New York Sends Balcony Solar Bill to Governor Allowing Plug‑In Panels

Overview

• The State Senate and Assembly passed the Solar Up Now NY (SUNNY) Act and transmitted the bill to Governor Kathy Hochul for her review and possible signature.
• The law defines eligible devices as portable photovoltaic systems that produce up to 1,200 watts AC and plug into a standard 120V outlet.
• The bill requires laboratory listing or certification and compliance with state fire codes to address safety concerns for consumer plug‑in systems.
• Utilities would not be able to require interconnection agreements, net metering, or user fees for these devices, but owners must notify their utility within 30 days of installation.
• The measure does not add explicit protections for renters, landlords or HOAs and sets no per‑home device limit, which could prompt further legal fights and shape how widely the technology is adopted.