Is Plug-In Solar Legal in Ohio?
Gray area Avg rate ~16¢/kWh
Last verified: August 23, 2026 · source data
A grid-tie kit feeds power into your home while the sun is up, which lowers what you draw from the utility. It shuts down in a blackout by design, so that line workers are not exposed to your power.
A power station does the opposite. It will run your fridge in an outage and it lowers nothing on an ordinary day.
Most people who arrive on this page want the first one. If you want backup as well, that is a second purchase, not a bigger version of the first.
→ For daily bill offset: balcony solar kits
→ For outages: power stations
Two systems, one job. For plug-in solar that feeds your home and lowers the bill, the head-to-head worth reading is EcoFlow Stream vs Anker SOLIX — two balcony systems doing that same job.
A different job: a portable power station is backup power for an outage. It is not a substitute for a grid-tie kit and it does not lower your bill. If that is what you are after: Anker C1000 vs EcoFlow DELTA 3 · C1000 vs C2000 · Anker vs EcoFlow at brand level
No explicit plug-in rules; deregulated supply means policies vary. Confirm with your distribution utility (AEP, FirstEnergy, Duke).
The bill: HB 755
HB 755, titled “Regards portable solar generation devices”, would amend section 4928.01 and enact sections 4928.74, 4928.741 and 4928.742 of the Revised Code. Its primary sponsors are Tristan Rader and Chris Glassburn.
The official status tracker shows exactly two steps completed:
- Introduced in House — done.
- In House Committee (House Energy Committee) — done.
- Reported by Committee — not reached. Everything after it — passage by the House, introduction in the Senate, the Governor — is still ahead.
One correction worth stating plainly. Secondary coverage has described this bill as sitting in the Senate Energy Committee. The legislature’s own page shows it has not yet been reported out of the House committee. We follow the official page.
Source: Ohio Legislature — House Bill 755, 136th General Assembly. Read 23 August 2026.
Before you buy in Ohio
Call your electric utility and ask: (1) do they allow small plug-in / behind-the-meter grid-tied solar, and (2) is any notification or interconnection form required? Stay within the wattage they specify, use a UL-listed microinverter, and keep written confirmation.
Then estimate your numbers with our savings calculator (pre-loaded with Ohio's rate).
Ready to start? If you want backup power for outages rather than a grid-tied kit, see our power stations guide →
Nearby states: Michigan · Indiana · Kentucky · West Virginia · Pennsylvania · see the full 50-state tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Is plug-in solar legal in Ohio?
Plug-in (balcony) solar is legal to install in Ohio, but there is no plug-in-specific state law yet — HB 755 is in the House Energy Committee and has not been reported out, so your utility’s standard interconnection rules still apply. Average residential electricity rate is around 16¢/kWh. Confirm wattage limits with your utility before buying.
Do I need utility permission in Ohio?
It depends on your state's rules and your utility. The safe path in Ohio is to use a UL-listed (UL 3700) microinverter and check your utility's interconnection policy (major utilities here include FirstEnergy) before you install; see the status for Ohio above for specifics.
Is there a bill to legalize plug-in solar in Ohio?
Yes. HB 755 would amend section 4928.01 and enact sections 4928.74, 4928.741 and 4928.742 on portable solar generation devices. Its primary sponsors are Tristan Rader and Chris Glassburn. The official status page shows it introduced in the House and in the House Energy Committee, with Reported By Committee not yet reached. It is not law.
How much can plug-in solar save in Ohio?
Ohio’s average residential electricity rate is around 16¢/kWh. Estimate your own savings with our free savings calculator, pre-loaded with Ohio’s rate.