Is Plug-In Solar Legal in New Hampshire?
Signed — takes effect 1 Jan 2027 Avg rate ~24¢/kWh Updated: July 2, 2026 · Last verified: August 1, 2026
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
Frequently asked questions
Is balcony solar legal in New Hampshire now?
Signed, but not in force yet. Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed SB 540 on July 2, 2026 as Chapter 262. The plug-in / balcony solar provisions take effect January 1, 2027. From the effective date, a single plug-in solar device up to 1,200W is legal without utility approval, interconnection paperwork, or fees.
What does SB 540 actually allow?
It allows any utility customer to use one plug-in solar device with a maximum inverter output of 1,200 watts AC per metered customer. The device must be certified by an accredited testing laboratory (UL or equivalent). No utility approval, no interconnection agreement, and no fees are required for systems within the cap.
When does the plug-in solar provision take effect?
January 1, 2027. The bill was signed July 2, 2026 but the balcony solar provisions are not in force until that date.
What can I do before January 1, 2027?
You can still install a plug-in solar kit today, but until January 1, 2027 you have to do it under your utility's existing interconnection rules — not under SB 540. Call Eversource NH, Unitil, NH Electric Cooperative, or Liberty Utilities, ask what wattage they allow behind-the-meter, use a UL-listed microinverter, and keep written confirmation.
What New Hampshire law requires of the equipment
New Hampshire is one of eight states that write certification into the statute. This section is about what satisfies it, not about what we can earn from.
What meets it today
- Hoymiles HiFlow Pro — certified to UL 3700 and UL 1741. $152.78 from NAZ Solar Electric. Pre-order — Expected arrival at our warehouse is early September. (manufacturer page for the certification; seller product page for price and availability, read 4 August 2026.)
- APsystems EZ1 Microinverter — certified to UL 3700. $325 from APsystems USA direct. We have not checked stock or lead time. (product page, read 2 August 2026.)
What does not
- AUECOOR 600W Complete Grid-Tie Kit — its listing says “Certification: CE”: no NRTL listing stated.
- Y&H 600W Grid-Tie Microinverter — its listing says “The inverter is not UL1741 certified.”: the seller states it does not have it.
What that means in practice. This starts on 1 January 2027. From that day a device without the listing does not qualify for New Hampshire’s simplified route. Until the Hoymiles unit reaches its US warehouse in early September, the choice in New Hampshire is narrow: the APsystems EZ1 at $325, sold direct by the manufacturer, and the Hoymiles unit, which can be ordered but not yet delivered. We have not checked APsystems’ stock or lead time, so confirm that before you rely on it. We would rather say all of that than point you at something cheaper that does not meet your own state’s wording.
We earn nothing from either of these. Neither manufacturer runs a programme that pays publishers, so there are no tracking links here. What UL listing means, which eight states require it, and what eight popular products actually declare. Prices and availability read 4 August 2026.
What SB 540 actually does (the plug-in solar part)
SB 540 creates a clear state-level path for plug-in / balcony solar in New Hampshire. Key terms:
- Cap: 1,200 watts AC inverter output — one plug-in solar generation system per metered customer.
- UL-certified equipment. The microinverter (and panels where required) must be certified by an accredited testing laboratory — in practice this means a UL listing or equivalent.
- No utility approval, no interconnection agreement, no fees for systems within the cap.
- Effective date: January 1, 2027.
That puts New Hampshire among the states with a dedicated plug-in solar law — though the caps, the commencement dates and even what the watts are measured at differ from state to state: Utah, Maine, Virginia, Colorado, Maryland, Connecticut, and Vermont.
