Plug-in solar is a small kit you plug into a regular outlet -- no electrician, no roof crew. A growing list of states has made it legal, but most of those laws require safety-certified equipment, and no kit has the required certification yet. We watch for the moment one does.
Live watch status: /watch/state.json -- stamped by the daily check after every run.
One email when it actually happens. No marketing, nothing to sell; we take no money from manufacturers.
| State | Power cap | What the law requires | Our verification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1920 W | A lab-certified kit above 391W; tiny setups at or under 391W are exempt. (law's terms: NRTL above 391W) | under review |
| Connecticut | 1200 W | Any kit certified by an accredited safety lab. (law's terms: NRTL) | under review |
| Maine | 1200 W | Depends how you read the law: the new plug-in solar certification (UL 3700) or something comparable -- vendors disagree. The smaller 420W self-install tier is the simpler path. (law's terms: UL 3700 or comparable, or NEC path (vendors disagree on the reading)) | under review |
| Maryland | 1200 W | A lab-certified kit above 391W; at or under 391W is exempt. (law's terms: UL/NRTL above 391W) | under review |
| New Hampshire | 1200 W | Any kit certified by an accredited safety lab; some building-code details are still pending. (law's terms: NRTL; building-code section contingent on DOE certifying standard) | verified |
| Utah | 1200 W | Any kit certified by an accredited safety lab (like UL); standard wiring rules apply. (law's terms: generic UL/NRTL + NEC) | verified |
| Vermont | 1200 W | Only kits certified to the new plug-in solar standard (UL 3700) -- none exist yet, so nothing qualifies today. (law's terms: UL 3700 or equivalent REQUIRED) | verified |
| Virginia | 1200 W | Any kit certified by an accredited safety lab. (law's terms: NRTL) | under review |
| Plug-in solar | A small solar kit you plug into a regular wall outlet -- no electrician, no roof crew. Sometimes called "balcony solar." |
| UL | A big safety-testing company. Their logo is on your toaster and power strips. When a lab like UL "certifies" a product, it means they tested it and vouch for it. |
| NRTL | Short for "Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory" -- any safety lab the government has accredited to certify products. UL is the famous one. |
| UL 3700 | A brand-new safety standard written specifically for plug-in solar kits. Several state laws say: you can plug in, but only a kit certified to this standard. No kit has that certification yet -- which is exactly what this site watches for. |
| NEC | The National Electrical Code -- the rulebook electricians follow. |
| "Certified" vs "compliant" | Certified = an independent lab tested it and lists it. "Compliant" or "designed to meet" = the manufacturer's own claim. Not the same thing; we only count certified. |
| Watts (W) | How much power the kit can make. 1,200 W is roughly two to three large panels -- enough to cover a fridge plus some electronics while the sun shines. |
| Takes effect | The date a signed law actually starts to apply. A law can be signed months before you can legally plug in, so the state pages show both dates. |
| Utility notice | Some state laws make you tell your electric utility (the company you pay for power) about your kit. Each state page answers "do you have to tell your utility?" in plain terms. |
| Renters and HOAs | HOA is short for homeowners association -- the body that enforces the rules in some neighborhoods and condo buildings. A state law can protect renters and HOA residents who want plug-in solar, or it can say nothing. When it says nothing, your lease or HOA rules still decide -- ask your landlord or HOA before you buy. |