Enrolled Copy H.B. 340
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Solar Power Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Raymond P. Ward
Senate Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill modifies provisions related to residential solar energy generation by creating a
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new category for small portable solar generation devices.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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▸ defines terms;
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▸ creates exemptions from interconnection requirements for portable solar generation
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devices;
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▸ establishes basic safety requirements for portable solar generation devices; and
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▸ provides liability protections for electrical corporations.
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Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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None
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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AMENDS:
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54-15-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 53
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ENACTS:
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54-15-601, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1. Section 54-15-102 is amended to read:
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54-15-102 . Definitions.
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As used in this chapter: H.B. 340 Enrolled Copy
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(1) "Annualized billing period" means:
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(a) a 12-month billing cycle beginning on April 1 of one year and ending on March 31
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of the following year; or
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(b) an additional 12-month billing cycle as defined by an electrical corporation's net
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metering tariff or rate schedule.
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(2) "Customer-generated electricity" means electricity that:
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(a) is generated by a customer generation system for a customer participating in a net
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metering program;
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(b) exceeds the electricity the customer needs for the customer's own use; and
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(c) is supplied to the electrical corporation administering the net metering program.
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(3) "Customer generation system":
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(a) means an eligible facility that is used to supply energy to or for a specific customer
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that:
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(i) has a generating capacity of:
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(A) more than 1,200 watts but not more than 25 kilowatts for a residential facility;
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or
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(B) not more than two megawatts for a non-residential facility, unless the
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governing authority approves a greater generation capacity;
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(ii) 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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(iii) operates in parallel and is interconnected with the electrical corporation's
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distribution facilities;
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(iv) is intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer's requirements for
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electricity; and
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(v) is controlled by an inverter;[ and]
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(b) includes an electric generator and its accompanying equipment package[.] ; and
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(c) 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 to
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generate electricity:
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(a) solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy;
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(b) wind energy;
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(c) hydrogen;
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(d) organic waste;
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(e) hydroelectric energy;
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(f) waste gas and waste heat capture or recovery;
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(g) biomass and biomass byproducts, except for the combustion of:
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(i) 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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(ii) municipal waste in a solid form;
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(h) 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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(i) agricultural residues;
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(j) dedicated energy crops;
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(k) landfill gas or biogas produced from organic matter, wastewater, anaerobic digesters,
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or municipal solid waste; or
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(l) geothermal energy.
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(5) "Equipment package" means a group of components connecting an electric generator to
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an electric distribution system, including all interface equipment and the interface
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equipment's controls, switchgear, inverter, and other interface devices.
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(6) "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
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during a monthly billing period, as measured at the electrical corporation's meter.
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(7) "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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(8) "Governing authority" means:
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(a) for a distribution electrical cooperative, its board of directors; and
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(b) for each other electrical corporation, the Public Service Commission.
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(9) "Inverter" means a device that:
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(a) converts direct current power into alternating current power that is compatible with
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power generated by an electrical corporation; and
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(b) 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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(10) "Net electricity" means the difference, as measured at the meter owned by the
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electrical corporation between:
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(a) 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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(b) the amount of customer-generated electricity delivered to the electrical corporation.
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(11) "Net metering" means measuring the amount of net electricity for the applicable billing
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period.
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(12) "Net metering program" means a program administered by an electrical corporation
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whereby a customer with a customer generation system may:
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(a) generate electricity primarily for the customer's own use;
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(b) supply customer-generated electricity to the electrical corporation; and
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(c) if net metering results in excess customer-generated electricity during a billing
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period, receive a credit as provided in Section 54-15-104.
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(13) "Portable solar generation device" means a moveable photovoltaic generation device
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that:
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(a) has a maximum power output of not more than 1,200 watts;
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(b) is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system through a standard
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120-volt alternating current outlet;
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(c) is intended primarily to offset part of the customer's electricity consumption;
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(d) meets the standards of the most recent version of the National Electrical Code; and
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(e) is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized
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testing laboratory.
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[(13)] (14) "Switchgear" means the combination of electrical disconnects, fuses, or circuit
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breakers:
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(a) used to:
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(i) isolate electrical equipment; and
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(ii) de-energize equipment to allow work to be performed or faults downstream to be
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cleared; and
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(b) that is:
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(i) designed, tested, and certified to UL1741; and
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(ii) installed and operated in accordance with the latest revision of IEEE1547, as
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amended.
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Section 2. Section 54-15-601 is enacted to read:
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Part 6. Portable Solar Generation Device
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54-15-601 . Portable solar generation device -- Exemptions -- Requirements.
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(1) A portable solar generation device that meets the requirements of this part:
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(a) is exempt from:
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(i) the interconnection requirements described in Section 54-15-106; and
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(ii) requirements to enter into an interconnection agreement under Section 54-15-103;
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and
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(b) is not subject to the net metering program requirements under this chapter.
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(2) 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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(3) An electrical corporation:
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(a) 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
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system; and
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(b) is not liable for any damage or injury caused by a portable solar generation device.
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Section 3. Effective Date.
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This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
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