Yes — Virginia’s legislature has passed a law allowing plug-in solar. HB 395 / SB 250 was signed April 22, 2026 and takes effect on January 1, 2027, and the Code of Virginia section it adds sets a 1,200 W cap per customer, or per unit in multi-family housing.
StatusSigned
BillHB 395 / SB 250
Average rate, EIA16.83¢/kWh
CheckedOct 14, 2026
Where the bill stands
Bill introducedHB 395 / SB 250
Passed the legislaturedone
SignedApr 22, 2026
In effectJan 1, 2027
Signed, not yet in effect
Virginia
HB 395 / SB 250 was signed on April 22, 2026 and takes effect on January 1, 2027.
Bill
HB 395 / SB 250
Signed
April 22, 2026
Takes effect
January 1, 2027
Size limit
1,200 W (the law does not say AC or DC)Per customer, or per residential unit in multi-family housing.
Utility notice
RequiredBefore installation, on the State Corporation Commission's form, online or by mail; if the utility does not respond within 15 days, you may install.
Certification
certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (29 C.F.R. § 1910.7) or an equivalent; National Electrical Code (whole system)
Renters
The law does not address landlord permission. It does not apply to rental units billed through a ratio utility billing system.
HOA
The law does not say
Paid for exports
Not subject to net energy metering provisions; the law does not say whether exports are paid.
The same table as on the kits page, filtered by Virginia's size limit: 11 of 14 kits pass. The law also requires the whole system to be certified, so check the UL 3700 column and the product label before you buy. Prices from the official stores, with the date checked.
Plug-in solar kits with price, price per watt and certification
Kit
Panels
Inverter limit
Battery
UL 3700
Price
Per watt
Where to buy
EcoFlowSTREAM Microinverter + 2 × 400 W rigid panels
HB 395 and SB 250 became 2026 Acts of Assembly chapters 1052 and 998 and added § 56-596.8 to the Code of Virginia, effective January 1, 2027. The Bright Saver tracker lists the signing as April 22, 2026. A small portable solar generation device may have a maximum power output of not more than 1,200 W per customer, or per residential unit in multi-family housing; the law does not say whether this is AC or DC output.
The device must meet the National Electrical Code, be certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, and must not export power during an outage. A utility may not require its approval, a fee or charge related to the device, or extra equipment. Before installation you notify the utility on the State Corporation Commission’s form, online or by mail; the utility has 15 days to review it, and if it does not respond, you may install.
Law: Code of Virginia § 56-596.8, from 2026 chapters 998 (SB 250) and 1052 (HB 395); in effect January 1, 2027.
Size: 1,200 W per customer or per residential unit; AC or DC not stated.
Notice: before installation, on the Commission’s form; 15 days for the utility to respond.
Disconnect switch: the utility may install one where a property has more than one device or the circuit requires it.
Small devices: 391 W or less are exempt from listing provisions that would require changes to wiring or panels.
Localities may not prohibit the device on a residential structure; the section does not apply to rental units billed through a ratio utility billing system.
Before you buy in Virginia
Check three things before you buy: the notice form your utility needs before installation, what your landlord or HOA allows, and whether the product carries the safety certifications shown on the seller page. The law does not address landlord permission or HOAs, and it does not apply to rental units billed through a ratio utility billing system, so check your lease and association rules.
Confirm the kit’s certifications on the product label or seller page: some listings name UL 1741, while UL 3700 listing is not published for the EcoFlow kits in the store listings. If you want production and savings estimates for your area, the calculator provides location-specific numbers; the calculator gives the sample Virginia figures used below.
Notify your utility before installation on the State Corporation Commission’s form, and allow up to 15 days for a response.
Check lease and HOA rules; the law does not address them.
Confirm certifications on the seller page (UL 1741, UL 1741-SA / UL 1741-SB where listed).
Kits that fit the 1,200 W cap in the store listings: EcoFlow STREAM 400 W kit, EcoFlow STREAM 800 W kit, Mango Power S 1,200 W kit (prices checked October 14, 2026).
Questions
When does Virginia’s plug-in solar law take effect?
The Code of Virginia lists § 56-596.8 as effective January 1, 2027. The Bright Saver tracker gives April 22, 2026 as the signing date.
Do I need my landlord’s permission to use a plug-in solar kit?
The law does not address landlord permission, and it does not apply to rental units billed through a ratio utility billing system. Bright Saver reports that nothing in HB 395 requires a landlord’s permission; check your lease.
Do I have to notify my utility before plugging in a kit?
Yes. Before installation you submit the State Corporation Commission’s form to your utility, online or by mail. The utility has 15 days to review it; if it does not respond, you may install. No utility approval is needed.
How much can a plug-in solar system produce and save in Virginia?
The calculator gives examples for the state population center: an 800 W kit mounted vertical south produces 754 kWh a year (424 kWh used at home) and is worth $71 a year at 16.83 cents/kWh; tilted 30° the same kit produces 1,141 kWh and saves $87 a year. A 1,200 W kit (vertical south) produces 1,132 kWh and saves $79 a year.
EcoFlow STREAM Microinverter + 2 × 400 W rigid panels · $1,099Official store price, checked Oct 14, 2026; sold out on that dateOfficial site
