What about Maine joins Utah (2025) and Virginia (2026) as the third?

Maine joins Utah (2025) and Virginia (2026) as the third state with plug-in solar law

What about Average 1,200W system could cut Maine electricity bills by ~20%?

Average 1,200W system could cut Maine electricity bills by ~20% ($388/year)

Maine Passes Plug-In Solar Legislation

Energy Storage News Solar + Storage Integration
Marin Holt
April 3, 2026
0
283
5 minutes read

Maine LD 1730 passed the legislature; awaiting Governor Mills' signature
1,200W limit; prohibits utilities from requiring interconnection agreements or fees
Maine joins Utah (2025) and Virginia (2026) as the third state with plug-in solar law
Average 1,200W system could cut Maine electricity bills by ~20% ($388/year)

Maine residents will soon have a new option for reducing electricity costs with the passage of LD 1730. Governor Janet Mills is poised to sign LD 1730 into law, a bill that permits individual Mainers to plug in a single solar or battery system, but only up to a meager 1200 watts. This is a far cry from typical rooftop solar installations, which usually clock in at 8-10 kilowatts. The legislation also curiously cites UL 3700 standards, which are still being developed. This bill prohibits utilities from requiring interconnection agreements or fees for these systems. LD 1730 establishes a 1200-watt limit for plug-in solar systems. The legislation categorizes these systems into two wattage classes, with a 420-watt threshold. Notably, this bill is the first to cite UL 3700 standards, which are currently under development. It explicitly prohibits utilities from imposing interconnection agreements or fees. Furthermore, utilities must be notified within 30 days for systems exceeding 420 watts. While LD 1730 has passed the legislature, it still requires the Governor’s signature to become law. The tenant protections within this bill are less robust than those found in a similar Virginia version. The 1200-watt limit is significantly lower than the average 8-10 kW rooftop solar system typically installed. Under LD 1730, utilities are prohibited from charging interconnection fees. Compliance with National Electrical Code and UL safety standards is required at the device level. For systems exceeding 420 watts, installation by a licensed electrician is mandated. A 1200-watt plug-in solar system is estimated to generate roughly 1200-1800 kWh per year in Maine. This generation is meaningful for renters and those struggling with electricity bills, which have seen significant increases, but represents a fraction of average household electricity consumption. The legislation does not specify an enforcement mechanism should utilities create informal barriers to installation.

Critical Perspective

Maine’s LD 1730 legislation sets a 1200-watt limit for plug-in solar systems, a notably lower capacity than the average 8-10 kW rooftop solar systems. The tenant protections in this bill are less robust than those found in Virginia’s comparable legislation. Historically, the California Solar Initiative, which aimed to install 3000 MW of solar by 2017, fell short of its target, raising questions about the effectiveness of such policies. Will the 1200-watt limit truly be sufficient to make a significant impact on electricity costs for Maine residents?