Independent reference site. Not a government website and not affiliated with any legislature or utility.Laws checked October 14, 2026
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Plug-in and balcony solar · 50 states and DC

Plug-in solar: is it legal where you live, what it saves, which kit fits

Plug-in solar rules depend on your state, and savings depend on your location and how much solar electricity you use at home. Enter your ZIP code to see your state’s status and the calculator’s yearly kWh and dollar estimate for an 800 W kit mounted vertically, facing south.

Try:

A ZIP code uses only its first three digits. The answer: the law in your state and a typical year for an 800 W kit.

California: Signed

SB 868 was signed on September 30, 2026 and takes effect on January 1, 2027.

  1. Introduced
  2. Passed legislature
  3. SignedSep 30, 2026
  4. In effectJan 1, 2027
811 kWha typical year, 800 W kit, ZIP 933xx
$157saved per year at 33.25¢/kWh
1,200 W ACsize limit in the law

Example: ZIP codes 933xx, near California's population center. Search for your state or ZIP code, or pick a state on the map.

Full page for California →Open the calculator

Status checked Oct 14, 2026. Sources: the legislature's site and the Bright Saver tracker, listed on the state page.

MEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHIAKTXFL

Each tile shows its status by colour and by icon. Status of all 50 states and DC on October 14, 2026, from the legislatures' sites and the Bright Saver tracker; each state page lists its sources.

Signed laws that start next

  1. California · signed1,200 W
  2. New Hampshire · signed1,200 W
  3. Virginia · signed1,200 W
  4. New Jersey · signed1,200 W

State-by-state tracker

Signed laws and bills awaiting a signature, sorted by the date they take effect. Rate: EIA average residential price, January–July 2026.

Map and table of all states
  1. UtahUT · status checked Oct 14, 2026In effect
    1. Introduced: done
    2. Passed legislature: done
    3. Signed: done
    4. In effect: done
    HB 340signed Mar 25, 2025Takes effect May 7, 2025Size limit 1,200 WAverage rate 13.16¢
  2. MarylandMD · status checked Oct 14, 2026In effect
    1. Introduced: done
    2. Passed legislature: done
    3. Signed: done
    4. In effect: done
    HB 1532signed May 12, 2026Takes effect Jul 1, 2026Size limit 1,200 WAverage rate 21.30¢
  3. VermontVT · status checked Oct 14, 2026In effect
    1. Introduced: done
    2. Passed legislature: done
    3. Signed: done
    4. In effect: done
    S 202signed Jun 16, 2026Takes effect Jul 1, 2026Size limit 1,200 W ACAverage rate 23.95¢
  4. MaineME · status checked Oct 14, 2026In effect
    1. Introduced: done
    2. Passed legislature: done
    3. Signed: done
    4. In effect: done
    LD 1730signed Apr 6, 2026Takes effect Jul 29, 2026Size limit 420 W AC; up to 1,200 W under conditionsAverage rate 29.99¢
  5. ColoradoCO · status checked Oct 14, 2026In effect
    1. Introduced: done
    2. Passed legislature: done
    3. Signed: done
    4. In effect: done
    HB26-1007signed May 7, 2026Takes effect Aug 12, 2026Size limit 1,920 WAverage rate 16.72¢
  6. ConnecticutCT · status checked Oct 14, 2026In effect
    1. Introduced: done
    2. Passed legislature: done
    3. Signed: done
    4. In effect: done
    HB 5340signed Jun 4, 2026Takes effect Oct 1, 2026Size limit 1,200 WAverage rate 27.97¢
  7. CaliforniaCA · status checked Oct 14, 2026Signed
    1. Introduced: done
    2. Passed legislature: done
    3. Signed: done
    4. In effect: current step
    SB 868signed Sep 30, 2026Takes effect Jan 1, 2027Size limit 1,200 W ACAverage rate 33.25¢
  8. New HampshireNH · status checked Oct 14, 2026Signed
    1. Introduced: done
    2. Passed legislature: done
    3. Signed: done
    4. In effect: current step
    SB 540signed Jul 2, 2026Takes effect Jan 1, 2027Size limit 1,200 W ACAverage rate 26.79¢
  9. VirginiaVA · status checked Oct 14, 2026Signed
    1. Introduced: done
    2. Passed legislature: done
    3. Signed: done
    4. In effect: current step
    HB 395 / SB 250signed Apr 22, 2026Takes effect Jan 1, 2027Size limit 1,200 WAverage rate 16.83¢
  10. New JerseyNJ · status checked Oct 14, 2026Signed
    1. Introduced: done
    2. Passed legislature: done
    3. Signed: done
    4. In effect: current step
    S 2368signed Sep 1, 2026Takes effect Mar 1, 2027Size limit 1,200 WAverage rate 23.98¢
  11. New YorkNY · status checked Oct 14, 2026Awaiting signature
    1. Introduced: done
    2. Passed legislature: done
    3. Signed: current step
    4. In effect: not yet
    S 8512A / A 9111Cnot signedTakes effect —Size limit 1,200 W ACAverage rate 29.38¢

