Do I need utility permission in Vermont?

Under S.202 (effective July 1, 2026), no section 248 review (Vermont's certificate of public good process), no interconnection agreement and no extra utility fees are required for compliant plug-in devices up to a combined 1,200W per electric meter. Use certified (UL or equivalent) equipment, and note that the Act requires a smart meter, so check yours with your utility — for most Vermonters that's Green Mountain Power.

Is Plug-In Solar Legal in Vermont?

Q: Is plug-in solar legal in Vermont?

Yes. Vermont's S.202 was signed by Gov. Phil Scott on June 16, 2026, making Vermont the 7th U.S. state to legalize plug-in (balcony) solar, and its plug-in provisions took effect July 1, 2026. Customers can use plug-in solar devices up to a combined 1,200W per electric meter with equipment certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, without an interconnection agreement or extra utility fees. Average residential electricity rate is around 21¢/kWh.

Legal — signed (S.202, effective Jul 1, 2026) Avg rate ~21¢/kWh Updated: July 2, 2026

Last verified: August 3, 2026 · source data

Quick answer: Yes. Vermont’s S.202 was signed by Gov. Phil Scott on June 16, 2026, making Vermont the 7th U.S. state to legalize plug-in (balcony) solar, and its plug-in provisions took effect July 1, 2026. Customers can use plug-in solar devices up to a combined 1,200W per electric meter with equipment certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, without an interconnection agreement or extra utility fees. Average residential electricity rate is around 21¢/kWh.

Vermont law names the standard. Act 149 (S.202) writes the certification into the definition: 30 V.S.A. § 201(9)(C) says a plug-in photovoltaic device is one that “complies with UL 3700 for plug-in photovoltaic systems by UL Solutions or an equivalent certification by an equivalent Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for use in the United States” and operates to IEEE 1547-2018. A device that does not meet it is not a plug-in photovoltaic device under the Act, so it never reaches the exemption and stays under section 248, Vermont’s certificate of public good process — and an interconnection agreement. In force 1 July 2026. What UL listing means, and which states require it. Act 149 As Enacted, read 3 August 2026

You also need a smart meter. Act 149 Sec. 2 (30 V.S.A. § 256(a)) states that plug-in photovoltaic devices “shall only be connected to systems using smart meters”, and that the customer must keep the device “temporarily but securely attached to the ground or a structure”. Without a smart meter the exemption does not apply, however well certified the kit is. Green Mountain Power can tell you which meter you have.

Legal — but will it actually pay off in Vermont? Run your numbers →

📬 One email if Vermont’s rules change — plus the free 50-state cheat sheet now.

What Vermont law requires of the equipment

Vermont is one of eight states that write certification into the statute. This section is about what satisfies it, not about what we can earn from.

30 V.S.A. § 201(9)(C), as added by Act 149 Sec. 1 — “complies with UL 3700 for plug-in photovoltaic systems by UL Solutions or an equivalent certification by an equivalent Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for use in the United States and is installed and operated in compliance with IEEE 1547-2018 and any successor standard” in force since 1 July 2026

What meets it today

Hoymiles HiFlow Pro — certified to UL 3700 and UL 1741. $152.78 from NAZ Solar Electric. Pre-order — Expected arrival at our warehouse is early September. (manufacturer page for the certification; seller product page for price and availability, read 4 August 2026.)
APsystems EZ1 Microinverter — certified to UL 3700. $325 from APsystems USA direct. We have not checked stock or lead time. (product page, read 2 August 2026.)

What does not

AUECOOR 600W Complete Grid-Tie Kit — its listing says “Certification: CE”: no NRTL listing stated.
Y&H 600W Grid-Tie Microinverter — its listing says “The inverter is not UL1741 certified.”: the seller states it does not have it.

What that means in practice. This applies today. Until the Hoymiles unit reaches its US warehouse in early September, the choice in Vermont is narrow: the APsystems EZ1 at $325, sold direct by the manufacturer, and the Hoymiles unit, which can be ordered but not yet delivered. We have not checked APsystems’ stock or lead time, so confirm that before you rely on it. We would rather say all of that than point you at something cheaper that does not meet your own state’s wording.

We earn nothing from either of these. Neither manufacturer runs a programme that pays publishers, so there are no tracking links here. What UL listing means, which eight states require it, and what eight popular products actually declare. Prices and availability read 4 August 2026.

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

Thinking about installing? See our best plug-in solar kits for 2026 and estimate your yearly savings.

Vermont’s S.202 (“an act relating to plug-in photovoltaic devices”) was signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott on June 16, 2026 — making Vermont the 7th U.S. state to legalize plug-in / balcony solar — and its plug-in provisions took effect on July 1, 2026. The law allows plug-in solar devices up to a combined 1,200 watts per electric meter, using equipment certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (UL or equivalent), without the section 248, Vermont’s certificate of public good process, an interconnection agreement, or extra utility fees. In practice: choose a certified (UL 3700 pathway) kit, stay within the 1,200W cap, and note that the Act requires a smart meter, so check yours with your utility — in Vermont residential power mostly comes from Green Mountain Power. With roughly average electricity prices, a plug-in kit delivers steady savings and a typical payback in the mid-single-digit years. Correction (July 2, 2026): an earlier version of this page said S.202 was still awaiting signature; the Governor’s office confirms it was signed on June 16, 2026.

Before you buy in Vermont

Since July 1, 2026 you don’t need utility approval for a compliant device, but do two quick checks: (1) confirm with your utility (e.g. Green Mountain Power) whether your meter meets the law’s smart-meter condition, and (2) make sure the kit is certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (UL or equivalent) and your total stays within the 1,200W-per-meter cap.

Then estimate your numbers with our savings calculator (pre-loaded with Vermont'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 Hampshire · Massachusetts · see the full 50-state tracker.

Status last reviewed 2026-07-02. Status: S.202 signed by Gov. Phil Scott on June 16, 2026 (source: Governor’s office); plug-in solar provisions effective July 1, 2026 — up to 1,200W per electric meter with certified equipment, no interconnection agreement or extra fees. Plug-in solar law is evolving quickly — verify current Vermont rules and your utility's policy directly. Informational, not legal advice.