To amend section 4928.01 and to enact sections 4928.74, 4928.741, and 4928.742 of the Revised Code regarding portable solar generation devices.
HB755 creates a new legal category for “portable solar generation devices,” defined as movable photovoltaic devices with a maximum output of 1,200 watts that plug into a standard 120-volt outlet, are intended to offset a customer’s electricity use, and are certified by UL or an equivalent testing laboratory. The bill amends Ohio’s electric utility law to expressly exclude these devices from the definition of a net metering system and to add new sections stating that portable solar devices are exempt from interconnection requirements and from any requirement to sign an interconnection agreement under Chapter 4928.
The bill also prohibits electric utilities from requiring customers to obtain prior approval before installing or using such a device, from charging fees or other charges related to the device or the small amount of electricity it may feed back into the grid, and from requiring additional controls or equipment beyond what is already built into the device. It directs the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to adopt rules to implement these provisions. In effect, the bill would create a simplified, consumer-friendly pathway for plug-in solar products that operate more like appliance-level distributed generation than traditional rooftop solar systems.
HB755 would amend Ohio Revised Code section 4928.01 and add new sections 4928.74, 4928.741, and 4928.742, changing how portable plug-in solar devices are treated under state electric law. It would carve these devices out of existing interconnection and net metering frameworks, limiting utility oversight and reducing regulatory barriers for customers who use them. The bill would affect electric utilities, the Public Utilities Commission, and residential or small commercial customers interested in portable solar products, while leaving traditional rooftop solar and other distributed generation systems subject to existing rules.
The bill’s structure suggests a generally pro-solar, consumer-access-oriented approach, with the sponsors seeking to make small portable solar devices easier to install and use. Because the bill was only introduced and no committee testimony or votes are available, there is no recorded formal support or opposition in the provided materials. The text itself indicates a favorable policy stance toward expanding access to small-scale solar generation and reducing utility-imposed barriers.
The main potential point of contention is the bill’s removal of utility approval, interconnection agreements, and related fees for portable solar devices, which could concern electric utilities and regulators responsible for grid safety, technical standards, and cost recovery. Another possible issue is whether exempting plug-in solar devices from interconnection rules could create operational or safety concerns, even though the bill limits the devices to low-output, certified equipment. Supporters are likely to emphasize consumer choice, affordability, and ease of adoption, while opponents may focus on grid management, oversight, and the precedent of exempting generation devices from standard utility procedures.