In this guide
Short answer: not yet. As of October 22, 2026, Pennsylvania has no plug-in solar law. HB 1971 would allow kits of up to 1,200 W without an interconnection agreement, but it is still in the House Energy Committee, and the session ends on November 30, 2026. Today, a grid-tied kit needs your utility's interconnection approval.
- Status
- Bill in House committee; not law
- Bill
- HB 1971 (2025–2026 session)
- Proposed cap
- 1,200 W (1.2 kW)
- What applies today
- Utility interconnection rules
- Average price
- About 21.7¢/kWh (July 2026)
What HB 1971 would do
The bill was introduced in summer 2025 with Democratic and Republican sponsors, including Rep. Chris Pielli of Chester County and Rep. Gary Day of Lehigh County. It would let households use a balcony solar array of up to 1.2 kW, plugged into an outlet, without the interconnection agreement that a rooftop system (usually 7 kW or more) needs.
In June 2026 reporting, Duquesne Light pointed out that the bill lacked a requirement for automatic disconnection during outages, a safety feature every enacted state law includes. The Public Utility Commission and the grid operator PJM declined to comment. Expect any revived bill to add certification and outage rules similar to other states' laws.
Session deadline
Pennsylvania's legislative session runs for two years and ends on November 30, 2026. A bill that hasn't passed both chambers by then dies. Sponsors have said they would reintroduce it in the 2027–2028 session if needed. We'll update this page and the state map.
What applies today
PECO, PPL, Duquesne Light, the FirstEnergy companies (Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power, West Penn) and others connect customer solar under the PUC's net metering and interconnection rules. That means an application and approval before you turn a system on. A plug-in kit doesn't fit that process well. Read do you need to tell your utility?
Plugging an unapproved grid-tied kit into an outlet may break your utility's terms, your lease and possibly your insurance terms. Wait for a law or get approval.
Options while you wait
- Off-grid solar: a panel and a portable power station for a home office or outages. See plug-in solar vs a power station.
- Community solar: Pennsylvania's program has been debated for years; check whether a subscription is available in your area. See plug-in vs community solar.
- Shop your supplier: Pennsylvania lets you choose who supplies your electricity, which can save as much as a small kit.
What a kit could save in Pennsylvania
| Setup | Produced per year | Saved per year |
|---|---|---|
| 400 W kit, vertical on a south railing, some shade | ~320 kWh | ~$65 |
| 800 W kit, vertical on a south railing, some shade | ~630 kWh | ~$109 |
| 800 W kit, tilted south, no shade | ~1,000 kWh | ~$174 |
| 1,200 W kit, tilted south, no shade | ~1,500 kWh | ~$212 |
Estimates assume you use 80% of the output (95% for 400 W, 65% for 1,200 W) at 21.7¢/kWh. Try your numbers with the calculator, preset for Pennsylvania.
Frequently asked questions
Is balcony solar legal in Pennsylvania?
Not under a specific law. HB 1971, a bipartisan bill that would allow plug-in solar up to 1,200 W without an interconnection agreement, was referred to the House Energy Committee and has not passed as of October 2026. Today, a device that feeds your home's wiring needs your utility's interconnection approval.
What would HB 1971 do?
It would exempt small plug-in solar arrays of up to 1.2 kW from the interconnection agreements that rooftop systems need. Duquesne Light has said the bill should require automatic disconnection during outages, which other state laws include.
What happens to HB 1971 at the end of 2026?
Pennsylvania's two-year session ends on November 30, 2026. Bills that haven't passed die and must be reintroduced; sponsors have said they would do so.
How much could a balcony solar kit save in Pennsylvania?
At about 22 cents per kWh, a well-placed 800 W kit could save roughly $110 to $175 a year.
Update log
- Page published. Status: bill in House committee.
Sources and official texts