Colorado is the latest state to approve plug-in solar (also known as balcony solar) after Gov. Jared Polis signed HB26-1007 into law.
Credit: UL
The legislation led by Reps. Lesley Smith and Rebekah Stewart and Sens. Cathy Kipp and Matt Ball that will make it cheaper and easier for Colorado families, including renters and apartment dwellers, to power their homes with solar energy. The bill passed both chambers of the Colorado legislature with bipartisan support.
The new law creates a pathway to allow for the use of plug-in solar devices, establishes critical safety standards for those products and eliminates unnecessary interconnection barriers by allowing families to use meter collar adapters.
“Colorado is breaking down barriers to clean energy and saving people money on energy bills,” said Gov. Polis following the signing of the bill. “Just because you live in an apartment or multi-family building doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to use solar panels to save money on your energy bill, and this new law expands access and choice to money-saving clean energy solutions for more Coloradans. Thank you to the sponsors for expanding choices for more Coloradans to explore new technology that protects our environment and saves Coloradans money.”
What HB-1007 Does:
- Legalizes plug-in solar with safety guardrails. The new law legalizes plug-in solar generation devices — typically one to four solar panels plus an inverter, designed for simple self-installation by homeowners or renters in a yard or on a balcony. It requires that devices meet rigorous product safety standards, closing a gap that previously allowed unsafe products to be sold in Colorado. It prohibits utilities and HOAs from unreasonably blocking the installation or use of these devices.
- Cuts costly interconnection barriers with meter collars. The law requires the Public Utilities Commission to update interconnection rules by December 31, 2026, to explicitly allow customer ownership and use of meter collar adapters — simple devices installed between an electric meter socket and a utility billing meter that provide immediate interconnection of customer-owned energy devices. Meter collars reduce or eliminate the need for expensive electrical panel upgrades, saving families between $2,000 and $5,000 per installation and avoiding panel upgrades that can cost up to $10,000. Colorado’s investor-owned utilities — including Xcel and Black Hills — are already using meter collar technology. This law makes access universal and statewide.
- Expands access across all utility types. The law extends these protections to municipally owned utilities and electric cooperatives, ensuring that families across Colorado — not just those served by investor-owned utilities — can benefit.
- Benefits renters and apartment dwellers. Unlike traditional rooftop solar, plug-in solar requires no major modifications to a building and can be moved when a family relocates — making it the first accessible solar option for the millions of Colorado families who rent their homes.
News item from Colorado Solar and Storage Association