Is Plug-In Solar Legal in Connecticut?

HB 5340 is an omnibus solar bill — plug-in / balcony solar is one of several measures. Key terms for the plug-in part:

• Cap: 1,200 watts of panel capacity per household (one plug-in solar device per customer).
• UL-certified equipment. The microinverter (and panels where required) must be certified by an accredited testing laboratory — in practice this means a UL listing or equivalent.
• No utility approval, no interconnection agreement, no fees for systems within the cap. This removes the case-by-case utility gatekeeping that previously governed plug-in solar in CT.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026. Other parts of HB 5340 (streamlined residential solar permitting, incentive extensions) take effect on different dates set by the bill text.

This puts Connecticut on the same legal footing as Utah, Maine, Virginia, Colorado, and Maryland — with Connecticut now the largest high-rate Northeast state to legalize plug-in solar at the state level (~29¢/kWh average residential rate).

Connecticut is the 6th U.S. state to sign a plug-in solar law. The full signed-into-law list now (chronological):

1. Utah — HB 340 (March 2025) — first ever
2. Maine — LD 1730 (April 6, 2026)
3. Virginia — HB 395 / SB 250 (April 22, 2026)
4. Colorado — HB26-1007 (May 7, 2026) — highest cap (1,920W)
5. Maryland — HB 1532 / Utility RELIEF Act (May 12, 2026)
6. Connecticut — HB 5340 (June 4, 2026) — largest high-rate Northeast market

Vermont (S.202) became the 7th state to sign on June 16, 2026 (effective July 1, 2026). New York (SUNNY Act, A.9111C / S.8512C) and New Hampshire (SB 540) have also passed their legislatures and are awaiting their governors’ signatures.

Why Connecticut is a big deal even at 6th: the state has among the highest electricity rates in the contiguous U.S. (~29¢/kWh) — meaning an 800W kit pays back in ~3 years, vs 5–7 years in lower-rate states. The state-level legalization removes the last meaningful barrier in CT.

You don’t have to wait until October 1 to install plug-in solar — you just have to do it under your utility’s existing interconnection rules until then. Connecticut residential power is dominated by two utilities:

1. Eversource (most of CT) — ask about small net energy metering / behind-the-meter interconnection for systems under their stated cap.
2. United Illuminating (southwest CT, New Haven area) — similar process; written confirmation is your protection.

What to ask (and get in writing):

• Maximum wattage allowed behind-the-meter without a permit before October 1.
• Whether a one-page interconnection notification is required.
• Whether they require a specific microinverter UL-listing (UL 1741 / UL 3700).

From October 1, 2026 onwards: the 1,200W cap under HB 5340 applies statewide; no utility paperwork is required for compliant kits.

Run your numbers with our savings calculator — Connecticut’s default rate is 29¢/kWh, which makes payback unusually fast: an 800W kit typically offsets ~$230/year here, payback in ~3 years on a typical $500–700 kit.

Ready to start? Compare the top kits for your home in our Best balcony solar kits 2026 guide →

Renting an apartment / condo / co-op? Read our HOA & balcony solar guide first — even with HB 5340, building rules still apply.

• PV Magazine USA — Connecticut Governor signs the state’s omnibus 2026 solar bill (June 5, 2026)
• Connecticut General Assembly — bill search (HB 5340)
• Environment America — Gov. Lamont signs solar energy bill