar production in NJ is lower but still covers a meaningful portion of typical household electricity use.
Evidence: The average NJ household uses about 700 to 900 kWh per month. An 8 kW system producing 550 to 650 kWh in January covers 60% to 90% of that usage. Combined with net metering credits banked from summer, most solar homeowners maintain low or zero electric bills even in the coldest months.
Cold temperatures improve the electrical efficiency of solar cells. Solar panels are rated at Standard Test Conditions (STC) of 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). When the cell temperature drops below that, voltage output increases, which means more electricity per unit of sunlight. On a clear, cold winter day in NJ, your panels can briefly exceed their rated efficiency.
The reason is physics: solar cells are semiconductors, and their electrical resistance decreases in cooler temperatures. Most panels have a temperature coefficient of roughly -0.3% to -0.4% per degree Celsius. That means for every degree below 25 C, output increases by about 0.3% to 0.4%. On a 0 C (32 F) winter day, that is a roughly 7% to 10% efficiency boost compared to STC rating.
This is why some of the highest single-day production readings in NJ happen in March and October — cool temperatures combined with decent sun hours and clear skies create ideal conditions.
Claim: A clear 35 F day in NJ can produce more solar electricity per hour than a hazy 95 F day in July.
Evidence: At 95 F (35 C), panels operate 10 C above STC, losing roughly 3% to 4% efficiency. At 35 F (2 C), panels operate 23 C below STC, gaining roughly 7% to 9% efficiency. If both days have similar irradiance levels (clear sky), the winter hour produces more electricity per hour of sunshine. Summer still wins on total daily production because of longer daylight hours, but the per-hour efficiency advantage in winter is real.
Snow reduces solar panel output only while it covers the panel surface. A heavy blanket of snow blocks most light and drops production to near zero temporarily. However, panels mounted at the typical NJ residential tilt of 25 to 35 degrees shed snow relatively quickly because the dark glass surface warms up even under snow cover, and gravity pulls the snow downward.
In most cases, no. Snow typically slides off within a few hours to a day after a storm stops. Attempting to clear snow from rooftop panels introduces safety risks (ladder use, roof edges, panel damage from tools) that outweigh the small amount of lost production. If you have a ground-mounted system that is safely accessible, gently brushing off snow with a soft foam roof rake is fine.
In an average NJ winter, snow-related production loss totals roughly 2% to 5% of annual output. NJ typically gets 20 to 30 inches of snow per year, and most storms are followed by temperatures above freezing within a day or two. The panels are dark-colored and mounted at an angle, which accelerates melting and sliding.
Claim: Snow accounts for less than 5% of annual production loss for most NJ solar systems.
Evidence: NREL research on mid-Atlantic solar installations indicates snow-related losses average 2% to 5% of annual output for tilted residential rooftop systems. NJ's moderate snowfall (20 to 30 inches annually) and frequent above-freezing days between storms mean snow rarely stays on panels for more than 24 to 48 hours at a time. Over a full year, the cumulative lost production is minor compared to seasonal daylight variation.
Yes, NJ net metering is specifically designed to smooth out seasonal production differences. During spring and summer, when your system produces more electricity than you use, the excess is credited to your account at the full retail rate. You draw down those credits during fall and winter when production is lower and heating-related electricity use may be higher.
This means you do not need your system to produce enough electricity every single day to cover your usage. You need it to produce enough over the full year. NJ's net metering annualization period (typically 12 months) gives you the full cycle to balance summer surpluses against winter deficits.
For homeowners with a properly sized system, the result is often a near-zero annual electricity bill — even though individual winter months show a net draw from the grid.
Claim: A properly sized NJ solar system with net metering can achieve near-zero annual electricity costs despite producing 40% to 60% less in winter months.
Evidence: An 8 kW system in central NJ produces roughly 9,600 to 10,400 kWh per year. The average NJ household uses about 8,400 to 10,800 kWh per year. If the system is sized to match annual consumption, summer overproduction credits (May through September) offset winter underproduction (November through February). Net metering at the full retail rate makes each banked kWh worth the same as a consumed kWh, so the annual balance comes out near zero.
A typical residential solar panel system in NJ produces roughly 1,100 to 1,300 kWh per installed kW per year. An 8 kW system generates approximately 8,800 to 10,400 kWh annually. That is enough to cover most or all of an average NJ household's electricity consumption.
NJ receives about 4.2 to 4.7 peak sun hours per day on an annual average basis. While that is less than Arizona (about 6.5 peak sun hours) or Florida (about 5.5), it is more than enough for solar to be financially worthwhile — especially when combined with NJ's above-average electricity rates and state incentives.
