Considering plug-in solar at home? How to know if it's legal in your state - and actually worth it

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Plug-in solar systems, also known as balcony solar, have risen in popularity among sustainability enthusiasts in recent years. However, the practice isn't yet legal in all of the United States. If you've been thinking about joining the plug-in solar bandwagon, here's what you should know.

Plug-in solar systems are easy, plug-and-play solar panels that include an inverter and small battery. The system connects to a home's standard 120-volt outlet and automatically flows the electricity from the battery to the nearest running appliance. These systems are small and portable, and aren't meant to replace grid electricity or dependency on utility companies.

Instead, they generate anywhere between 200W and 1,800W, but are an easy solution to reduce energy costs with an affordable investment. "Historically, solar adoption has been tied to homeownership, but that's not a reflection of today's housing realities," Solar Energy Expert from Wolf River Electric, Justin Nielsen, commented on the matter. "More than a third of Americans rent, and that number is even higher in urban areas where sustainability is most urgent.

If we're serious about transitioning to renewable energy, we need scalable solutions that work for everyone, not just those with rooftops." In the US, plug-in solar systems are only legal in the state of Utah. HB 340 legalized plug-in solar systems of up to 1,200W that can plug in directly to a standard outlet. The law in Utah doesn't require traditional utility interconnection agreements, enabling users to enjoy a truly plug-and-play system.

Across the world, there are multiple countries that have not only legalized plug-in solar but have popularized it, like Germany. After Utah legalized plug-in solar in 2025, as many as 30 states have introduced bills to do the same. Several of these states are close to passing plug-in solar laws, including Virginia, which has already signed it into law, which will be effective on July 1, 2026.

States like Colorado and Maine approved legislation in 2026, and others, like California, New York, Vermont, Hawaii, and Maryland, have active bills currently. "These units are small and mobile enough that millions of Californians can use them to save on affordable clean energy where rooftop systems aren't appropriate," San Francisco Senator Scott Wiener said when the Senate voted to pass the Plug And Play Solar Act SB 868 this week. "The cost of electricity has risen to absurd levels, and plug-in solar is an easy way families can lower costs." A typical plug-in solar system like the one with two 410W panels will harness between 3 and 5kWh daily, or 90-150kWh monthly.