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SB157 • 2026

USE OF PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICES

USE OF PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICES

Energy
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Senator Harold Pope, Senator Jeff Steinborn
Last action
Official status
[3] SCC/SJC/STBTC-SCC API.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

USE OF PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICES

USE OF PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICES

What This Bill Does

  • USE OF PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICES

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-26 New Mexico Legislature

    Sent to SCC - Referrals: SCC/SJC/STBTC

  2. New Mexico Legislature

    Action Postponed Indefinitely

Official Summary Text

USE OF PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICES

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB0157

SENATE BILL 157

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Harold Pope
and
Jeff Steinborn

AN ACT

RELATING TO UTILITIES; ALLOWING FOR THE USE OF PORTABLE SOLAR
GENERATION DEVICES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1. A new section of the Public Utility Act is
enacted to read:

"[
NEW MATERIAL
] PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICES.--

A. As used in this section, "portable solar
generation device" means a movable photovoltaic generation
device that:

(1) has a maximum power output of not more
than one thousand nine hundred twenty watts;

(2) is designed to connect directly to the
electrical system of a building using a one hundred twenty volt
alternating current standard electrical outlet;

(3) is used to offset the on-site electricity
consumption of the owner or operator of the portable solar
generation device;

(4) includes a device or feature that prevents
the device from energizing a building's electrical system or
backfeeding into a utility's system during a power outage;

(5) meets the standards of the New Mexico
electrical code adopted by the construction industries
commission; and

(6) is certified by a nationally recognized
testing laboratory.

B. An owner or operator of a portable solar
generation device is exempt from interconnection and
net-metering requirements, regardless of whether the owner or
operator is served by a public utility. Any electricity
generated by the portable solar generation device that flows
onto the utility's system shall be considered non-compensated
energy.

C. A public utility shall not require an owner or
operator of a portable solar generation device to:

(1) obtain the public utility's approval
before installing or using a portable solar generation device;

(2) provide notification or registration for
the use of a portable solar generation device;

(3) pay a fee or charge related to the
portable solar generation device or the electricity the
portable solar generation device feeds into a building's
electrical system; or

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

D. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3-18-32
NMSA 1978, a covenant, restriction or condition contained in an
instrument affecting the transfer, sale or use, or an interest
in real property that effectively prohibits the installation or
use, of a portable solar generation device is void and
unenforceable."

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