Ten states have now legalized plug-in solar systems, also known as backyard solar, allowing residents to buy and install products such as the EcoFlow Stream in their homes. Utah led the way as the first state to legalize backyard and plug-in solar, and other states have since followed. About two dozen additional states are still working through the legalization process.
These systems are plug-and-play setups made up of one or more solar panels, an inverter, and a battery. They connect to a home's standard 120-volt outlet and automatically send solar-generated electricity from the battery to the nearest running appliance.
The systems remain restricted in much of the country because most US household electrical systems are not designed to receive electricity through a standard wall outlet. Electrical codes, utility regulations, and equipment certification requirements make legal installation difficult. Rooftop solar is professionally installed so harvested energy flows through a circuit breaker and into outlets, while plug-in solar feeds electricity directly into an outlet and bypasses the electrical panel. In that setup, nearby appliances draw energy from the breaker and the solar inverter, but the wiring could carry more current than the breaker alone would allow before it trips.
Legislative activity continues in several jurisdictions. Balcony solar bills H.5175 and S3143 are advancing in Massachusetts, and the SUNNY Act is pending governor approval in New York. Bills in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Washington, DC have reached committee hearings. Most other states have stalled plug-in solar bills until the next legislative session in 2027, including Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.
Plug-in solar bills have failed in Georgia, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, where the devices are technically illegal to operate. Lawmakers in those states would need to file a new bill after making revisions to reintroduce the issue.
The bills generally focus on preventing utility companies from blocking plug-in solar projects, but they cannot preempt bans imposed by landlords or HOAs. Supplementary bills have been introduced in some states to add protections for HOAs and landlords. Utilities are described as the biggest regulatory obstacle, since their solar rules are designed for rooftop panels rather than plug-and-play systems. Utilities would also earn less revenue if plug-in solar becomes widely popular, because consumers who buy less electricity contribute less to grid costs. Whether residents can immediately set up systems once legalized depends on their home situation.
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