§3475. Plug-in photovoltaic and battery systems
1.
Definitions.
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A.
"Eligible system" means a plug-in photovoltaic system or plug-in battery system with an export capacity of 1,200 watts or less that is:
(1)
Listed or certified in accordance with UL 3700, the Outline of Investigation for Interactive Plug-in Photovoltaic Equipment and Systems, and any other applicable standards developed by UL LLC, formerly known as Underwriters Laboratories, or the National Electrical Code specific to plug-in photovoltaic systems and plug-in battery systems;
(2)
Listed or certified in accordance with a standard comparable to UL 3700 from a nationally recognized testing laboratory; or
(3)
Configured in accordance with the National Electrical Code that is adopted by rule by the Electricians' Examining Board, established in Title 5, section 12004‑A, subsection 13.
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
B.
"Interconnection agreement" means an agreement between a person and a transmission and distribution utility governing the connection of an interconnecting generating facility to the transmission and distribution utility's system and the ongoing operation of the interconnecting generating facility after it is connected to the system.
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
C.
"Plug-in battery system" means an alternating current-coupled energy storage device that:
(1)
Connects to a retail electricity customer's electrical system wiring through a standard electrical outlet;
(2)
Is capable of charging from or discharging to the electrical system to which it is connected independently of any photovoltaic system; and
(3)
Is intended to offset on-site electricity consumption by the retail electricity customer, perform energy arbitrage or participate in grid-support operations.
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
D.
"Plug-in photovoltaic system" means a photovoltaic generation device that:
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
(1)
Connects to a retail customer's electrical system wiring through a standard electrical outlet in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of interconnected electric power sources established in the National Electrical Code that is adopted by rule by the Electricians' Examining Board, established in Title 5, section 12004‑A, subsection 13;
(2)
Is intended primarily to offset part of the retail electricity customer's electricity consumption; and
(3)
Uses inverters that are configured to shut off after 0.2 seconds if power is disrupted.
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
2.
Authorization.
Subject to the requirements of this section, a retail electricity customer may install and operate one or more eligible systems at the customer's service address for the purpose of offsetting on-site electricity consumption.
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
3.
Capacity limitations.
A retail electricity customer may install and operate one or more eligible systems with a combined inverter output of up to 420 watts, measured in alternating current, per service address. A retail electricity customer may install and operate plug-in photovoltaic systems and plug-in battery systems with combined inverter output exceeding 420 watts, but no more than 1,200 watts, per service address, as long as each system is installed by an electrician licensed in the State and uses a dedicated circuit with a single outlet and the customer complies with the notification requirement in subsection 5.
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
4.
Net energy billing; prohibition.
An eligible system installed and operated in accordance with the requirements of this section may not be used for net energy billing pursuant to sections 3209‑A and 3209‑B.
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
5.
Notification for output exceeding 420 watts.
A retail electricity customer that installs an eligible system in accordance with subsection 3 shall provide a notification to the transmission and distribution utility in whose service territory the eligible system is installed in a form prescribed by the commission within 30 days of installation. The notification must include, but is not limited to, the retail customer's service address, the inverter capacity of the eligible system and a statement that the retail electricity customer is in compliance with the requirements of this section. A transmission and distribution utility may not deny the installation of an eligible system that complies with the requirements of this section.
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
6.
Prohibitions.
A transmission and distribution utility may not require a retail electricity customer that installs or operates an eligible system in accordance with the requirements of this section to:
A.
Obtain approval from the transmission and distribution utility prior to installation or operation;
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
B.
Submit an interconnection application, execute an interconnection agreement or undergo an interconnection study in connection with the eligible system;
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
C.
Pay any fee or charge to the transmission and distribution utility related to the eligible system; or
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
D.
Install additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the eligible system.
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
7.
Liability.
A transmission and distribution utility is not liable for any damage or injury caused by the installation or operation of an eligible system by a retail electricity customer in accordance with this section.
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
8.
Structural and code compliance; installation or removal.
A retail electricity customer that installs or operates an eligible system on or in a structure the customer does not own shall ensure that the installation or operation does not compromise the integrity of the structure or violate any state or local building, fire or zoning codes. Upon removal of an eligible system from a structure the customer does not own, the customer shall restore the structure to its condition prior to the installation.
[PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2025, c. 644, §1 (NEW).