Colorado clears path for plug-in solar, a more affordable option
Colorado clears path for plug-in solar, a more affordable option
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Colorado is making it easier to adopt plug-in solar, a portable, more affordable option that is also more accessible to renters and those who live in smaller spaces.
Plug-in solar, also known as balcony solar, consists of one to four panels that can be plugged directly into a wall outlet, with an inverter and the option to install a battery. The panels can be placed in a yard or mounted onto a balcony, for example.
Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 26-1007, which was sponsored by two Larimer County lawmakers — Sen. Cathy Kipp and Rep. Lesley Smith — on May 7.
The changes take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
Specifically, the bill prohibits a utility from prohibiting or charging fees for use of plug-in solar systems. It also prohibits anyone, such as as a homeowners association, from unreasonably prohibiting their use.
Plug-in solar is not meant to replace a rooftop solar system, as it produces much less energy, but it can help cut down on energy costs.
It’s widely used in Europe, and there are many efforts in the U.S. to allow for their use. Utah, for example, recently passed a law allowing them.
Under Colorado’s new law, a device must have a feature preventing it from energizing the grid during a power outage.
The bill also aims to promote the use of meter collar adapters, which connect the panels to the utility infrastructure without having to upgrade the home’s electrical panel.
Utilities must provide a list of approved meter collar adapters and have a process for approving any adapters not on that list within 90 days.
“Coloradans are interested in plug-in solar for a variety of reasons like reducing their carbon footprint, lowering their utility bills, or ensuring a reliable back-up source of energy in the case of a power outage,” Kipp said in a news release after the measure passed the Senate in April. “No matter their reasoning, Coloradans should be able to pursue this technology without unnecessary barriers.”