Connecticut Plug-In Solar Laws

By Daniel Okafor · Last reviewed August 14, 2026

In short: Connecticut enacted HB 5340 as Public Act 26-127, but its portable solar route starts October 1, 2026. Until then, the future utility exemptions are not present permission. From that date, one qualifying device per meter may produce no more than 1,200 W, connect through a standard 120 V outlet and satisfy every code, certification, outage and consumer-warning condition.

Current status

Signed—not effective

The law has been enacted but its new route is not available yet. Prepare now, then re-check the final implementation on the effective date.

Key facts

Status: signed June 4, 2026; portable solar route effective October 1, 2026
Future limit: one qualifying device per customer meter, with maximum power output of no more than 1,200 W
Connection: a standard 120 V AC outlet behind the customer's meter
Standards named: State Building Code, NFPA 70, IEEE 1547 and UL 1741
Outage condition: the device must prevent energization of the building electrical system during an outage
Meter warning: surplus may be charged as usage unless the customer has a meter that allows net metering

Check your location

Framework status and exact product eligibility are separate checks.

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What this means today

Public Act 26-127 is enacted. Section 9, however, does not take effect until October 1, 2026. The official bill history records the governor's signature on June 4, but signing did not activate the future portable-solar exemption. Before October 1, ask the serving utility and local authority how the current interconnection, electrical and permit rules classify the exact grid-parallel device.

The route applies only when a portable solar generation device meets every element of the statutory definition, and only one such device may operate behind a customer's meter. State building and fire codes still apply, as do local ordinances. The act grants no permission to use rented or common property and creates no export-payment right.

What applies before and from October 1, 2026

Question	Before October 1, 2026	Public Act 26-127 route from October 1
Legal status	The future portable-solar exemptions are not in force.	The enacted route becomes available only to a device that satisfies every statutory condition.
Connection method	Ask the serving utility and local authority how current rules classify the exact configuration.	The device must be designed for a standard 120 V AC outlet behind the customer's meter.
Output threshold	The future 1,200 W threshold is not present permission.	Maximum power output must be no more than 1,200 W. The act does not label this figure as panel DC nameplate or inverter AC output.
Utility process	Use the current utility application, review, meter and permission process that applies to the site.	A qualifying device is exempt from PURA interconnection-agreement requirements; an electric distribution company cannot require prior approval, a related fee beyond charges incurred through use or extra controls beyond the device.
Device evidence	Current product, electrical and utility requirements control.	The exact device must meet the State Building Code, NFPA 70 and IEEE 1547, carry UL or equivalent NRTL certification, and meet UL 1741.
Outage behavior	Verify the current equipment and interconnection conditions for the complete configuration.	The device must include a feature that prevents it from energizing the building electrical system during an outage.
Meter and export	Confirm how the current meter and tariff record surplus before assigning it value.	The device must warn that excess generation may be charged as usage unless the customer has a meter that allows net metering.
Property and local rules	Landlord, association, mounting, building, fire and local checks remain separate.	The act expressly preserves building, fire and local rules and does not create property consent.

What HB 5340 / Public Act 26-127 says

Section 9 defines a portable solar generation device through nine linked conditions. It must not be permanently affixed to a structure; have maximum power output of no more than 1,200 W; connect through a standard 120 V AC outlet behind the meter; primarily offset onsite consumption; meet the State Building Code, NFPA 70 and IEEE 1547; be certified by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory and meet UL 1741; prevent building-system energization during an outage; and carry the statute's meter warning. Missing one condition places a configuration outside this exemption.

Read the official bill record ↗

Public Act 26-127 timeline

Date	Official event	What it means
February 26, 2026	HB 5340 referred to Energy and Technology	The proposal entered committee; no exemption was created.
March 19, 2026	Joint favorable action	The committee advanced the bill; the proposal still had no legal effect.
April 2, 2026	File No. 385 and House calendar action	The bill moved onto the House calendar.
May 1, 2026	House passed the bill with House Amendment A	The amended text moved to the Senate.
May 6, 2026	Senate passed in concurrence	Both chambers agreed on the amended bill.
May 20, 2026	Public Act 26-127 recorded	The legislature assigned the public-act number before governor action.
June 4, 2026	Governor signed HB 5340	The act was enacted, but section 9 still had a future effective date.
October 1, 2026	Portable solar sections take effect	Sections 9 and 10 begin; only qualifying devices receive the narrow exemption.

