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.

Checked as of August 26, 2026, the date this page was generated.

Legal status	enacted
Law	HB26-1007
Signed into law	May 7, 2026
When it takes effect for you	January 1, 2027. The act itself starts August 12, 2026, but the plug-in device rules start January 1, 2027.
Power cap	1920 watts (roughly 5 large panels). Kits at or under 391 watts are exempt from the certification requirement.
What you can legally buy	A lab-certified kit above 391W; tiny setups at or under 391W are exempt.
The law's exact terms	NRTL above 391W
Can you buy a qualifying system today?	No. Colorado's law does not name UL 3700; certification by any accredited safety lab would do. But no complete plug-in kit holds such a certification from any lab today, and UL 3700 is the standard those labs are now using for this product category -- so the first qualifying kits will arrive through it. The homepage feed alerts when that happens.
Do you have to tell your utility?	Not settled yet: the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Colorado's utility regulator, must issue rules by December 31, 2026, and the law requires a meter-collar adapter at your electric meter.
What about renters and HOAs?	Yes, the law protects you: unreasonable bans by landlords or homeowners associations (HOAs) are void.

Sources

enrolled bill text of HB26-1007. Covers every fact on this page. We have not yet linked the official text; this page stays marked under review until our verification pass confirms it.

What do these terms mean? (plain-English glossary)

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.