Take Action
Contact Your
Lawmakers
Plug-in solar is legal in only 2 states and pending in 2 more. Your state legislators are the only ones who can change that. Here's how to make it happen.
Current Status
If you're in a pending state, calling your legislator NOW is the highest-impact action you can take.
States Where Action is Needed
sorted by electricity rate (highest impact first)States with high electricity rates have the most to gain from plug-in solar. These are the best targets for citizen advocacy.
| State | Rate/kWh | Sun hrs | Rate trend | Legislature | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $0.390 | 5.8h | ↑ 5%/yr | — | High urgency |
| Massachusetts | $0.280 | 4.5h | ↑ 8%/yr | Legislature ↗ | High urgency |
| California | $0.270 | 5.8h | ↑ 7%/yr | Legislature ↗ | High urgency |
| Connecticut | $0.240 | 4.4h | ↑ 6%/yr | — | High urgency |
| Rhode Island | $0.240 | 4.3h | ↑ 6%/yr | — | High urgency |
| New Hampshire | $0.230 | 4.4h | ↑ 5%/yr | — | High urgency |
| New York | $0.230 | 4.5h | ↑ 6%/yr | Legislature ↗ | High urgency |
| Alaska | $0.229 | 3.3h | ↑ 3%/yr | — | High urgency |
| Vermont | $0.210 | 4.4h | ↑ 5%/yr | — | High urgency |
| Maryland | $0.190 | 4.7h | ↑ 6%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Moderate |
| Michigan | $0.190 | 4.5h | ↑ 6%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Moderate |
| New Jersey | $0.180 | 4.7h | ↑ 6%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Moderate |
| Pennsylvania | $0.180 | 4.5h | ↑ 5%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Moderate |
| Illinois | $0.160 | 4.5h | ↑ 5%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Moderate |
| Wisconsin | $0.160 | 4.5h | ↑ 5%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Moderate |
| District of Columbia | $0.155 | 4.6h | ↑ 5%/yr | — | Moderate |
| Florida | $0.150 | 5.5h | ↑ 5%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Moderate |
| Ohio | $0.150 | 4.5h | ↑ 5%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Moderate |
| Arizona | $0.140 | 6.8h | ↑ 6%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Lower rates |
| Georgia | $0.140 | 5h | ↑ 5%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Lower rates |
| Minnesota | $0.140 | 4.5h | ↑ 5%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Lower rates |
| Nevada | $0.140 | 6.5h | ↑ 6%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Lower rates |
| New Mexico | $0.138 | 6.5h | ↑ 5%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Indiana | $0.134 | 4.5h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Alabama | $0.131 | 4.9h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| North Carolina | $0.130 | 5h | ↑ 5%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Lower rates |
| Oregon | $0.130 | 4.5h | ↑ 5%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Lower rates |
| Texas | $0.130 | 5.7h | ↑ 5%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| South Carolina | $0.129 | 5h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Delaware | $0.127 | 4.6h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Kansas | $0.127 | 5h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Mississippi | $0.117 | 5h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Montana | $0.117 | 4.8h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| South Dakota | $0.117 | 4.8h | ↑ 3%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Missouri | $0.115 | 4.8h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| West Virginia | $0.115 | 4.3h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Wyoming | $0.115 | 5.5h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Kentucky | $0.114 | 4.5h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Tennessee | $0.114 | 4.8h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Nebraska | $0.112 | 5h | ↑ 3%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Iowa | $0.110 | 4.6h | ↑ 3%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| North Dakota | $0.110 | 4.5h | ↑ 3%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Washington | $0.110 | 4h | ↑ 4%/yr | Legislature ↗ | Lower rates |
| Arkansas | $0.108 | 4.8h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Idaho | $0.100 | 5h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Oklahoma | $0.100 | 5.4h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
| Louisiana | $0.099 | 5.1h | ↑ 4%/yr | — | Lower rates |
Why Contacting Legislators Works
Phone calls have outsized impact
State legislators are far more accessible than federal ones. A constituent phone call to a state rep's office is often answered in person and logged immediately. Studies show each call is treated as representing 100–1,000 constituent opinions.
