Vermont S 202: An act relating to plug-in photovoltaic devices

Bill Text

No. 149 Page 1 of 6
2026

VT LEG #390233 v.1
No. 149. An act relating to plug-in photovoltaic devices.
(S.202)
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. 30 V.S.A. § 201 is amended to read:
§ 201. DEFINITIONS
As used in this chapter:
* * *
(9) “Plug-in photovoltaic device” means a photovoltaic generation
device that:
(A) is designed to be connected to a building’s electrical system via
an electrical cord plugged into a receptacle;
(B) includes a feature that prevents the system from energizing the
building’s electrical system during a power outage;
(C) 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,
using default performance and setting profiles consistent with those developed
by regional transmission and distribution system operators; and
(D) is connected to a building that is connected to the electric grid.

No. 149 Page 2 of 6
2026

VT LEG #390233 v.1
Sec. 2. 30 V.S.A. § 256 is added to read:
§ 256. PLUG-IN PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES
(a) A customer may install one or more plug-in photovoltaic devices per
electric meter if the devices have a maximum combined inverter capacity of
not more than 1,200 watts. Plug-in photovoltaic devices shall only be
connected to systems using smart meters. A customer shall ensure a device is
temporarily but securely attached to the ground or a structure.
(b) The installation of a plug-in photovoltaic device that complies with
subsection (a) of this section shall not be required to comply with the
requirements of section 248 of this chapter, shall not be required to obtain an
interconnection agreement with an electric distribution company, and shall not
otherwise be subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission.
(c) An electric distribution company shall not require a customer using a
plug-in photovoltaic device that complies with subsection (a) of this section to:
(1) obtain the company’s approval before installing or using the device;
(2) pay any fee or charge related to the installation of the device; or
(3) install any additional controls or equipment beyond what is
integrated into the device.
(d) Nothing in this section shall prevent an electric distribution company
from recovering costs associated with the overloading of the service provided
due to the presence of a plug-in photovoltaic device.

No. 149 Page 3 of 6
2026

VT LEG #390233 v.1
(e) A customer with a net metering system shall not also install a plug-in
photovoltaic device. A plug-in photovoltaic device shall not be eligible for net
metering. Generation exported to the grid by a plug-in photovoltaic device
shall not be compensated by an electric distribution company.
(f) A plug-in photovoltaic device in a public building, as defined in
20 V.S.A. § 2730, shall be used in a manner that complies with all applicable
requirements of the most recent Fire and Building Safety Code adopted by the
Division of Fire Safety.
(g) A tenant shall provide at least 10 days’ notice to the landlord of the
tenant’s intent to install a plug-in photovoltaic device in compliance with
subsection (a) of this section in the building. The landlord shall respond within
10 days with any reasonable restrictions on the installation of the device,
including requiring the tenant to pay for any required electrical work and
hiring a licensed electrician to do the work. If the landlord does not respond
within 10 days, the tenant may proceed with installation. A tenant shall not
perform or hire someone to perform electrical work on the premises for the
installation of a plug-in photovoltaic device without the landlord’s permission.
A landlord shall not be compelled to perform or pay for electrical work on the
premises to allow for the installation of a plug-in photovoltaic device.
Sec. 3. 24 V.S.A. § 4413(g) is amended to read:
(g) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a bylaw adopted
under this chapter shall not:

No. 149 Page 4 of 6
2026

VT LEG #390233 v.1
(1) Regulate the installation, operation, and maintenance of a plug-in
photovoltaic device or, on a flat roof of an otherwise complying structure, of a
solar energy device that heats water or space or generates electricity. For the
purpose of this subdivision, “flat roof” means a roof having a slope less than or
equal to five degrees.
(2) Prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting the installation of solar
collectors not exempted from regulation under subdivision (1) of this
subsection, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources.
Sec. 4. 27 V.S.A. § 544 is amended to read:
§ 544. ENERGY DEVICES BASED ON RENEWABLE RESOURCES
(a) No deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements running
with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting solar collectors,
clot