Utah Legalizes 1.2 kW Plug-in Solar as 29 States Pursue Similar Bills

2 articles · Updated · ZDNet · May 15

Utah has become the only US state to explicitly allow plug-in solar systems, letting residents install units up to 1.2 kW without utility approval or fees.
Microinverters make the setup possible by converting panels' DC output into AC that can feed a home's circuits through a standard outlet, covering a typical 200-400 watt daytime base load.
A 1,200-watt kit costs about $2,400, and the economics are still weak: in sunny Utah, full output could save roughly $315 a year for a 7.5-year payback, while base-load-only use stretches that to about 17 years.
Colorado is considering a higher 1.92 kW cap, but most pending state bills mirror Utah's 1.2 kW limit; Europe and the UK generally cap similar systems at 800 watts.
The technology remains niche in the US, with safety concerns and regulation still slowing adoption even as lower costs and broader legalization could expand the market.

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