Socket Full of Sunshine Act

This Act may be cited as the “Socket Full of Sunshine Act”.

(a) Federal standard.— Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(22) Portable solar generation devices.—

(A) Consideration.— Each State shall consider measures to promote the use of portable solar generation devices, particularly those manufactured in the United States, including by—

(i) exempting portable solar generation devices from—

(I) any requirement to obtain or execute an interconnection agreement prior to operating the portable solar generation device; and

(II) net metering program requirements; and

(ii) prohibiting electric utilities from requiring an electric consumer using a portable solar generation device to—

(I) obtain the electric utility’s approval prior to installing or using the portable solar generation device;

(II) purchase insurance for use of the portable solar generation device;

(III) pay any fee or charge related to the portable solar generation device; or

(IV) install any additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the portable solar generation device.

(B) Definition.— In this paragraph, the term portable solar generation device means a moveable photovoltaic generation device that—

(i) has a maximum power output of not more than 1,200 watts;

(ii) is designed to be connected to a building’s electrical system through a standard 120-volt alternating current outlet;

(iii) is intended primarily to offset part of the electricity consumption of the electric consumer who owns or uses the device;

(iv) meets the standards of the most recent version of the National Electrical Code;

(v) is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory; and

(vi) is equipped with a power control system, if the device has a maximum power output that is greater than or equal to 400 watts.”.

(b) Conforming amendments.—

(1) Consideration and determination.— Section 111(a) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(a)) is amended by striking “Each State” and inserting “Except as otherwise provided, each State”.

(2) Obligations To consider and determine.—

(A) Time limitations.— Section 112(b) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(9)

(A) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority) shall commence consideration under section 111, or set a hearing date for consideration, with respect to the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d).

(B) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with respect to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking authority) shall complete the consideration and make the determination under section 111 with respect to the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d).”.

(B) Failure to comply.— Section 112(c) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “In the case of the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d), the reference contained in this subsection to the date of enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of that paragraph (22).”.

(C) Prior State actions.— Section 112 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2622) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(i) Prior State actions.— Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d) in the case of any State regulated electric utility in a State if, before the date of enactment of this subsection—

(1) the State has implemented for the State regulated electric utility the standard (or a comparable standard);

(2) the State regulatory authority for the State has conducted a proceeding to consider implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the State regulated electric utility; or

(3) the State legislature has voted on the implementation of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the State regulated electric utility during the 3-year period ending on that date of enactment.”.

(c) Prior and pending proceedings.— Section 124 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2634) is amended by adding at the end the following: “In the case of the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d), the reference contained in this section to the date of enactment of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of that paragraph (22).”.

(a) Establishment.— The Secretary shall establish and carry out a program to award grants to States to establish and carry out a point-of-sale rebate program under which rebates shall be provided to assist low- or moderate-income households with the purchase of a portable solar generation device.

(b) Application.— A State seeking a grant under the program established by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes a plan to implement a point-of-sale rebate program described in subsection (a), including—

(1) a plan to verify the income eligibility of households seeking a rebate for a portable solar generation device;

(2) a plan to allow rebates for portable solar generation devices at the point of sale in a manner that ensures that the income eligibility of a household seeking a rebate may be verified at the point of sale;

(3) a plan to prioritize renters, multifamily residents, and high-energy burdened communities;

(4) a plan to ensure that a household does not receive a rebate for the same portable solar generation device through both a point-of-sale rebate program described in subsection (a) and any other Federal grant or rebate program; and

(5) any additional information that the Secretary may require.

(c) Guidelines.— The Secretary shall prescribe guidelines for point-of-sale rebate programs described in subsection (a).

(d) Amount of rebate.— The amount of a rebate provided under a point-of-sale rebate program described in subsection (a) for the purchase of a portable solar generation device shall be not more than $1,000.

(e) Buy America requirements.— A rebate may be provided for a portable solar generation device under a point-of-sale rebate program described in subsection (a) only if the portable solar generation device—

(1) was manufactured in the United States; and

(2) the cost of the components of the portable solar generation device that are mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States is greater than 55 percent of the total cost of all components of the portable solar generation device, unless another standard for determining the minimum amount of domestic content of the portable solar generation device has been established under applicable law or regulation.

(f) Protection for tenants.—

(1) In general.— A State may only receive a grant under this section if, subject to paragraph (2), the State prohibits landlords from prohibiting a tenant who is responsible for payment of the electric service used within the tenant’s leased premises from—

(A) utilizing a portable solar generation device; or

(B) placing a portable solar generation device on the exterior of, or within, the tenant’s leased premises, including any leased balcony or patio.

(2) Reasonable restrictions.— A State receiving a grant under this section may—

(A) authorize a landlord to establish reasonable restrictions concerning the physical dimension, placement, or manner of placement of a portable solar generation device on the leased premises of the tenant’s accessible exterior, including the balcony, patio, and exterior wall surfaces; or

(B) require a tenant to provide written notice and other documentation the State determines appropriate to the landlord or any other person the State determines necessary, regarding the tenant’s intended use of a portable solar generation device.

(g) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to carry out this section, of which not more than 10 percent may be used for administrative and outreach purposes.

The Federal Trade Commission, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary, shall establish a label, to be used voluntarily, for portable solar generation devices that—

(1) identifies the expected savings in costs of electricity for the electric consumer using the portable solar generation device; and

(2) is similar in appearance to an Energy Guide label.

(a) In general.— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall promulgate, under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, a final consumer product safety standard for portable solar generation devices that ensures that portable solar generation devices are safe to use at home, including by requiring that any such portable solar generation device include information (through a pamphlet or through any other form as the Consumer Product Safety Commission determines appropriate) on the following:

(1) How to use the portable solar generation device at home in a safe manner.

(2) How to install the portable solar generation device.

(3) Any expected savings from the portable solar generation device.

(4) Any warranties with respect to the portable solar generation device.

(5) Any other information related to the safety of the portable solar generation device as the Consumer Product Safety Commission determines appropriate.

(b) Consultation.— In promulgating the standard under subsection (a), the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall consult with the following:

(1) The Department of Energy.

(2) The Environmental Protection Agency.

(3) Labor organizations.

(4) UL Solutions.

(5) Solar industry associations.

(6) Any other relevant group as the Consumer Product Safety Commission determines appropriate.

(c) Modifications.— At any time after the promulgation of the standard under subsection (a), the Consumer Product Safety Commission may, through a rulemaking under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, modify the requirements of the standard.

(d) Treatment of standard.— A standard promulgated under subsection (a), including a modification of such standard, shall be treated as a consumer product safety rule promulgated under section 9 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2058).

In this Act:

(1) Electric consumer.— The term electric consumer has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2602).

(2) Low- or moderate-income household.— The term low- or moderate-income household has the meaning given such term in section 50122 of Public Law 117–169 (42 U.S.C. 18795a).

(3) Portable solar generation device.— The term portable solar generation device means a moveable photovoltaic generation device that—

(A) has a maximum power output of not more than 1,200 watts;

(B) is designed to be connected to a building’s electrical system through a standard 120-volt alternating current outlet;

(C) is intended primarily to offset part of the electricity consumption of the electric consumer who owns or uses the device;

(D) meets the standards of the most recent version of the National Electrical Code;

(E) is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory; and

(F) is equipped with a power control system, if the device has a maximum power output that is greater than 400 watts.

(4) Secretary.— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.