How Utah's Bipartisan Law Sparked a U.S. Plug-In Solar Revolution

Utah State Representative Raymond Ward was reading a story in The New York Times about Europe’s growing plug-in solar panel trend—often called “balcony solar”—when he had an idea to make home energy more affordable and portable.

Plug-in solar panels allow users to generate electricity by plugging the panels directly into a standard outlet, reducing utility bills without the need for expensive rooftop installations. The technology, which has gained traction in parts of Europe, recently received legislative support in Utah. In 2023, Utah lawmakers passed HB 340 with bipartisan and unanimous backing, becoming the first U.S. state to permit residents to connect small solar systems directly to residential outlets.

“It’s great for anyone who wants a little solar power but does not want to pay $30,000 for a roof install.”

Ward’s interest in plug-in solar was piqued after learning about their popularity in Germany, where balcony panels added 10% more solar capacity to the grid in just a few months, according to The New York Times. This surge occurred as Russia’s war with Ukraine strained energy supplies across Europe.

Since Utah’s bill passed in 2023, 30 states plus the District of Columbia have drafted similar legislation, according to tracking data from the Bright Saver plug-in solar lobbying group.

“Thank you, Utah. It’s a common-sense, no-brainer thing that should keep sweeping the country.”

Momentum for plug-in solar is building nationwide:

• Maine’s governor signed a similar bill earlier in 2024.
• Virginia’s plug-in solar bill currently awaits the governor’s signature.
• Colorado and Maryland have legislation approved by both state legislative chambers.
• Bills in Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Vermont have passed in at least one legislative chamber.

Despite this progress, U.S. residents still cannot purchase plug-in panels from major retailers like those selling hair dryers or washing machines. The delay stems from the need for updated regulations, as plug-in solar systems operate differently from traditional electrical setups.

Residential electrical systems are designed to pull power from the grid into homes via wires and outlets. In contrast, balcony solar systems push power backward into outlets and “upstream” through a home’s wiring, explained Ward.

“Utilities tend, in general, not to want anybody else to make power.”

“If line workers are trying to repair an electrical line they think is switched off, but a condo’s solar panels are still pushing electricity through that line, it could put those employees in danger of getting electrocuted.”

Ward believes these challenges are manageable. He noted that the physics governing electricity in Europe and the U.S. are identical, and European systems have proven safe.

“The electricity is the same over [in Europe] as it is over here,” he said. “All the same rules of physics work and have proved to be safe.”