Ohio Plug-In Solar Laws
By Daniel Okafor · Last reviewed In short: Ohio has not enacted a plug-in solar exemption. HB 755 and companion SB 383 remain in committee, so their proposed 1,200 W route is not current law. In PUCO-regulated utility territory, use Ohio's existing interconnection process for grid-parallel equipment. Municipal and cooperative customers need the serving provider's rules before connecting a system.
Current status
Bill introduced
A proposal is pending and may change or fail. Follow today’s utility and electrical rules while tracking the official bill record.
Key facts
- Status: HB 755 and SB 383 are introduced companion bills, not enacted law
- House track: HB 755 introduced March 11, 2026; referred to House Energy March 18
- Senate track: SB 383 introduced March 19, 2026; referred to Senate Energy March 25
- Proposed limit: maximum power output of no more than 1,200 W
- Proposed connection: a standard 120 V AC outlet for primarily onsite consumption
- Certification wording: UL or an equivalent NRTL, with no standard number named
Check your location
Framework status and exact product eligibility are separate checks.
What this means today
Ohio has two companion proposals with the same operative text. The official records show HB 755 in the House Energy Committee and SB 383 in the Senate Energy Committee. Neither record shows committee passage, a chamber vote or enactment. Those proposed exemptions do not apply today.
Current Ohio interconnection rules apply when a distributed energy resource physically connects to and operates in parallel with a PUCO-regulated electric distribution utility. Chapter 4901:1-22 uses utility applications and three review levels. The serving provider's route may differ for a municipal utility or electric cooperative because the statutory definition of an electric utility excludes both categories.
What applies today versus what the companion bills propose
| Question | What applies today | What HB 755 and SB 383 propose |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | No enacted statewide plug-in-specific exemption appears in the reviewed Ohio records. | A narrow exemption would exist only if a bill completes the legislative process and takes effect. |
| Connection route | In PUCO-regulated territory, ask the serving electric distribution utility for the Chapter 4901:1-22 process before grid-parallel operation. | A qualifying device would be exempt from Chapter 4928 interconnection requirements and an interconnection agreement. |
| Output threshold | No statewide plug-in-specific 1,200 W exemption is in force. | Maximum power output of no more than 1,200 W; the introduced text does not label the figure as panel DC, inverter AC or export capacity. |
| Utility approval and fees | Current applications, agreements, reviews, inspections, fees and approved tariffs can apply to the exact configuration. | An electric utility could not require prior approval, a device or small-export fee, or controls beyond those integrated into the device. |
| Technical standards | Current PUCO rules point utility TIIR filings to IEEE 1547-2018, UL 1741-SB and NFPA 70 NEC 2023. | The bills require UL or equivalent NRTL certification but name no test standard, NEC edition, anti-islanding clause or circuit method. |
| Meter and export | The current meter, interconnection agreement and tariff determine whether and how surplus receives credit. | The device would be removed from the statutory net-metering-system definition; the bills create no export-payment entitlement. |
| Property and local checks | Landlord, association, mounting, building, fire and structural requirements remain separate decisions. | The proposed utility exemptions do not grant permission to alter rented, condominium, planned-community or common property. |
What HB 755 / SB 383 says
HB 755 and SB 383 would define the same portable solar generation device: a moveable photovoltaic device with maximum power output no greater than 1,200 W, designed for a standard 120 V AC outlet, intended mainly to offset customer consumption and certified by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory. The bills would create specified interconnection, approval, fee and extra-control exemptions under Chapter 4928, then direct the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to write implementing rules. Both proposals remain in committee.
