Overview
- Utah enacted the first state exemption allowing plug-in solar systems of 1.2 kW or less to operate without a utility interconnection agreement.
- Lawmakers in New York and Pennsylvania have filed bills to authorize similar plug-in setups, with proponents forecasting more state proposals in 2026.
- Supporters, including New York state senator Liz Krueger, say the approach can expand affordable solar access for renters and low-income households excluded from rooftop programs.
- These small systems feed power through an inverter into a standard wall socket and can cover basic appliance use for smaller households, but they do not meet larger home or EV charging needs.
- Advocates note utility pushback to distributed generation and describe a hostile federal stance toward some clean-energy projects as factors that will influence uptake.