Is Plug-In Solar Legal in Pennsylvania?
Gray area Avg rate ~18¢/kWh
Last verified: August 18, 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
Solar-friendly net-metering exists for larger systems; plug-in specifics are undefined. Notify your utility and stay within safe wattage.
HB 1971 — introduced, then nothing
There is no plug-in solar statute in Pennsylvania, and the bill that would create one has not moved in ten months.
House Bill 1971 was introduced by Representative Chris Pielli of the 156th district, with 38 co-sponsors. Its sponsorship memo is titled “Reducing Barriers to Plug-In Solar”, and the bill amends Title 66, the public utilities title, to add definitions and provisions for portable solar.
It was referred to the House Energy Committee on 28 October 2025. That is still the last recorded action. There have been no votes and no committee meetings.
We list it because a reader should know the bill exists. We call it dormant because that is what the record shows.
Read on 18 August 2026.
Before you buy in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania'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: New York · New Jersey · Delaware · Maryland · Ohio · see the full 50-state tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Is plug-in solar legal in Pennsylvania?
Plug-in (balcony) solar is legal to install in Pennsylvania, but there is no plug-in-specific state law as of August 2026 — it falls under your utility’s standard interconnection rules. Average residential electricity rate is around 18¢/kWh. Confirm wattage limits with your utility before buying.
Do I need utility permission in Pennsylvania?
It depends on your state's rules and your utility. The safe path in Pennsylvania is to use a UL-listed (UL 3700) microinverter and check your utility's interconnection policy before you install; see the status for Pennsylvania above for specifics.
Is there a bill to legalize plug-in solar in Pennsylvania?
Yes. HB 1971 was referred to committee on 2025-10-28 and has not moved since. It is not law. Last reviewed August 18, 2026.
How much can plug-in solar save in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s average residential electricity rate is around 18¢/kWh. Estimate your own savings with our free savings calculator, pre-loaded with Pennsylvania’s rate.