Read the official bill record ↗
The two-track Ohio timeline
| Date | Official event | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| March 11, 2026 | HB 755 introduced | The House received the portable-solar proposal; no exemption was created. |
| March 18, 2026 | HB 755 referred to House Energy | The House bill entered committee and remains introduced in the reviewed record. |
| March 19, 2026 | SB 383 introduced | The Senate received companion text on a separate legislative track. |
| March 25, 2026 | SB 383 referred to Senate Energy | The companion bill entered committee; neither proposal became law. |
| July 20, 2026 | Updated Ohio interconnection rules took effect | Several current Chapter 4901:1-22 provisions changed while both plug-in bills remained pending. |
Two matching bills still need separate tracking
The introduced HB 755 and SB 383 PDFs contain the same new definition and proposed sections 4928.74, 4928.741 and 4928.742. Even with identical language, each bill follows its own record. One does not advance automatically when the other moves, so check both status pages for committee reports, votes and later actions.
There is no effective date to plan around because neither proposal has passed a chamber. Amendments could also change the device definition, utility scope or safety evidence. A purchase decision should use the current rules and the latest official text, not an advocacy summary or the assumption that an introduced companion pair will be enacted unchanged.
Ohio changed its current interconnection rules in July
Chapter 4901:1-22 applies where commission-approved tariffs govern a physical connection that can operate in parallel with the electric distribution utility. An applicant submits the application to the serving utility, not PUCO. The chapter provides level 1, level 2 and level 3 review. Level 1 covers qualifying inverter-based equipment with export capacity of 25 kW or less and sets a fee ceiling of $50, but a small size does not itself waive the application.
Several technical provisions took effect July 20, 2026. The current rule for utility technical interconnection and interoperability requirements points to IEEE 1547-2018, UL 1741-SB and NFPA 70 NEC 2023. AEP Ohio tells its customers to apply before installation and grid connection, install after approval, then complete inspection and a signed agreement. Customers of another investor-owned utility should use that utility's current filing and process.
Ohio's statutory electric-utility definition excludes municipal electric utilities and electric cooperatives. The proposed exemptions, however, are written around an electric utility and Chapter 4928. Check the final law and the provider's implementation instead of assuming that a future enactment would produce the same process in every service territory.
The bills do not name UL 3700 or another standard
The proposed definition requires certification by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory. It does not name UL 3700, UL 1741, IEEE 1547, the National Electrical Code, an anti-islanding provision, a dedicated circuit or another connection method beyond the standard 120 V outlet. Those details must not be read into the bill text.
An NRTL is a testing organization recognized by OSHA for specific standards and product scopes, not a generic product grade. Check the certifier's public directory for the exact model, named standard, evaluated configuration and conditions of use. A mark on one inverter does not prove what certification covers for the panels, cable, plug, controls or assembled device. If a final act or PUCO rule names additional requirements, that later controlling text would replace this introduced-bill snapshot.
- Record the exact system and component model numbers before searching a certification directory.
- Keep the proposed unclassified 1,200 W maximum power output separate from panel DC and inverter AC values.
- Identify the named standard and certification scope rather than relying on a UL or ETL badge.
- Verify outage behavior and branch-circuit instructions under current rules even though the proposals do not spell them out.
Net metering is not the same as permission to connect
Under Ohio's current net-metering rule, compensation depends on customer-generator status, an interconnection agreement, a capable meter and the applicable tariff or contract. The standard utility tariff converts monthly surplus into a monetary credit based on the energy component of the standard service offer and carries it forward. A competitive retail supplier may use different contract terms.
The companion bills would exclude a qualifying portable device from the statutory definition of a net-metering system. They also would prevent an electric utility from charging a fee for small amounts fed back to the grid. Neither provision promises a credit for exported energy. Until a final law and implementation say otherwise, model savings from power used in the home while the system produces and obtain the meter and tariff treatment in writing.
Property permission and mounting remain separate
Ohio has solar-access provisions for certain planned-community owners and solar-appropriate condominium units. Both depend on the declaration, responsibility for the installation area and reasonable association restrictions. The condominium provision is limited to a unit with no other condominium unit directly above or below it. These statutes do not create blanket permission for a renter or for equipment on common property.
