Committee hears S.202 to allow plug‑in ‘balcony’ solar; bill would cap exports and exempt small systems from full interconnection

At a Natural Resources & Energy committee meeting, members reviewed S.202, a bill to permit portable plug‑in solar devices that can be connected to a building outlet and generate power for on‑site use while limiting exports to the grid.

Legislative counsel summarized the bill’s core definition, saying the measure would add a new definition of “portable solar energy generation device” and set “a maximum power output to the electric grid of not more than 1,200 watts.” Counsel said the bill would exempt such devices from the larger 248 certificate‑of‑public‑good process for generation facilities when used for on‑site consumption, but noted that devices that put power onto the grid typically require an interconnection agreement between the customer and the electric distribution utility.

Why it matters: Committee members and witnesses framed S.202 as a means to expand access to clean energy for renters, students and households that cannot install rooftop systems while attempting to avoid grid‑safety risks. Proponents said enabling legislation can sharply lower consumer costs by removing large “soft costs” such as permitting and professional installation.

BrightSaver co‑founder Cora Streicher, who testified as a technical and policy witness, said enabling laws like Utah’s have cut consumer costs roughly in half and allowed self‑installation in practice. “This is entirely consumer driven because it really lowers the cost for the consumer to the cost of the components,” Streicher said, summarizing the organization’s pilot experience and national white paper.

The bill’s provisions described to the committee include: a definition of plug‑in devices; a prohibition on requiring an applicant to obtain the 248 CPG for small, on‑site devices; a statement that an electric distribution company may ask customers to submit a simple notification form after installation; a prohibition on requiring utilities to charge fees, require prior approval, or install equipment beyond what is integrated in the device; and a statement that devices would not be eligible for net metering. Legislative counsel told members the Public Utility Commission, in consultation with the Division of Fire Safety and the electric distribution companies, must develop a notification form before 09/10/2026 that at minimum includes the customer name, contact information, installation address, the customer’s utility and meter number.

On safety and technical standards, Streicher addressed backfeed and line‑worker protection. She described two related technical thresholds: an upper definition cap for a portable device (1,200 watts of potential export to the grid) and a separate installation‑safety threshold tied to newly released UL guidance. Streicher noted the new UL 3700 guidance has a conservative starting point and observed that under the draft UL framing a certified system would likely require professional installation. “If there was a UL 3,700 certified plug‑in solar system, it must be installed by a professional,” she said; to preserve self‑installation for very small units, she recommended adding statutory language exempting systems under about 391 watts from requirements that compel permanent electrical alterations.

Committee members pressed for clarification on several technical points: whether the 1,200‑watt cap referred to DC or AC output, how multiple small systems at one address would be treated (the drafters said the intent was to limit total export to 1,200 watts), wire‑gauge and circuit capacity concerns, insurance implications, and whether landlords could prevent renters from using plug‑in devices when the renter is not the billed utility customer. Counsel pointed to existing statutory protections for rooftop renewables in other chapters but advised the committee might want to broaden language to address portable, non‑structural installations and the special cases of dorms, group houses and situations where the landlord is the customer.

Streicher said manufacturers and testing bodies are already working on UL‑compliant products and predicted standards will evolve as safety data accumulates. She also provided a rough payback estimate of four to five years for consumers and offered to supply state‑specific projections and the organization’s technical reports as follow‑ups.

Members raised recycling and end‑of‑life questions for panels; Streicher said recycling infrastructure varies by region and pointed to existing programs in some states.

No formal vote was taken. The committee expects further testimony and possible red‑line amendments as it refines thresholds, landlord/tenant language and technical safety requirements; the Public Utility Commission was directed in the draft text to develop the customer notification form before 09/10/2026.