Colorado Oks Balcony Solar, Mandates Utilities Accept Meter Collars

Gov. Jared Polis has signed HB26-1007 into law, making Colorado the latest state to permit plug-in solar, often known as balcony solar.

The proposal, sponsored by Reps. Lesley Smith, Rebekah Stewart, and Sens. Cathy Kipp and Matt Ball, that will make it simpler and more affordable for Colorado families, including renters and apartment-dwellers, to power their homes with solar energy. The law passed both houses of the Colorado legislature with bipartisan support.

The new legislation provides a road for the adoption of plug-in solar devices, sets key safety criteria for such goods, and removes superfluous connectivity hurdles by enabling households to utilize meter collar adapters.

“Colorado is breaking down barriers to clean energy and saving people money on energy bills,”

Gov. Polis said after signing the law.

“Living in an apartment or multi-family building shouldn’t preclude you from being able to use solar panels to save money on your energy bill, and this new law expands access and choice to money-saving clean energy solutions to more Coloradans.”

“Thanks to the sponsors for creating more options for more Coloradans to try new technology that protects our environment and saves Coloradans money.”

What Does HB-1007 Do:

• Legalizes plug-in solar with safety guardrails. The new regulation enables plug-in solar generating equipment, often one to four solar panels with an inverter, that may be easily installed by homeowners or tenants in a yard or on a balcony. The measure mandates items to comply with strict safety criteria, closing a loophole that has previously enabled harmful products to be marketed in Colorado. It prevents utilities and HOAs from unnecessarily restricting the installation or usage of these devices.
• Meter collars to cut expensive connectivity hurdles. Current 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 save households money by eliminating or reducing the need for costly electrical panel improvements. They prevent panel upgrades of up to $10,000 and save between $2,000 and $5,000 each installation. Xcel and Black Hills, like other investor-owned utilities in Colorado, are already adopting meter collar technology. It offers universal and statewide access.
• Extends reach across all kinds of utilities. The bill expands similar safeguards to municipally owned utilities and electric cooperatives so that households throughout Colorado, not just those served by investor-owned utilities, may benefit.
• It helps apartment residents and renters. Unlike conventional rooftop solar, plug-in solar does not need extensive alterations to a structure and can be transferred when a family relocates, making it the first accessible solar option for the millions of Colorado families who rent their homes.