House Energy Digital Infrastructure committee opens markup of S202, seeks UL clarification on plug‑in photovoltaic safety

Representative Kathleen James convened the House Energy Digital Infrastructure committee on April 2 to begin a first markup of S202, the bill that would regulate plug‑in photovoltaic devices (plug‑in PV or PIPV). She told members the goal was to convert prior testimony into specific bill edits and to clarify whether referenced safety standards already cover the committee’s concerns. "We’re gonna have multiple questions about UL 3700, and does our bill include all of these important things?" James said, adding, "Maybe, like, we want live testimony."

The committee focused on safety and certification more than immediate policy changes. Members discussed whether the bill should require a dedicated receptacle or circuit for plug‑in devices and whether UL 3700’s test requirements already incorporate inverter standards such as UL 1741 and IEEE 1547 or the National Electrical Code (NEC). Committee members noted that testimony and white papers suggested UL 3700 addresses many component‑level hazards — shock, fire and backfeed — but that the written materials left open whether the standard’s testing yields formal certification for installed products.…