Obtain a written decision for the exact panel location, mount, support, cable route, outlet and removal plan. A no-drill clamp can still load a guardrail or place equipment over a walkway. Follow manufacturer-approved mounting, preserve exits and drainage, and confirm structural, electrical, fire and local requirements before installation. A future utility exemption would not certify the building surface or transfer property rights.
Your serving utility still matters
HB 755 and SB 383 are not enacted. In territories subject to PUCO-approved tariffs, use the current Chapter 4901:1-22 interconnection process for a grid-parallel DER. Municipal and cooperative customers should obtain the serving provider's current route.
Pre-purchase checklist
- 1Open both official status pages and confirm whether HB 755 or SB 383 has moved beyond committee referral.
- 2Identify whether the serving provider is a PUCO-regulated electric distribution utility, a municipal utility or an electric cooperative.
- 3Request the current application, agreement, inspection, meter and permission-to-operate steps for the exact grid-parallel configuration.
- 4Record panel DC nameplate watts, continuous inverter AC output and maximum export capacity separately from the bills' 1,200 W wording.
- 5Find the exact model, named standard, evaluated configuration and conditions in an OSHA-recognized NRTL's public directory.
- 6Confirm outage behavior, plug, cable, receptacle, branch circuit, protection method and manufacturer instructions under current rules.
- 7Obtain written landlord, condominium or planned-community approval for the exact mount and cable route when property rights are shared or restricted.
- 8Check structural capacity, wind exposure, drainage, fire access and local permit requirements for the site.
- 9Confirm how the meter and tariff record surplus; do not assume a proposed exemption creates an export credit.
- 10Do not connect under HB 755 or SB 383 unless a final bill is enacted, effective and applicable to the system and service territory.
Next steps
Primary sources
Frequently asked questions
Is plug-in solar legal in Ohio right now?
Ohio has no enacted statewide plug-in-specific exemption in the reviewed official records. HB 755 and SB 383 remain in committee. That does not prove every configuration is prohibited, but the proposals are not current permission. Ask the serving provider how today's utility, electrical, meter and local rules classify the exact grid-parallel system.
Did Ohio pass HB 755 or SB 383?
No. HB 755 was introduced March 11, 2026 and referred to House Energy on March 18. SB 383 was introduced March 19 and referred to Senate Energy on March 25. The official records reviewed August 18 show both as introduced, with no committee passage, chamber passage, governor action or effective date.
What is the proposed Ohio plug-in solar limit?
Both bills propose maximum power output of no more than 1,200 W. The introduced text does not label that figure as panel DC nameplate capacity, continuous inverter AC output or export capacity. Keep those values separate and use the exact wording until an amendment, final act or implementing rule defines the measurement more precisely.
Would HB 755 or SB 383 require UL 3700?
Neither introduced bill names UL 3700 or another test standard. The definition says the device must be certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory. Verify the exact model, standard, configuration and certification scope. A UL 1741 inverter listing alone does not prove what evidence a future Ohio route would accept.
Do I need utility approval for solar in Ohio today?
In PUCO-regulated territory, current Chapter 4901:1-22 rules use an application and interconnection process for grid-parallel distributed energy resources. AEP Ohio, for example, instructs customers to apply before installing or connecting. Municipal utilities and cooperatives may use different rules, so obtain the serving provider's current written process for the exact system.
Would Ohio pay for exported plug-in solar power?
The pending bills create no export-payment entitlement. Ohio's current net-metering rule links credit to an interconnection agreement, a suitable meter and the applicable utility tariff or competitive-supplier contract. The proposals would exclude a qualifying portable device from the net-metering-system definition. Base savings on onsite use unless written utility terms document export value.
Would the bills give Ohio renters or HOA residents permission?
No. HB 755 and SB 383 address specified utility requirements, not a tenant's or owner's right to use a balcony, facade, railing or common area. Ohio has limited planned-community and condominium solar provisions, but their conditions are property-specific. Obtain written approval for the exact mount, cable route and removal plan before installation.