221 distributed solar policy actions were taken in Q3 all across country

A new quarterly report tracks rules that affect homeowners with rooftop solar, batteries, or community solar subscriptions. Between July and September, states and Puerto Rico took 221 actions on distributed solar policy, covering things like net metering (how much credit you get for power your panels send back to the grid), fixed monthly charges on your bill, and the rules for connecting home solar systems to the grid. Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, California, and Massachusetts saw the most activity.

A few trends stood out. Several states are working on rules for "meter socket adapters," devices that let you connect solar panels or batteries straight to your electric meter without an expensive electrical panel upgrade. New York regulators moved to allow these. States are also exploring new ways to pay homeowners for power their solar and battery systems send to the grid, beyond standard net metering, including programs that credit batteries or group many home systems together as a "virtual power plant." And some community solar programs, where you buy into a shared solar project instead of installing panels on your own roof, are simplifying billing so credits show up directly on your electric bill.

Other notable actions: Maryland formed a work group to study how to value home solar systems, Colorado Springs set new net-metering rates, Delaware passed a law guaranteeing savings for community solar subscribers, and three more states passed laws allowing small plug-in solar devices. If you have or are considering home solar, it is worth checking what your own state changed this quarter, since rules vary widely.