Panel split over safety and access as committee hears bill to legalize plug‑in 'balcony' solar and meter‑mounted devices

Summary

Supporters said HB 2296 would cut regulatory barriers to small‑scale plug‑in and meter‑mounted solar devices and expand access, while utilities, labor and safety regulators warned the bill lacks established U.S. safety standards and could create grid, inspection and worker‑safety risks without further rules.

The Environment and Energy Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2296, a bill that would expand the legal use of small, plug‑in solar devices and allow a single meter‑mounted device per electric customer under certain conditions.

Staff briefing: Megan McFadden, committee staff, outlined the bill’s two parts: portable solar generation devices — moveable units that connect to a standard 120‑volt outlet and are intended to offset household electricity use — and meter‑mounted devices installed between a meter and meter socket. McFadden said the bill would prohibit utilities, local governments or landlords from requiring customers to get approval or pay a fee before using portable devices, exempt portable devices from interconnection agreements and net‑metering laws, and make it a violation of the Consumer Protection Act to sell devices that do not meet the bill’s specified safety standards. For meter‑mounted…

Panel split over safety and access as committee hears bill to legalize plug‑in 'balcony' solar and meter‑mounted devices

Summary

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