Bill in progress · 6

Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C.

Back in 2027 · 18

Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Washington, Wyoming

No bill · 16

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin

What the signed laws set, and how a kit works

Four limits that every state page answers, and the three steps between the panel and your fridge.

1,200 W
The size limit in 8 of the 10 signed laws; Colorado's is 1,920 W and Maine's is 420 W, or up to 1,200 W under conditions. Some laws say AC (inverter output), some do not say.
UL 3700
Named in the law in Maine, New Jersey and Vermont. 7 other signed laws name a different standard or a testing lab.
Utility
notice required in Maryland and Virginia; notice required above 420 W in Maine; the utility may ask you to register in California and Colorado.
Renters
The law protects renters in Colorado and New Jersey. In Vermont, the landlord may set reasonable restrictions after the tenant's notice. Each state page says what its text covers.

  1. Mount

    The panels hang on a railing or wall, or stand on a deck or in the yard. Angle and direction change the yearly kWh; the calculator shows by how much.

  2. Plug in

    A microinverter turns the panels' DC into AC and feeds it through an outlet. Signed state laws set a size limit in watts.

  3. Use it first

    Devices running at the time, like the fridge or router, use solar power before they draw from the grid. What they do not use flows out to the grid.

What is plug-in solar?

Plug-in solar combines solar panels with a microinverter that feeds electricity into your home through a standard household outlet. Also called balcony solar or plug-and-play solar, it reduces the electricity you draw from the grid while producing power.

Bright Saver describes panels placed on a balcony rail, wall, fence, or the ground where there is good sun. A kit’s panel wattage and inverter AC output are different specifications; compare both with your state’s limit.

How does the electricity get used?

Your home uses the solar electricity first, with the grid supplying the rest. Bright Saver describes the microinverter converting panel output to AC power that enters the home’s electrical circuit through the outlet.

Extra electricity can flow to the grid rather than reduce your bill through home use. Grid connection does not establish backup capability: the EcoFlow STREAM kit with 800 W of panels and the Mango Power S kit both specify no outage outlet.

What do state laws limit?

State laws differ on size limits, certification, and protection from landlord or HOA restrictions. California’s signed law sets a 1,200 W AC limit and takes effect on January 1, 2027; Utah’s law is in effect, but does not say whether its 1,200 W limit is AC or DC output.

Vermont’s law requires UL 3700 or an equivalent certification, and the laws in Colorado and New Jersey limit how far a landlord can prohibit plug-in solar. The map separates laws in effect from later effective dates and pending legislation; utility notice rules differ by state, so check the state page before connecting.

For UK readers, plug-in solar rules have been in force since August 27, 2026. See the separate UK rules and kit information.

Where should you start?

Start with your state’s rules, then estimate production before comparing kits. The ZIP result is a starting point; the full calculator lets you compare orientation and size scenarios.

