GreenLight / Colorado

Plug-in solar in Colorado

Plug-in solar: a small solar kit that plugs into a regular outlet (sometimes called balcony solar). Here is what Colorado's law says, in plain terms; the glossary at the bottom decodes any jargon.

Under review. These details are seeded from research and are being verified against the enrolled bill text; treat them as unconfirmed until this notice goes away.
Legal statusenacted
LawHB26-1007
Signed into law2026-05-07
Law takes effect for you2027-01-01
Effective noteact 2026-08-12; device provisions 2027-01-01
Power cap1920 watts (roughly 5 large panels)
Cap notes<=391W tier exempt
What you can legally buyA lab-certified kit above 391W; tiny setups at or under 391W are exempt.
The law's exact termsNRTL above 391W
Can you buy a qualifying system today?No: no complete system is UL 3700 certified yet. The homepage feed alerts when that changes.
Utility noticePUC rules due 2026-12-31; meter-collar mandate
Renter/HOA protectionsyes: unreasonable HOA/landlord prohibitions void
What do these terms mean? (plain-English glossary)
Plug-in solarA small solar kit you plug into a regular wall outlet -- no electrician, no roof crew. Sometimes called "balcony solar."
ULA 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.
NRTLShort for "Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory" -- any safety lab the government has accredited to certify products. UL is the famous one.
UL 3700A 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.
NECThe 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.