For context, NJ consistently ranks in the top 10 states for installed residential solar capacity. The state's combination of decent sun, high electricity costs, strong net metering, and SREC income makes it one of the better solar markets in the country despite its northeastern location.
Claim: NJ solar systems produce enough electricity annually to rank the state among the top 10 for residential solar despite being a northeastern state.
Evidence: According to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, NJ has consistently ranked in the top 10 states for cumulative residential solar installations. This is driven by the combination of 4.2 to 4.7 peak sun hours per day (adequate for cost-effective solar), residential electricity rates above the national average, and strong state incentives including SRECs and net metering. Solar viability depends on the full economic picture, not sun hours alone.
No, oversizing your system specifically to compensate for winter is usually not cost-effective in NJ. Net metering already handles the seasonal imbalance by letting you bank summer credits. Oversizing beyond your annual consumption means you produce excess electricity that gets compensated at the lower avoided-cost rate after annualization, not the full retail rate.
The best approach is to size your system to match 90% to 100% of your annual electricity consumption. This maximizes the value of every kWh produced while avoiding waste. If you expect your usage to increase (for example, adding an electric vehicle or heat pump), you can factor that future load into your system sizing.
Claim: Oversizing a solar system by more than 10% above annual consumption wastes money for most NJ homeowners.
Evidence: Under NJ net metering rules, excess credits remaining after the 12-month annualization period are compensated at the avoided-cost rate, which is significantly lower than the retail rate. If you oversize by 20% and export 2,000 kWh beyond your annual use, those kWh might be compensated at $0.04 to $0.06/kWh instead of the $0.16 to $0.20/kWh retail rate. The additional panels needed to produce that surplus cost more than the credits are worth.
Yes. Solar panels produce electricity in rain and fog, though at reduced levels. Heavy rain with thick clouds might drop output to 5% to 10% of rated capacity. Light rain with thin clouds can still yield 15% to 25%. Rain also has a minor benefit: it washes dust and pollen off the panel surface, which can slightly improve production once skies clear.
Winter months (December and January) produce roughly 40% to 55% less than peak summer months (June and July) in NJ. The main drivers are shorter daylight hours and a lower sun angle. However, the shoulder months (March, April, September, October) are surprisingly productive, often reaching 65% to 85% of summer peak levels.
Generally no. Snow slides off angled rooftop panels within hours to a day in most NJ storms. Climbing onto your roof to clear snow risks injury and potential panel damage. The small amount of production lost during snow cover (2% to 5% annually) is not worth the safety risk. Ground-mounted systems can be gently brushed with a soft foam rake if safely accessible.
No. Cloudy days still produce 10% to 30% of rated panel output. Even on the most overcast days, ambient diffuse light reaches the panels and generates electricity. Only complete darkness (nighttime) results in zero production. Over the course of a year, cloudy-day production adds up to a meaningful portion of your total generation.
No. NJ is one of the top 10 states for residential solar installations. The state receives 4.2 to 4.7 peak sun hours per day on an annual average, which is adequate for cost-effective solar. NJ's higher-than-average electricity rates, strong net metering program, and SREC income compensate for having fewer sun hours than sunbelt states. Most NJ homeowners recoup their solar investment within 7 to 11 years.
Claim: NJ's latitude does not prevent solar from being a strong financial investment for homeowners.
Evidence: Germany, located at a higher latitude than NJ with fewer annual sun hours, was the world's largest solar market for over a decade. Solar economics depend on the combined effect of sun hours, electricity rates, incentives, and net metering — not sun hours alone. NJ's high electricity rates and active incentive programs make solar payback competitive with sunbelt states that have lower electricity costs.
Your solar production depends on your specific roof, orientation, shading, and local weather patterns. Generic estimates only go so far. Powerlutions provides site-specific solar assessments for NJ homeowners that include month-by-month production projections based on your actual roof data. Find out exactly how much power your panels will generate — in summer, winter, and every season in between. Contact Powerlutions for a free evaluation today.
Claim: A site-specific solar assessment provides production estimates that are significantly more accurate than generic online tools for NJ homes.
Evidence: Generic calculators use regional averages that do not account for your roof's exact pitch, azimuth, nearby tree shading, or local microclimate. A professional site assessment uses satellite imagery, shade analysis, and your actual utility data to model production. This typically produces estimates within 5% to 10% of actual first-year production, versus 15% to 25% variance from generic tools.
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