Is balcony solar legal in Maine?
Short answer · In force
Yes. Maine's Public Law 2026, chapter 644 lets you plug in up to 420 W with no notice, and up to 1,200 W if a licensed electrician installs it on a dedicated circuit and you notify the utility within 30 days.
Last checked: · Law: LD 1730 (SP 676), 2026, Public Law chapter 644
What the law says
| Status | Enacted; signed by the Governor April 6, 2026 (chapter 644) law text |
|---|---|
| In force | Not printed in the law text we read. Trackers report July 15, 2026 reported |
| Size limit | Up to 420 W combined inverter output (AC) per service address; above 420 W up to 1,200 W only if each system is installed by a Maine-licensed electrician on a dedicated circuit with a single outlet law text |
| What counts | Plug-in photovoltaic systems AND plug-in battery systems with export capacity of 1,200 W or less law text |
| Certification | Listed or certified to UL 3700, or a comparable standard from a nationally recognized testing laboratory, or configured to the National Electrical Code adopted by the Electricians' Examining Board law text |
| Utility notice | Over 420 W: notify the utility within 30 days of installation on a form set by the PUC. The utility may not deny a compliant system law text |
| Utility approval | Not required. No interconnection application, agreement or study, no fee, no extra equipment law text |
| Net metering | May not be used for net energy billing law text |
| Renters | If you install on a structure you don't own, you must not compromise it or break building, fire or zoning codes, and must restore it when you remove the system law text |
law text = read in the bill, statute or an official government page. reported = from news or a tracker; we could not confirm it in an official source yet.
Inverters must shut off within 0.2 seconds if power is disrupted.
Where sources disagree
One tracker says the PUC is still finalising safety standards; the law itself names UL 3700 or a comparable NRTL standard.
Sources
- Maine Legislature: LD 1730 status page official
- Maine Legislature: chaptered law text (PDF) official
- PluginSolarUS: Maine tracker (effective date) secondary
All sources read on 2026-11-03.
Before you plug in
- Check with your utility whether it wants a notice, and how (the rules above say what it may and may not ask).
- Renting or in an HOA? Read renters & HOAs and ask your landlord or board in writing.
- Buy a kit with a certification you can look up. See certified kits.
- Estimate what it saves in Maine: savings calculator.
This page quotes the rule; it is not legal or electrical advice.