These bills are low-controversy
Plug-in solar bills cost the state nothing, require no utility changes, and generate no opposition from large utility lobbies (unlike rooftop solar net metering bills). They're an easy win for legislators who want to show they're pro-consumer.
Momentum is building
Utah passed its law in 2025. Maine followed in 2026. Colorado and Virginia have bills actively moving. Multiple other states are watching. Your call adds to the wave and signals constituent demand.
How to Do It — Step by Step
Use your home address — not your work address. You need to contact the reps who represent YOUR district.
Find your reps at usa.gov →A phone call takes 3 minutes and carries more weight than an email. Call your rep's district office (listed on their official page), not the capitol office. Leave a voicemail if no one answers.
Don't just say you support solar. Ask specifically: "Would you consider introducing or co-sponsoring a plug-in solar bill similar to Utah's HB 340?" Named actions get logged differently than vague support.
Use the template below. Personalize the first paragraph with your specific situation (renter, high electricity bill, etc.). Personal details make form-style emails more effective.
Jump to email template ↓Multiple contacts from the same district amplify the signal dramatically. If you own or rent in a multi-unit building, ask your neighbors if they'd be willing to make a 3-minute call.
Phone Call Script
"Hello, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent from [CITY]. I'm calling to ask [Representative/Senator] [NAME] to support plug-in solar legislation — similar to Utah's HB 340 that passed in 2025. These are small solar panels that plug into a standard outlet. They don't require permits or utility approval and are already legal in two states. With electricity rates rising every year, this would really help homeowners and renters like me save money. Could you take my contact information and let the [Rep/Senator] know I'd appreciate their support? Thank you."
Email Template
personalize the [ ] sectionsSubject: Please support plug-in solar legislation for [YOUR STATE] Dear [Representative/Senator] [Last Name], I am writing as your constituent from [CITY/ZIP] to ask you to introduce or co-sponsor legislation allowing plug-in solar systems in [STATE NAME]. What I'm asking for is simple: a bill that allows homeowners and renters to connect small solar systems (under 800–1,200 watts) to a standard household outlet — without a building permit, without utility approval, and without an interconnection agreement. Utah passed exactly this kind of law in 2025 (HB 340), and Maine followed in 2026 (LD 1368). Why this matters to me: • Electricity rates in [STATE NAME] have risen [X]% over the past five years • I rent my home and cannot install rooftop solar, but a plug-in system would let me generate my own electricity • A 600–800W plug-in solar kit can offset 800–1,200 kWh per year, reducing my bill by $100–$250 annually • These systems require no wiring changes — they simply plug into an outlet like any other appliance Similar laws in Utah and Maine have had zero reported safety incidents since enactment. The systems require UL 1741 certification, which mandates automatic grid disconnection for safety. I would be happy to discuss this further or share additional resources. Please consider introducing or supporting this legislation in the upcoming session. Respectfully, [YOUR NAME] [YOUR ADDRESS] [YOUR PHONE / EMAIL]
- Replace [X]% with your state's actual rate increase (find it in the table above)
- Mention your specific situation: renter, condo owner, multi-family building
- If you already own a kit, mention it — legislators respond to constituents who have skin in the game
- Keep the email under 400 words — longer emails are read less carefully
What Worked in Utah and Maine
A consumer advocacy coalition partnered with a solar installer association to draft bill language. They positioned the bill as a pro-consumer deregulation measure (appealing to both parties), not as a climate bill. The utility (Rocky Mountain Power) did not actively oppose it. The bill passed the House 68–5 and Senate 26–3.
Utah guide →Maine's bill gained traction after the sponsor cited Germany's Balkonkraftwerk standard, which has 2+ million installations with zero reported grid incidents. Renter advocacy groups testified in committee. The bill passed on bipartisan support and was signed into law in April 2026.
Maine guide →Not ready to call? Sign up for state updates.
We track every state legislature. One email when your state introduces or passes a plug-in solar bill — and a reminder when public comment windows open.
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