Use the kit cards to compare price with its check date, inverter AC output, and UL 3700 status. A seller’s certification claim is not the same as a verified listing.

  • Read your state’s status and restrictions in the legal guide.
  • Compare yearly production and home-use savings in the full calculator.
  • Check specifications, dated prices, and certification information in the kit comparison.

Kits with dated prices

The lowest price per watt first. Prices from the official stores with the date checked; UL 3700 shown as listed only with a UL listing.

All 14 kits
Plug-in solar kits with price, price per watt and certification
KitPanelsInverter limitBatteryUL 3700PricePer wattWhere to buy
EcoFlow STREAM Microinverter + 2 × 400 W rigid panels 800 W (2 × rigid) 1,200 W None UL 3700 status unknownchecked Oct 14, 2026 $1,099checked Oct 14, 2026sold out that day $1.37 Official site
Bright Saver Balcony Solar Kit 180 W (one panel) 180 W (1 × flexible) 360 W None Maker says it meets UL 3700; no UL listing foundchecked Oct 14, 2026 $285.30checked Oct 14, 2026member price; needs a paid membership $1.59 Official site
Craftstrom 1200 Watt Eco-Line Plug&Play Solar 1,200 W 1,200 W None Maker says it meets UL 3700; no UL listing foundchecked Oct 14, 2026 $2,250checked Oct 14, 2026 $1.88 Official site
Craftstrom 1600 Watt Eco-Line Plug&Play Solar 1,600 W 1,600 W None Maker says it meets UL 3700; no UL listing foundchecked Oct 14, 2026 $3,000checked Oct 14, 2026 $1.88 Official site
Craftstrom 800 Watt Eco-Line Plug&Play Solar 800 W 800 W None Maker says it meets UL 3700; no UL listing foundchecked Oct 14, 2026 $1,500checked Oct 14, 2026 $1.88 Official site

All 14 kits, with filters by state, battery and budget

Plug-in solar in the UK

Rules, the calculator, kits and the ENA register, written for Great Britain with UK prices.

en-GB · UK section

One national rule for Great Britain

Rules in force in Great Britain since August 27, 2026 under SI 2026/848: kits up to 800 W of inverter output plug into a normal socket. An 800 W kit on a south-facing wall in London makes about 596 kWh a year.

UK rules, kits and calculator
Rules
SI 2026/848
Limit
800 W AC
800 W kit, SW postcodes
596 kWh/yr
Saved per year, at the cap
£99
Sent to the grid
219 kWh, unpaid
Ofgem cap, unit rate
26.32p/kWh

Guides

Each guide answers one question and shows the numbers it rests on.

All guides

Brands reviewed

What each store sells, prices with dates, certification and where each kit fits the law.

All reviews

Frequently asked questions

Are plug-in solar panels legal in the US?

There is no single state-law answer for every address. Check the map’s status and your state’s details; a pending bill or signed law with a later effective date is not a law already in effect.

How much does balcony solar save?

For the California example, the calculator gives 811 kWh in a typical year and $157 in annual home-use savings for an 800 W vertical, south-facing kit. That calculation uses 33.25 cents/kWh and pays nothing for exports; it is not an estimate for every ZIP code.

Do plug-in solar kits need a battery?

Not every kit includes a battery: the EcoFlow STREAM panel kits and the Zendure SolarFlow battery kit have different equipment. Compare your estimated home use and grid exports before choosing a battery-equipped system.

Can renters use balcony solar?

The laws in Colorado and New Jersey limit how far a landlord can prohibit plug-in solar, and Vermont lets a landlord set reasonable restrictions after a tenant’s notice; other signed laws do not protect renters from a lease ban. Check your lease, and do not assume that another state’s rule applies to your apartment.

How can I check a kit’s safety information?

Check the certification information rather than treating all named standards as interchangeable. EcoFlow’s seller names UL 1741, but its UL 3700 status is not published; the how-it-works guide explains the equipment.