Is Plug-In Solar Legal in New York?
Passed — not yet sent to the Governor Avg rate ~25¢/kWh Updated: October 7, 2026
Last verified: October 7, 2026 · changelog · 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
Frequently asked questions
Is balcony solar legal in New York right now?
Not yet codified. The SUNNY Act (A.9111C / S.8512C) passed both chambers (A9111C, 28 May 2026); it had not been delivered to the Governor as of 7 October 2026. Until it's signed into law, plug-in solar sits in a gray area governed by each utility's existing interconnection rules. Call your utility (Con Edison, National Grid or NYSEG) before you order.
What will the SUNNY Act allow?
The bill allows balcony / plug-in solar systems up to 1,200 watts (AC inverter output) that comply with state fire codes and are certified by an accredited testing laboratory such as UL. It explicitly removes the interconnection / utility-approval barrier for small systems within that cap.
When will it take effect?
The bill has not been delivered to the Governor as of 7 October 2026. Once it is, the New York Constitution, Art. IV §7, sets a fixed time for the Governor to act. The bill text (A9111C §5) says it takes effect on the ninetieth day after it becomes law.
What can I do meanwhile?
You can still install a plug-in solar kit today, but you have to do it under your utility's existing interconnection rules - not under the SUNNY Act. Call Con Edison, National Grid or NYSEG, ask what wattage they allow behind-the-meter, use a UL-listed microinverter, and keep written confirmation. Once the SUNNY Act is signed, the 1,200W path becomes the default for compliant kits.
For outages: backup power that ships fast
Specs from the manufacturers’ published figures, read 15 October 2026. Prices change often — check the listing.
- APsystems EZ1 microinverter — APsystems states it is “CSA Certified to UL3700 standards” (usa.apsystems.com, 15 July 2026).
- Mango Power S 120V 1200W plug-in kit — Mango Power announced on 18 September 2026 that Mango Power S “has been certified by Intertek to UL 3700”.
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
What the SUNNY Act actually does
The bill creates a state-level legal path for plug-in / balcony solar, removing the case-by-case utility-approval barrier for small systems. Key terms:
- Cap: 1,200 watts of AC inverter nameplate output to the grid (well above the 600–800W cap most U.S. utilities currently treat as the soft ceiling).
- UL-certified equipment. The microinverter (and panels where applicable) must be certified by an accredited testing laboratory — in practice this means a UL listing or equivalent.
- Fire-code compliance. Installations must follow New York’s state fire code (mounting clearances, cable routing).
- No special permit / utility application for systems within the cap that meet the above — that’s the headline change.
This is the same template European balcony-solar laws use (Germany’s “Steckersolar” rules are also ≤ 800W with VDE certification), scaled up to the U.S. 1,200W draft.
National context: NY would be the 11th state to sign
New York has passed a plug-in solar bill through both legislative chambers; it had not been delivered to the Governor as of 7 October 2026. Ten states have already signed similar laws:
- Utah (March 2025)
- Maine (April 6, 2026)
- Virginia (April 22, 2026)
- Colorado (May 7, 2026)
- Maryland (May 12, 2026)
- Connecticut (signed June 4, 2026)
- Vermont (signed June 16, 2026, effective July 1, 2026)
- New Hampshire (SB 540, signed July 2, 2026, effective January 1, 2027)
- New Jersey (S2368/A4836, signed September 1, 2026, effective March 1, 2027)
- California (SB 868, signed September 30, 2026, effective January 1, 2027)
If Hochul signs, New York becomes the 11th. Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire all signed in June–July 2026, making the Northeast the fastest-moving region on plug-in solar; New Jersey signed the Garden State Balcony Solar Act on 1 September 2026; it takes effect 1 March 2027. California signed SB 868 on 30 September 2026; it takes effect 1 January 2027. New York would join them with similar economics: payback at the state average 25¢/kWh rate (highest in the contiguous U.S. after California and the upper New England states) lands at roughly 3 years on a typical 800W kit.
What you can do today (while the bill waits)
You don’t have to wait for the signature to install plug-in solar — you just have to do it the old way: under your utility’s existing interconnection rules, not the SUNNY Act. Most New York households are served by one of three utilities:
- Con Edison (NYC + Westchester) — ask about small net energy metering / behind-the-meter interconnection for systems under 25 kW.
- National Grid (Upstate NY + Long Island gas) — same question; they generally accept UL-listed plug-in systems if you notify in writing.
- NYSEG (Central / Western NY) — similar process; written confirmation is your protection.
What to ask (and get in writing):
- Maximum wattage allowed behind-the-meter without a permit.
- Whether a one-page interconnection notification is required.
- Whether they require a specific microinverter UL-listing (UL 1741 / UL 3700).
Then size your kit against your actual bill with our savings calculator (the NY default rate is 25¢/kWh) — an 800W kit typically offsets ~$200/year in New York, payback in 3 years at typical kit prices.
Ready to start? If you want backup power for outages rather than a grid-tied kit, see our power stations guide →
Renting an apartment / co-op / condo? Read our HOA & balcony solar guide first — even with SUNNY signed, building rules still apply, and the 60-second landlord pitch matters more than the legislative wattage cap.
FAQ
- Is balcony solar legal in New York right now?
- Not yet codified. The SUNNY Act (A.9111C / S.8512C) passed both chambers (A9111C, 28 May 2026); it had not been delivered to the Governor as of 7 October 2026. Until it’s signed into law, plug-in solar sits in a gray area governed by each utility’s existing interconnection rules. Call your utility (Con Edison, National Grid or NYSEG) before you order.
- What will the SUNNY Act allow?
- The bill allows balcony / plug-in solar systems up to 1,200 watts (AC inverter output) that comply with state fire codes and are certified by an accredited testing laboratory such as UL. It explicitly removes the interconnection / utility-approval barrier for small systems within that cap.
- When will it take effect?
- The bill has not been delivered to the Governor as of 7 October 2026. Once it is, the New York Constitution, Art. IV §7, sets a fixed time for the Governor to act. The bill text (A9111C §5) says it takes effect on the ninetieth day after it becomes law.
- What can I do meanwhile?
- You can still install a plug-in solar kit today, but you have to do it under your utility’s existing interconnection rules — not under the SUNNY Act. Call Con Edison, National Grid or NYSEG, ask what wattage they allow behind-the-meter, use a UL-listed microinverter, and keep written confirmation. Once the SUNNY Act is signed, the 1,200W path becomes the default for compliant kits.
Sources
Nearby states: Pennsylvania · New Jersey · Connecticut · Massachusetts · Vermont · see the full 50-state tracker.