The exemption has a nine-part device gate

The 1,200 W figure is only one part of the definition. The act does not say whether maximum power output means panel DC nameplate, inverter continuous AC output or grid-directed output. Do not replace the statutory wording with a seller's headline wattage. Record each measurement separately and obtain a configuration-specific answer from the manufacturer, certifier and relevant authority.

Portable has a specific meaning here: the device cannot be permanently affixed to a structure. A temporary stand or clamp is not automatically acceptable. Mounting loads, fall protection, cable routing, manufacturer instructions, fire access and local rules remain outside the utility exemption.

Not permanently affixed to a structure.
No more than 1,200 W maximum power output.
Designed for a standard 120 V AC outlet behind the customer meter.
Intended primarily to offset the customer's electricity consumption.
Compliant with the State Building Code, NFPA 70 and IEEE 1547.
Certified by UL or an equivalent NRTL and compliant with UL 1741.
Unable to energize the building electrical system during an outage.
Supplied with the required warning about surplus generation and meter behavior.
Limited to one qualifying device behind the customer meter.

Connecticut names UL 1741, not UL 3700

Public Act 26-127 does not mention UL 3700. It expressly requires UL or equivalent NRTL certification and compliance with UL 1741. UL Standards & Engagement describes UL 1741 as the active standard for inverters, converters, controllers and interconnection system equipment used with distributed energy resources. Its scope includes interactive equipment and some system-specific combinations.

The statute applies these conditions to the portable solar generation device. Check the exact model and configuration in the certifier's public record, along with the applicable standard. A UL 1741 mark on one inverter component does not by itself establish that every panel, control, cable, plug, instruction and outage feature in an assembled kit satisfies the full Connecticut definition.

Utility treatment changes only for a qualifying device

Before October 1, Eversource directs Connecticut generation projects to its application-to-connect materials. United Illuminating describes an interconnection application and review for residential certified-inverter generation up to 20 kW AC. Neither page creates a portable-solar exemption. Until section 9 starts, check the current utility route for the exact configuration.

From October 1, a qualifying device is exempt from interconnection agreements imposed by PURA regulation or decision. An electric distribution company cannot demand prior approval, a system-related fee beyond charges incurred through use or additional controls beyond those integrated into the device. PURA identifies Eversource and United Illuminating as Connecticut's two regulated electric distribution companies. Municipal-utility customers should ask their own utility how the act and local process apply rather than assuming the investor-owned utility wording transfers unchanged.

The meter warning changes the savings calculation

Section 9 requires a warning that generation above onsite consumption may be charged to the customer as usage unless the meter allows net metering. The act does not enroll a portable device in net metering or promise an export credit. Ask the utility to explain the installed meter's treatment in writing before energizing the device.

Base the savings model on electricity used inside the home while the panel is producing. Give surplus no value unless a documented tariff says otherwise. A smaller device matched to daytime demand can avoid more uncertain export than one chosen only because it reaches the statutory ceiling.

Property, building and fire approval stay separate

The State Building Code, Fire Safety Code, Fire Prevention Code and applicable local ordinances remain in force. Section 10 directs state code officials to consider portable-solar provisions in later code amendments. It does not suspend today's code or create an automatic permit exemption.

Section 9 contains no landlord or association consent rule. Obtain a written decision for the exact panel, stand or clamp, support, cable route and receptacle before using rented, exterior or shared property. Electrical eligibility, safe mounting and permission to use the property remain separate decisions.

Your serving utility still matters

Section 9 is not effective until October 1, 2026. Before then, verify the current Eversource, United Illuminating or municipal-utility process. From that date, its exemptions apply only to one device per meter that satisfies every statutory condition.

