Is plug-in solar legal in Maine? (2026)
Yes. Maine allows plug-in solar under LD 1730, in effect since 2026-07-29. The limit is 1,200 watts. No interconnection agreement is required.
Legal
Maine law allows plug-in solar and plug-in battery systems up to 1,200 watts per service address with no interconnection agreement or utility fee; systems over 420 watts need a licensed electrician, a dedicated single-outlet circuit and a utility notification.
- Watt cap
- 1,200 W
- Permit
- —
- Interconnection
- Not required
- Utility notice
- Varies
- Equipment
- Listed or certified to UL 3700 (Outline of Investigation for Interactive Plug-in PV Equipment and Systems), or to a comparable standard from a nationally recognized testing laboratory, or configured in accordance with the National Electrical Code adopted by the Electricians' Examining Board.
- Law
- LD 1730 · An Act to Make Small Plug-in Solar Generation Devices Accessible for All Maine Residents to Address the Energy Affordability Crisis
- Signed
- 2026-04-06
- Effective
- 2026-07-29
Official sources
- LD 1730, legislature.maine.govlegislature.maine.gov/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0676&item=5&snum=132
- LD 1730, legislature.maine.govlegislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?LD=1730&SessionID=16
- LD 1730, legislature.maine.govlegislature.maine.gov/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1730&snum=132
- LD 1730, legislature.maine.govlegislature.maine.gov/doc/12558
- LD 1730, maine.govwww.maine.gov/mpuc/regulated-utilities/electricity/plug-in-solar
Research notes
Enacted as Public Law chapter 644 (S.P. 676), 132nd Legislature, 2nd Regular Session; new statute 35-A MRSA §3475 'Plug-in photovoltaic and battery systems'. The LawMakerWeb summary still shows the bill's original concept-draft title ('An Act Regarding the Beneficial Electrification Policy of the State'); the chaptered law carries the title used here. Two tiers: (1) up to 420 W combined inverter output per service address with no electrician, circuit or notice requirement in statute; (2) above 420 W up to 1,200 W per service address only if each system is installed by a Maine-licensed electrician on a dedicated circuit with a single outlet, and the customer notifies the utility within 30 days of installation on a form prescribed by the PUC (hence utilityNotice='varies'). Connects through a standard electrical outlet; inverters must shut off within 0.2 seconds if power is disrupted. Covers plug-in battery systems too. Utility may not require prior approval, an interconnection application/agreement/study, any fee, or extra equipment; utility may not deny a compliant installation; utility not liable. Not eligible for net energy billing. Renters: a customer installing on a structure they do not own must not compromise the structure or violate building/fire/zoning codes and must restore it on removal (no landlord-consent or HOA provision). Statute silent on permits (permitRequired=null). Effective date: no emergency clause found; the Legislature's official digest states non-emergency laws of the 2nd Regular Session take effect July 29, 2026 (session adjourned April 29, 2026). The digest cites it as 'Public Law 2025, chapter 644' (Maine numbers 132nd-Legislature laws in the 2025 series). The PUC publishes an official Plug-In Solar page (checked 2026-09-22) that hosts the notification form and lists each utility's submission address; it restates the 420 W / 1,200 W tiers and the 30-day notice, and says the form goes to the utility, not the Commission.
“—” means our record has no sourced value · Not legal advice
If you rent
The state law is on your side, but your lease still decides what you can attach to the building. Ask your landlord before you clamp anything to a railing. This email is a starting point:
If you own your home
You can install within the limits above. If you’re in a condo or HOA, the association’s rules on balconies and exterior equipment still apply. Above 1,200 watts the plug-in law no longer applies, and a system goes through the standard permit and interconnection process.
What Maine's law says
An eligible system is a plug-in solar or plug-in battery system exporting 1,200 watts or less, certified to UL 3700.
"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
legislature.maine.gov ↗Above 420 watts and up to 1,200 watts per service address, you must notify your utility within 30 days on a form the Commission prescribes. The statute sets no such duty below 420 watts.
“a retail electricity customer that installs an eligible system with a combined inverter output exceeding 420 watts but no more than 1,200 watts, per service address, must notify their transmission and distribution (T&D) utility via a form prescribed by the Commission within 30 days of installation”
maine.gov ↗Above 420 watts the system must be installed by a Maine-licensed electrician.
“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”
legislature.maine.gov ↗The utility cannot require approval beforehand, an interconnection application or agreement, or a fee.
“A transmission and distribution utility may not require a retail electricity customer … to: A. Obtain approval from the transmission and distribution utility prior to installation or operation; B. Submit an interconnection application …; C. Pay any fee or charge … related to the eligible system”
legislature.maine.gov ↗An eligible system cannot be used for net energy billing.
“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.”
legislature.maine.gov ↗The notification form goes to your utility, not to the Commission. The Commission lists each utility's address.
“The form should not be submitted to the Commission.”
maine.gov ↗
What Maine's largest utilities say
What each utility's own tariff or interconnection page says about generation a customer connects on their side of the meter.
