Do I need utility permission in Washington, D.C.?

It depends on your utility. With no plug-in-specific law in force in Washington, D.C. yet, a grid-tied plug-in system falls under standard interconnection rules, so use an NRTL-certified (for example UL 3700) microinverter and check your utility's interconnection policy before you install; see the status for Washington, D.C. above for specifics.

Is Plug-In Solar Legal in Washington, D.C.?

Bill pending — not law

Last verified: August 19, 2026 · source data

Quick answer: Washington, D.C. has no plug-in-specific law yet, so a grid-tied plug-in system falls under standard utility interconnection rules. A bill, B26-0602, the GRID Amendment Act of 2026, is under Council review: it would let a portable solar generation device connect without interconnection approval, fees, or extra controls, provided it meets the National Electrical Code, is certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as UL, and cannot energize the grid during an outage. As introduced it sets no power cap. Until it becomes law, treat D.C. as an interconnection jurisdiction and check with your utility first.

Will a plug-in kit actually pay off in Washington, D.C.? Run your numbers →

📬 One email if Washington, D.C.’s rules change — plus the free 50-state cheat sheet now.

Two different jobs. Make sure you want the right one.

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

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

There is no plug-in-specific law in Washington, D.C. today: a grid-tied plug-in system falls under standard utility interconnection rules. A bill under Council review would change that, but it is not law.

B26-0602 — the bill that would change this

B26-0602, the Guiding Renewable Interconnection and Distribution (GRID) Amendment Act of 2026, is not law. Introduced by Councilmember Allen with Frumin, Lewis George, Nadeau, Parker, Pinto and R. White, it adds a new subsection defining a portable solar generation device and exempting it from interconnection and net-metering requirements unless the owner voluntarily opts in. The Electric Company could not require approval before installation, charge a fee, or demand controls beyond what is built into the system, and would not be liable for the device.

The device would have to meet the most recent National Electrical Code, be certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory, and include a feature that prevents it from energizing the building’s electrical system during a power outage.

As introduced, the bill sets no power cap. No wattage limit appears in the provision — a difference from bills in several states, which we note because it is easy to assume otherwise.

Where it stands, from the official legislative record:

Introduced 24 February 2026.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment on 3 March 2026.
Public hearing held 26 March 2026.
Status: Under Council Review. No vote recorded.

A bill under committee review is not law and confers no exemption. Until B26-0602 is enacted, treat Washington, D.C. as an interconnection jurisdiction and speak to your utility first.

Before you buy in Washington, D.C.

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.

Ready to start? If you want backup power for outages rather than a grid-tied kit, see our power stations guide →

Nearby: Maryland · Virginia · see the full tracker.

Status last reviewed 2026-08-19. Plug-in solar law is evolving quickly — verify current Washington, D.C. rules and your utility's policy directly. Informational, not legal advice.