First Federal Plug-In Solar Bill: What H.R. 10851 Would Do

Short answer: the first federal bill on plug-in solar, the Socket Full of Sunshine Act (H.R. 10851), was introduced in the US House on October 19, 2026 by Rep. Rob Menendez of New Jersey and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. As of October 23 it has no cosponsors and no further action (Congress.gov). It is only a proposal: nothing changes for you today, and your state’s law still decides whether you can plug in a system without your utility’s approval.

What the bill would do

From the text as introduced:

• Push states to drop utility hurdles, without forcing them to. It would add plug-in solar to the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act as a standard each state must consider: exempting these devices from interconnection agreements and net metering rules, and barring utilities from requiring approval, insurance, fees or extra equipment. State regulators would have one year to start that review and two years to decide. States that already adopted a comparable standard, held a proceeding on one, or had their legislature vote on one in the previous three years wouldn’t be bound by those deadlines.
• Fund rebates of up to $1,000 for low- and moderate-income households, through Department of Energy grants to states for point-of-sale rebate programs that prioritize renters, multifamily residents and high-energy-burden communities. Only US-made devices would qualify, with more than 55% of the component cost made in the US. The bill authorizes $100 million a year for fiscal years 2027 through 2032; Congress would still have to appropriate it.
• Protect some renters. To get a grant, a state would have to stop landlords from banning a tenant who pays their own electricity from using a device, including on a leased balcony or patio. Landlords could still set reasonable limits on size and placement, and states could require the tenant to give written notice.
• Require a federal safety standard. The Consumer Product Safety Commission would have 60 days after the law passes to issue one, consulting the DOE, the EPA, labor groups, UL Solutions and solar industry associations. Each device would have to come with information on safe use, installation, expected savings and warranties.
• Create a voluntary savings label from the Federal Trade Commission, similar to the Energy Guide label, showing a device’s expected electricity savings.

Which devices it covers

The bill’s definition is close to the state laws already passed: a movable solar device of no more than 1,200 W that plugs into a standard 120 V outlet, is meant mainly to offset part of your own electricity use, meets the latest National Electrical Code, and is certified by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory. Devices above about 400 W would also need a power control system (one definition in the text says 400 W or more, the other more than 400 W).

What it means for you today

• Nothing yet, in any home. An introduced bill has to pass committee and both chambers and be signed by the president before it becomes law. Until then, the rules are your state’s and your utility’s: check our guide to plug-in solar laws by state.
• Apartments: the renter protection would only apply in states that take the rebate grants, and only for tenants who pay their own electric bill. Today, ask your landlord and read your lease before you hang anything.
• Houses: the bill says nothing about homeowners associations, so HOA rules would still apply.

The press release from Rep. Menendez’s office says typical systems cost $285 to $3,500 depending on size and whether they include a battery, and can cut bills “by hundreds of dollars a year”. That’s the sponsor’s claim; what a system saves depends on your state’s price, your sun and your mounting, as our math in how much plug-in solar really saves shows.

We’ll follow the bill on Congress.gov and update this page if it moves.