Plug-In Solar Laws in 2026: Every State That Passed One (and What's Next)

At the start of 2026, exactly one US state had a law allowing people to plug solar panels into a wall outlet. By October, there were ten — including California, the largest electricity market in the country. Thirty-five states debated the idea in a single legislative season.

Few energy policies have spread this fast, and fewer still with bipartisan votes. Here is what happened, what the laws have in common, where they differ, and what to watch next.

The ten states with plug-in solar laws#

Dates are drawn from legislative records and contemporaneous reporting; see each state's page in our tracker for sources and updates.

Utah wrote the template#

Utah's HB 340, passed unanimously in 2025, defined a new legal category: the portable solar generation device. Almost every law since copies its core elements:

• A size cap of 1,200 watts of AC output, plugged into a standard 120-volt outlet.
• Certification by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized lab, plus compliance with the National Electrical Code.
• Anti-islanding protection: the device must not energize the building when the grid is down.
• No interconnection agreement: no application, approval or fee from the utility.
• No net metering: the utility doesn't have to credit power the device exports.
• Liability: the utility isn't liable for damage caused by the customer's device.

This package is simple enough for a legislator to understand in one page, and it answers utilities' two main objections — line-worker safety and lost net-metering revenue.

The outliers#

Colorado: the highest cap#

Colorado's HB26-1007 allows up to 1,920 W per customer, 60% more than the standard. The figure corresponds to the continuous-load limit of a 20-amp, 120-volt circuit. The law also voids HOA rules that would block a plug-in installation and prevents landlords from unreasonably restricting one.

New Jersey: the strongest renter protections#

The Garden State Balcony Solar Act goes furthest on access. Landlords and homeowners associations cannot ban qualifying units, and municipalities cannot require permits, licenses or fees. It passed both chambers unanimously.

California: a sunset clause#

California's SB 868 is the most important law by market size — 39 million residents and the second-highest electricity prices in the country. It bars utilities from charging fees or requiring permission. But a late amendment added a sunset in 2030, so the Legislature will have to renew it.

Maine and Maryland: tiers for small systems#

Maine's law reportedly lets very small systems (around one panel) be connected without an electrician while requiring one for larger systems. Maryland's reportedly exempts very small systems from the UL certification requirement. Both reflect attempts to balance simplicity with safety in older housing.

Why 2026?#

Three forces converged.

Electricity prices. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts the average residential price at about 18¢/kWh in 2026, up from 17.3¢ in 2025, after years of increases faster than inflation. In New England and California, prices exceed 24–33¢. Our guide on why electric bills are so high explains the drivers, including record demand from data centers.

A proven model abroad. Germany has more than 2 GW of balcony solar installed and finalized a dedicated product standard in December 2025. American legislators could point to millions of systems operating safely.

A safety standard at home. UL Solutions launched UL 3700, the first US standard written specifically for plug-in solar, in early 2026 — giving lawmakers and utilities a technical benchmark. See UL 3700 explained.

Add a bipartisan pitch — lower bills, no subsidies, more consumer choice — and nonprofits like Bright Saver organizing support across states, and the result was a national wave.

The bills that are still alive#

• New York — SUNNY Act (S8512C / A9111C): passed both chambers on May 29, 2026; awaiting Governor Hochul, who must act by the end of the year. Details.
• Massachusetts — H5175 / S3143: both chambers passed versions; a conference committee is reconciling them as part of an energy-affordability package.
• Pennsylvania (HB 1971), Ohio (HB 755), Michigan (HB 5764), North Carolina (HB 1129 / SB 957) and Washington, DC (B26-0602): introduced and in committee at last report.

The bills that died#

Utility opposition and crowded calendars killed or stalled bills in a number of states:

• Defeated: Washington (HB 2296, plug-in language stripped), Oregon (HB 4080), New Mexico (SB 157), Wyoming and Georgia (HB 1304, held amid utility opposition).
• Stalled: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma and Rhode Island, plus Delaware and South Carolina. Oklahoma came closest, with HB 4060 passing the House 88–4 before stalling in the Senate.
• No bill yet: sixteen states, including Texas and Florida.

Most stalled bills are expected to return in 2027.

What to watch in 2027#

1. New York's decision. A signature would bring plug-in solar to New York City's millions of renters.
2. Implementation. Utilities and regulators will write rules on notification, meter compatibility and certification in the 2027 effective-date states. Watch California's utilities closely.
3. Certified products. UL 3700-listed systems were scarce in 2026. More listings will make compliance easy and push prices down.
4. A second wave of states. Expect reintroductions in the dozen stalled states, with Oklahoma, Illinois and Minnesota among the most likely to move.
5. Insurance and landlord practice. As systems spread, expect insurers and property managers to publish standard rules.

We update the tracker whenever a state acts.