AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICE (Creates a new category of residential solar energy generation for small portable solar generation devices.)

S2658

2026 -- S 2658
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LC005349
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PORTABLE SOLAR
GENERATION DEVICE

Introduced By:
Senators de la Cruz, DiMario, Ciccone, Tikoian, Felag, Burke, and Euer

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Environment & Agriculture
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
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CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 36
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PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICE
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39-36-1. Definitions.

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When used in this chapter, these terms shall have the following meanings:
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(1) "Annualized billing period" means:
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(i) A twelve (12) month billing cycle beginning on April 1 of one year and ending on March
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31 of the following year; or
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(ii) An additional twelve (12) month billing cycle as defined by an electrical corporation's
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net metering tariff or rate schedule.
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(2) "Customer-generated electricity" means electricity that:
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(i) Is generated by a customer generation system for a customer participating in a net
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metering program;
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(ii) Exceeds the electricity the customer needs for the customer's own use; and
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(iii) Is supplied to the electrical corporation administering the net metering program.
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(3) "Customer generation system" means:
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(i) An eligible facility that is used to supply energy to or for a specific customer that:

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(A) Has a generating capacity of:
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(I) More than one thousand two hundred watts (1,200 W) but not more than twenty-five
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kilowatts (25 kW) for a residential facility; or
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(II) Not more than two megawatts (2 MW) for a non-residential facility, unless the
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governing authority approves a greater generation capacity;
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(B) Is located on, or adjacent to, the premises of the electrical corporation's customer,
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subject to the electrical corporation's service requirements;
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(C) Operates in parallel and is interconnected with the electrical corporation's distribution
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facilities;
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(D) Is intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer's requirements for electricity;
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and
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(E) Is controlled by an inverter;
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(ii) Includes an electric generator and its accompanying equipment package; and
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(iii) Does not include a portable solar generation device.
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(4) "Eligible facility" means a facility that uses energy derived from one of the following
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to generate electricity:
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(i) Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy;
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(ii) Wind energy;
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(iii) Hydrogen;
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(iv) Organic waste;
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(v) Hydroelectric energy;
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(vi) Waste gas and waste heat capture or recovery;
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(vii) Biomass and biomass byproducts, except for the combustion of:
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(A) Wood that has been treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote,
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pentachlorophenol, or chromated copper arsenate; or
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(B) Municipal waste in a solid form;
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(viii) Forest or rangeland woody debris from harvesting or thinning conducted to improve
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forest or rangeland ecological health and to reduce wildfire risk;
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(ix) Agricultural residues;
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(x) Dedicated energy crops;
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(xi) Landfill gas or biogas produced from organic matter, wastewater, anaerobic digesters,
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or municipal solid waste; or
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(xii) Geothermal energy.
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(5) "Electric distribution company" or "electrical corporation" means and shall be defined

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as set forth in § 39-1-2.
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(6) "Equipment package" means a group of components connecting an electric generator
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to an electric distribution system, including all interface equipment and the interface equipment's
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controls, switchgear, inverter, and other interface devices.
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(7) "Excess customer-generated electricity" means the amount of customer-generated
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electricity in excess of the customer's consumption from the customer generation system during a
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monthly billing period, as measured at the electrical corporation's meter.
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(8) "Fuel cell" means a device in which the energy of a reaction between a fuel and an
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oxidant is converted directly and continuously into electrical energy.
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(9) "Governing authority" means:
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(i) For a distribution electrical cooperative, its board of directors; and
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(ii) For each other electrical corporation, the division as defined in § 39-1-2.
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(10) "Inverter" means a device that:
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(i) Converts direct current power into alternating current power that is compatible with
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power generated by Rhode Island Energy or other servicing electrical corporation; and
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(ii) Has been designed, tested, and certified to UL1741 and installed and operated in
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accordance with the latest revision of IEEE1547, as amended.
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(11) "Net electricity" means the difference, as measured at the meter owned by the
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electrical corporation between:
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(i) The amount of electricity that an electrical corporation supplies to a customer
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participating in a net metering program; and
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(ii) The amount of customer-generated electricity delivered to the electrical corporation.
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(12) "Net metering" means and shall be defined as set forth in § 39-26.4-3.
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(13) "Net metering program" means a program administered pursuant to the provisions of
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chapter 26.4 if title 39.
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(14) "Portable solar generation device" means a moveable photovoltaic generation device
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that:
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(i) Has a maximum power output of not more than one thousand two hundred watts (1,200
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W);
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(ii) Is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system through a standard one
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hundred twenty volt (120 V) alternating current outlet;
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(iii) Is intended primarily to offset part of the customer's electricity consumption;
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(iv) Meets the standards of the most recent version of the National Electrical Code; and
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(v) Is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing

LC005349 - Page 3 of 5
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laboratory.
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(15) "Switchgear" means the combination of electrical disconnects, fuses, or circuit
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breakers:
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(i) Used to:
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(A) Isolate electrical equipment; and
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(B) De-energize equipment to allow work to be performed or faults downstream to be
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cleared; and
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(ii) That is:
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(A) Designed, tested, and certified to UL1741; and
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(B) Installed and operated in accordance with the latest revision of IEEE1547, as amended.
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39-36-2. Portable solar generation device -- Exemptions -- Requirements.

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(a) A portable solar generation device that meets the requirements of this chapter is exempt
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from the interconnection requirements described in chapter 26.4 of title 39 and the requirements is
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to enter into a interconnection agreement pursuant to chapter 26.4 of title 39.
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(b) A portable solar generation device shall include a device or feature that prevents the
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system from energizing the building's electrical system during a power outage.
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(c) An electrical corporation:
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(1) May not require a customer using a portable solar generation device to:
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(i) Obtain the electrical corporation's approval before installing or using the system;
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(ii) Pay any fee or charge related to the system; or
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(iii) Install any additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the system;
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and
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(2) Is not liable for any damage or injury caused by a portable solar generation device.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PORTABLE SOLAR
GENERATION DEVICE
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This act would create a new category of residential solar energy generation for small
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portable solar generation devices.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005349
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