Central Maine Power
CMP routes conventional residential solar through a Level 1 interconnection for systems of 25 kW or less. For plug-in solar, the Commission directs notification forms to CMP.
“Central Maine Power cmp_plug-in_solar@cmpco.com 83 Edison Drive Augusta, ME 04336”
maine.gov ↗Versant Power
Versant's Level 1 interconnection covers certified inverter systems up to 25 kW. For plug-in solar, the Commission directs notification forms to Versant.
“Versant Power dginterconnections@versantpower.com PO Box 932 Bangor, ME 04402”
maine.gov ↗
Who to ask
- Maine Public Utilities Commission, Plug-In Solar ↗
The Commission's own plug-in solar page: it hosts the notification form and lists where each utility wants it sent.
- Maine Public Utilities Commission, file a consumer complaint ↗
Takes utility complaints, once you have tried the utility first.
Sources read and quotes checked 2026-09-22.
What an 800 W kit makes in Maine
A railing-mounted panel hangs close to vertical, so it makes less than a tilted rooftop panel. These figures use a vertical panel on purpose.
Yearly output
806
kWh / year
800W, south-facing railing, no shade
Electricity rate
28.91
¢ / kWh
EIA, 2025-07 to 2026-06
Yearly savings
$186
per year, before kit cost
assumes 80% self-use
Sun
4.81
peak sun hours / day
optimal tilt, Portland
Output is modeled at Portland with PVGIS 5.3, European Commission Joint Research Centre, ERA5 weather data.
Kits sold in the US
These kits are sold in the US. We rank them on published specs, certification and price and have not tested them. Maine's law covers systems up to 1,200 W, so check the kit's output against that.
Some links in this section are affiliate links. We earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.
Lowest cost per watt
Bright Saver Balcony 360 W
360 W
Two panels and a 360 W microinverter, sold at cost by a nonprofit. The cheapest way into plug-in solar we can find, and the only kit here whose inverter is described against UL 3700.
- Panels
- Two 180 W panels, 46 × 34 in, 11 lb each
- Certification
- Inverter listed as “UL 3700 compliant” (Hoymiles HiFlow Pro LV)
- Warranty
- 12-year inverter warranty
- Price
- $414.17 as of 2026-09-22
At-cost price from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, not a retail price.
Bright Saver is a nonprofit we cover editorially. We earn nothing from this link.
Built-in battery
EcoFlow STREAM Ultra
800 W
800 W of on-grid output with 1.92–11.52 kWh of storage, so power made in the afternoon can run the evening. Pairing it with the STREAM Microinverter raises output to 1,200 W.
- Panels
- Not included
- Certification
- “UL1741-Certified & IEEE1547-Certified”
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Price
- Not published
EcoFlow lists no price until you configure the system.
Panels are not included, and EcoFlow's own page says plug-and-play use is currently available only in Utah, under H.B. 340.
Complete kit on Amazon
PluggedSolar 800 W Plug and Play
800 W
A complete kit sold as one box on Amazon. The panels sit in the sun and the cord goes to an outlet, so nothing is hard-wired.
- Panels
- Four 200 W panels, with a microinverter and a 50 ft cord
- Certification
- “UL 1741 code compliant for anti-islanding safety protection” (pluggedsolar.com); no lab listing published
- Warranty
- Not published
- Price
- $1,395.00 as of 2026-09-22
Amazon price read through the Creators API.
PluggedSolar publishes no lab listing for this kit and no warranty term we could find. Its Amazon listing estimates 1,500 kWh a year, which assumes panels angled at the sun.
We earn a commission if you buy through this link. It costs you nothing extra.
Most power
Craftstrom 1200 W Plug-in Solar Kit
1,200 W
Six panels and three 350 W microinverters with a smart power meter, for a yard, fence or long deck. The most output of anything here, at the highest price per watt.
- Panels
- Six 200 W bifacial semi-flexible panels
- Certification
- Inverters “ETL-certified to UL 1741 and IEEE 1547”
- Warranty
- 10 years on panels, inverters and power meter
- Price
- $3,309.00 as of 2026-09-22
Listed by the reseller My Own Watts.
Craftstrom sells through dealers, so prices differ by seller. We have no affiliate relationship with any of them.
- Anker SOLIX sells balcony systems in Europe, not in the US. We'll add them when a US model ships.
Questions about Maine
Is plug-in solar legal in Maine?
Yes. Maine allows plug-in solar under LD 1730, in effect since 2026-07-29. The limit is 1,200 watts. No interconnection agreement is required.
Is there a wattage limit in Maine?
Yes. Maine's law covers systems up to 1,200 watts.
Do I have to tell my utility?
It varies by utility. Ask yours, and get the answer in writing.
How much could an 800W kit save in Maine?
About $186 a year, before the kit's cost, for an unshaded 800W panel on a south-facing railing at 28.91¢/kWh. That assumes you use 80% of what it makes. Run the calculator for your own numbers.