National context: NH is the 8th state to sign
New Hampshire is the 8th U.S. state to sign a plug-in solar law. The signed-into-law list now (chronological):
- Utah — HB 340 (March 2025) — first ever
- Maine — LD 1730 (April 6, 2026)
- Virginia — HB 395 / SB 250 (April 22, 2026)
- Colorado — HB26-1007 (May 7, 2026) — highest cap (1,920W)
- Maryland — HB 1532 (May 12, 2026)
- Connecticut — HB 5340 (June 4, 2026)
- Vermont — S.202 (June 16, 2026)
- New Hampshire — SB 540 (July 2, 2026)
New York (SUNNY Act, A.9111C / S.8512C) and New Jersey (Garden State Plug-In Solar Act, S2368/A4836 — passed both chambers unanimously on June 30, 2026) have also passed their legislatures and are awaiting their Governors’ signatures.
One part of the act has no date at all. Section 3 inserts RSA 155-A:16, which directs the building code review board to amend the state building code to cover buildings using a plug-in system. Under 262:6 it takes effect only when the commissioner of the Department of Energy certifies to the Office of Legislative Services and the Secretary of State that a nationally recognized standard exists authorising plug-in solar systems to be safely connected to a building’s electrical system. There is no deadline for that certification. Meanwhile RSA 362-A:10 still requires every system to be installed and operated in accordance with the state building code — the code that section 3 is meant to update.
Insurance is the one to watch. The act obliges the Department of Energy to publish notice that connecting an unlisted system, or connecting one in a manner not in accordance with the state building code or manufacturer instructions, may affect your homeowners or renters insurance coverage. That is a bigger practical risk for most people than anything the utility can do.
Why New Hampshire matters: among the highest residential electricity rates in the U.S. (~24¢/kWh) — meaning an 800W kit pays back in ~3 years vs. 5–7 years in lower-rate states. SB 540 makes plug-in solar a default for any NH renter or homeowner.
What you can do now (before January 1, 2027)
You don’t have to wait until January 1, 2027 to install plug-in solar — you just have to do it under your utility’s existing interconnection rules until then. New Hampshire’s major investor-owned utilities and co-ops:
- Eversource NH (largest, most of the state)
- Unitil (Seacoast, Capital area)
- NH Electric Cooperative (rural northern / western NH)
- Liberty Utilities (small footprint)
What to ask (and get in writing):
- Maximum wattage allowed behind-the-meter without a permit before January 1, 2027.
- Whether a one-page interconnection notification is required.
- Whether they require a specific microinverter UL-listing (UL 1741 / UL 3700).
From January 1, 2027 onwards: the 1,200W cap under SB 540 applies statewide. No approval, no interconnection review and no fee — but RSA 362-A:10, II lets your utility set up a way for you to report the system’s wattage after you install it, for notification only.
Run your numbers with our savings calculator — New Hampshire’s default rate is 24¢/kWh, which makes payback unusually fast: an 800W kit typically offsets ~$190/year here, payback in ~3 years on a typical $500–700 kit.
Ready to start? If you want backup power for outages rather than a grid-tied kit, see our power stations guide →
Renting an apartment / condo? Read our HOA & balcony solar guide first — even with SB 540, building rules still apply.
FAQ
- Is balcony solar legal in New Hampshire now?
- Signed, but not in force yet. Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed SB 540 on July 2, 2026. The plug-in / balcony solar provisions take effect January 1, 2027. From the effective date, a single plug-in solar device up to 1,200W is legal without utility approval, interconnection paperwork, or fees.
- What does SB 540 actually allow?
- It allows any utility customer to use one plug-in solar device with a maximum inverter output of 1,200 watts AC per metered customer. The device must be certified by an accredited testing laboratory (UL or equivalent). No utility approval, no interconnection agreement, and no fees are required for systems within the cap.
- When does the plug-in solar part take effect?
- January 1, 2027. The bill was signed July 2, 2026 but the balcony solar provisions are not in force until then.
- What can I do before January 1, 2027?
- You can still install a plug-in solar kit today, but until January 1, 2027 you have to do it under your utility’s existing interconnection rules — not under SB 540. Call Eversource NH, Unitil, NH Electric Cooperative, or Liberty Utilities, ask what wattage they allow behind-the-meter, use a UL-listed microinverter, and keep written confirmation.
Nearby states: Maine · Massachusetts · Vermont · see the full 50-state tracker.