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Debate over 'balcony' solar and meter‑mounted devices centers on safety vs access
Summary
Supporters urged SB 6050 to expand access to portable and meter‑mounted solar; regulators, utilities and electricians raised safety, code and enforcement gaps and asked that the National Electric Code (NEC) and certification standards be in place before broad adoption.
Senator Elias introduced Senate Bill 6050 as a measure to expand distributed energy options for individuals and renters by allowing portable ('balcony') solar devices up to 1,200 watts and enabling a single meter‑mounted device per customer to support backup power or EV charging.
Staff said the bill exempts qualified portable devices from Washington’s net‑metering requirements and prohibits landlords and homeowners associations from banning them. For meter‑mounted devices the bill requires NEC‑compliant installation by licensed contractors, a 90‑day utility decision window on device model approvals, and utility authority…
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