Pre-purchase checklist

1Open Public Act 26-127 and confirm that section 9 has reached October 1, 2026 before relying on its exemptions.
2Identify Eversource, United Illuminating or the municipal utility serving the exact meter.
3Before October 1, request the current interconnection, meter and permission process for the proposed grid-parallel device.
4Record panel DC nameplate, inverter continuous AC output and any grid-directed output limit separately; do not relabel the statute's maximum-power wording.
5Match the exact device and configuration to an NRTL certification record and confirm UL 1741 coverage.
6Verify compliance evidence for the State Building Code, NFPA 70, IEEE 1547 and outage-isolation condition.
7Confirm the receptacle, branch circuit, protection method, cable and manufacturer instructions with qualified help when needed.
8Ask the utility how the installed meter records surplus and whether any documented tariff applies.
9Obtain written landlord, association or other property approval for the exact mount and cable route.
10Check local building, electrical, fire, structural and placement rules before connecting the device.

Next steps

Check the Connecticut framework resultKeep the signed act, future effective date and current utility route in the correct order.Understand UL 1741See what the inverter and interconnection-equipment standard covers and what a certification mark must identify.Assess the branch circuitReview receptacle condition, overload protection, circuit architecture and product instructions.Prepare a property requestDocument the exact panel, mount, cable route, electrical method and removal terms.

Primary sources

prdext3.cga.ct.gov — official bill or legislature record prdext3.cga.ct.gov — primary or supporting record portal.ct.gov — official bill or legislature record portal.ct.gov — primary or supporting record eversource.com — primary or supporting record uinet.com — primary or supporting record portal.ct.gov — primary or supporting record shopulstandards.com — primary or supporting record osha.gov — primary or supporting record standards.ieee.org — primary or supporting record

Frequently asked questions

Is plug-in solar legal in Connecticut right now?

Connecticut enacted Public Act 26-127, but section 9's portable-solar route starts October 1, 2026. Before then, the future exemptions are not present permission. Ask the serving utility and local authority how current interconnection, electrical, permit and property requirements classify the exact grid-parallel device.

When does Connecticut Public Act 26-127 take effect for plug-in solar?

Sections 9 and 10 take effect October 1, 2026. The official bill history records the governor's signature on June 4, but signature and effectiveness are different events. The interconnection exemption and utility limits in section 9 cannot be used before their effective date.

Is Connecticut's 1,200 W limit based on panel or inverter watts?

The act says maximum power output of no more than 1,200 W but does not label the measurement as panel DC nameplate, inverter continuous AC or grid-directed output. Keep all three figures separate. Verify how the manufacturer, certifier and relevant authority apply the statutory wording to the exact device.

Does Connecticut require UL 3700 certification?

No. Public Act 26-127 does not name UL 3700. It requires the portable solar generation device to be certified by UL or an equivalent NRTL and to meet UL 1741, alongside State Building Code, NFPA 70 and IEEE 1547 conditions. Verify the exact model and configuration in the certifier's record.

Will Eversource or United Illuminating approval be required after October 1?

For one device behind the meter that satisfies every section 9 condition, an electric distribution company cannot require prior approval, an interconnection agreement, a related fee beyond charges incurred through use or extra controls beyond the device. A configuration that misses any condition falls outside that exemption. Municipal-utility customers should obtain a utility-specific answer.

Will Connecticut credit electricity exported by a plug-in device?

Public Act 26-127 creates no export-payment right. It requires a warning that surplus may be charged as usage unless the customer has a meter that allows net metering. Confirm meter behavior and tariff treatment with the serving utility. Base savings on direct daytime self-consumption unless written terms establish a credit.

Does the Connecticut act give renters or condo residents permission?

No landlord or association consent rule appears in section 9. The act also preserves state building and fire codes plus applicable local ordinances. Obtain written approval for the exact panel, mount, support, cable route and receptacle before using rented, exterior or shared property. Utility eligibility is not property consent.

Check your Connecticut framework result