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Mainers may soon be able to install small-scale, portable solar energy systems in their homes, under a bill backed by the Legislature on Thursday.
If signed into law, the measure, LD 1730, would allow electricity customers to use certain small solar generation and battery systems, which plug directly into wall sockets, similar to gas generators. Since they attach to a home’s electrical system like any other appliance, these panels are also portable, meaning homeowners and renters can take them along when moving — unlike traditional solar systems, which are generally permanent.
The proposal comes as Mainers face steep electricity prices, driven largely by the cost of natural gas. It also comes as the American and Israeli conflict with Iran shakes global oil markets.
Proponents argue that these small generators could offset a household’s electricity usage and lower their monthly utility bills, all for a significantly lower upfront cost than larger-scale, more traditional solar systems.
Lawmakers have offered different estimations on exactly how much one of these systems could save a typical Maine household, but it could be hundreds of dollars per year.
Rep. Gerry Runte, D-York, said last month that an 800-watt system could reduce an average Central Maine Power Co. customer more than 750 kilowatt hours each year, reducing their annual electricity costs by more than $250.
The Senate approved the measure without debate Thursday, sending it to Gov. Janet Mills.
The bill’s movement comes as plug-in solar systems see expanded interest and implementation globally. Twenty-eight states — including nearly all of New England — are currently considering similar bills, according to an analysis by Canary Media.
The United Kingdom announced last month that plug-in solar panels would “be in shops within months,” noting that they have already been adopted elsewhere in Europe. In Germany, more than one million panels have been installed since 2022, the local outlet DW reported late last year.
The new measure is expected to create a “minor cost increase” for the Public Utilities Commission, which could likely be absorbed by the commission’s existing budget, according to the bill’s fiscal note.
The measure would permit electricity customers to install systems with outputs up to 420 watts by themselves.
Larger systems, up to 1,200 watts, are also permitted, but they must be installed by a licensed electrician and attached to a dedicated circuit. Though they do not need to seek permission, residents who install larger systems are also required to notify their electric utility within 30 days of installation.
The bill prohibits electrical utilities from demanding applications, charging fees or requiring additional equipment, and it exempts utilities from any liability if the new systems cause damage or injuries.
None of these smaller systems can be used to earn net energy billing credits, according to the bill’s latest language.
In remarks ahead of the bill’s first vote last month, Rep. Gary Friedmann, D-Bar Harbor, said the bill “promotes the frugal self sufficiency that has kept us strong.”
But opponents in the Legislature have derided the measure as overregulation and argued that it could create safety concerns and lead to conflicts between renters and their landlords.
In a debate last month on the House floor, Rep. Reagan Paul, R-Winterport, said the bill “erodes property rights” by allowing renters to make changes to their living spaces without the property owner’s consent. She added that Maine’s old housing stock could create additional safety issues if, for example, someone runs an extension cord out their window because their home does not have exterior outlets.
Rep. Sophie Warren, D-Scarborough, argued that Mainers can already purchase appliances that would have a greater effect on a home’s electrical system than these solar and battery systems.
“This is about equity in our clean energy transition,” Warren said.
Staff Writer Rachel Ohm contributed to this report.
Daniel Kool is the Portland Press Herald's cost of living reporter, covering wages, bills and the infrastructure that drives them — from roads, to the state's electric grid to the global supply chains… More by Daniel Kool
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