Colorado is the latest state to approve plug-in solar (also known as balcony solar) after Gov. Jared Polis signed HB26-1007 into law.

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• Legalizes plug-in solar with safety guardrails. The new law legalizes plug-in solar generation devices — typically one to four solar panels plus an inverter, designed for simple self-installation by homeowners or renters in a yard or on a balcony. It requires that devices meet rigorous product safety standards, closing a gap that previously allowed unsafe products to be sold in Colorado. It prohibits utilities and HOAs from unreasonably blocking the installation or use of these devices.

• Cuts costly interconnection barriers with meter collars. The law requires the Public Utilities Commission to update interconnection rules by December 31, 2026, to explicitly allow customer ownership and use of meter collar adapters — simple devices installed between an electric meter socket and a utility billing meter that provide immediate interconnection of customer-owned energy devices. Meter collars reduce or eliminate the need for expensive electrical panel upgrades, saving families between $2,000 and $5,000 per installation and avoiding panel upgrades that can cost up to $10,000. Colorado’s investor-owned utilities — including Xcel and Black Hills — are already using meter collar technology. This law makes access universal and statewide.

• Expands access across all utility types. The law extends these protections to municipally owned utilities and electric cooperatives, ensuring that families across Colorado — not just those served by investor-owned utilities — can benefit.