Connecticut lawmakers consider plug-in solar panels

Connecticut lawmakers are considering legislation that would remove barriers to the installation of portable, plug-in solar panels, offering a potential solution for residents struggling with high electricity bills.

Currently, no state law explicitly prohibits these “balcony solar” systems, but regulatory hurdles—including required interconnection agreements with utilities and unclear regulations—have effectively prevented their widespread adoption throughout Connecticut.

House Bill 5340, making its way through the General Assembly, would allow customers to install plug-in solar panels with outputs up to 1,200 watts without utility approval, provided the devices meet specific safety and consumer protection requirements. Panels of this size could power several electronic devices or a single appliance like a refrigerator.

“The advantages are for the consumer. You’re able to charge or power some of your biggest appliances like a refrigerator,” said Connor Yakaitis, deputy director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters and a supporter of the bill. “I think it ties in very well to energy efficiency. If people are aware of even a little amount of power that they’re producing, they’re more conscious of the power that they’re using.”

While the United States has been slow to embrace plug-in solar technology, these smaller panels are already widely used in countries like Germany, where they help renters reduce monthly electricity expenses. The momentum is building domestically, with Utah becoming the first state to remove regulatory obstacles for plug-in solar panels last year, followed by Virginia earlier this year. According to Canary Media, more than two dozen other states are currently considering similar legislation.

The Energy and Technology Committee passed H.B. 5340 last week on a party-line vote, though Republican objections primarily concerned other unrelated sections of the bill. State Representative John Piscopo, a Republican from Thomaston, expressed interest in the plug-in solar component, suggesting it might receive bipartisan support if presented as standalone legislation.

Despite this interest, safety concerns and compatibility with existing electrical infrastructure remain significant issues. Andrew Belden, Eversource’s vice president of renewable programs and strategy, noted in written testimony that anti-tampering features on most of the utility’s meters wouldn’t recognize excess electricity from unregistered panels, potentially resulting in customers being charged for the extra power they produce rather than receiving credit for it.

Homes with traditional rooftop solar panels typically have bidirectional meters that solve this problem, but Eversource’s rollout of newer “advanced” meter technology has faced delays amid regulatory disputes. An Eversource spokesperson confirmed that the utility is not aware of any customers who have sought permission to use plug-in solar devices to date.

To address safety concerns, the Connecticut bill would require plug-in solar devices to conform to the state building code and undergo testing and certification by a national product safety organization such as UL Solutions. Though UL announced in January it had begun developing certification standards for plug-in solar, it has yet to approve any systems for the U.S. market.

Despite regulatory uncertainty, plug-in panels are already available online, with prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. California nonprofit Bright Saver has been at the forefront of this movement, shipping a limited number of small solar systems to customers last year and advocating for legislation like Connecticut’s proposal.

Cora Stryker, co-founder of Bright Saver, explained that the organization temporarily halted its initial pilot after receiving pushback from utility officials. Currently, they only ship to existing solar customers in California. However, Stryker indicated plans to resume shipping smaller kits to customers in states that have authorized their use.

“We are just trying to knock down the barriers, because we know people want this stuff and we want them to be safe and installing certified systems,” she said.

State Representative Jonathan Steinberg, Democratic co-chair of the Energy and Technology Committee, acknowledged that lawmakers are rushing to understand the technology and its implications for consumers.

“There’s a general consensus that this is becoming popular, but we’re not all convinced the safety standards are being met,” he said.

Both the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Office of Consumer Counsel have called for further analysis before legislation moves forward. As a fallback option, lawmakers could approve a study on the topic, effectively delaying any new law for at least a year. However, Steinberg remains hopeful that details can be worked out before the current legislative session ends in early May.

“We want to be able to do this, we really do,” Steinberg said. “But we’re not sure we’re there yet.”