Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House OKs bill to expand plug-in solar and meter-collar rules, adds safety and landlord-tenant protections
Summary
House Bill 1007, regulating portable 'plug-in' solar devices and clarifying meter-collar installation rules, passed March 4, 2026 with amendments that require UL listing, prohibit daisy-chaining, and allow property owners to adopt reasonable safety rules while not effectively prohibiting compliant devices.
House Bill 1007 cleared the floor on March 4, 2026 after the House adopted several amendments clarifying safety and property-owner protections for plug-in solar devices and meter collars.
Floor sponsors said the bill creates two pathways: (1) authorizing portable, plug-in solar devices (sometimes called balcony solar) for consumers and (2) clarifying rules for meter collars that help integrate upgrades such as rooftop solar and EV charging while protecting the grid and linemen. The bill requires that devices be UL listed, include automatic shutoff when the grid goes down, and prohibits unsafe practices such as daisy-chaining portable devices.
Amendments adopted on the floor responded to stakeholder concerns from apartment associations and landlords by allowing property owners reasonable, content-neutral safety restrictions that do not effectively prohibit compliant portable devices. An amendment also clarified that licensed electricians must install meter collars. Representative Smith said the measures will increase choices for consumers while protecting safety and property rights.
The bill passed as amended and was reported as amended by the committee; no roll-call tally for final passage is recorded in the floor transcript excerpt.
