Plug-In Solar in New York: The SUNNY Act Passed, Not Yet Law

Plug-in solar in New York is not covered by a state law yet. The SUNNY Act passed both chambers of the legislature, but the record we checked shows it was not delivered to the Governor, so it is a bill, not a law. Passed legislature, not law We will update this page when that changes. Below: where the bill stands, what it would allow, and what to do in the meantime.

Where the SUNNY Act Stands

The SUNNY Act is bill A9111C in the Assembly. It replaced S8512C in the Senate. Both chambers passed it, and the last action on record is dated May 28, 2026. The Senate page does not show delivery to the Governor, a signature, a veto or a chapter number.

That is why we call it “passed, not signed”. Some roundups count New York among the plug-in solar states. On the primary record we read, it is not one yet.

What Happens Next

In general, a bill that has passed both chambers goes to the Governor only once it is delivered. After delivery, the Governor signs it or vetoes it. We are not predicting which, or when. As far as we could confirm, a passed bill can still be delivered before the end of the year. Delivery timing is not something the sponsors or the public control, and we have found no source that gives a date for this one.

If the bill is signed, its final text and effective date are what count, not the summary below. If it is vetoed, New York stays without a plug-in rule.

What the Bill Would Allow

Here is what the passed text would do. These are the terms of a bill, not of a law in force.

The bill would cap a plug-in system at 1,200 W.
The bill would require the owner to notify the utility within 30 days.

We could not confirm other details, such as product standards or rules for landlords, from the record we read, so we do not state them. Read the bill page itself before you rely on any detail. Nothing here applies to you today.

Note the difference with other states. Where a law is signed, its limits and conditions are fixed. In New York the numbers above could still change if the text is amended before it is signed.

Until Then: Your Utility’s Interconnection Process

With no plug-in law, there is no state rule that says “you may plug it in”. There is also no state rule we found that bans it. What applies is your utility’s process for connecting generation to the grid.

Every state with a plug-in law exempts these devices from the usual interconnection requirements. That suggests that without a law those requirements apply. This is our inference, and we could not check it utility by utility.

What to do in practice:

Contact your utility before you buy and ask how it treats a small plug-in solar device.
Ask for the answer in writing.
Wait for a clear answer before connecting a kit to a wall socket.

Our US legal guide explains the federal picture and the electrical code. There is no federal ban and no federal plug-in rule.

Renters and Co-ops in NYC

Most New Yorkers rent or own a co-op or condo, so permission often matters more than the law. The bill’s text, as we read it, does not give a tenant a right to install. Your lease, your co-op’s proprietary lease or your condo bylaws decide, and in the lease the landlord usually has the last word.

Practical steps:

Read the clause on alterations, exterior fittings and balconies.
Ask the landlord, managing agent or co-op board in writing, and describe the device.
Offer to remove it when you leave, and to reinstate the balcony or wall.
Keep the reply with your lease.

Our renters and apartments guide and landlord and HOA guide go deeper. The US renters pack includes a letter you can send.

Nearby States With a Law

Three states near New York have signed plug-in solar laws. Each is a real law with its own conditions, so do not assume New York would copy them.

New Jersey signed S2368 on September 1, 2026. It sets a 1,200 W limit and exempts devices from interconnection and net metering. It applies six months after enactment, which we read as March 1, 2027.
Connecticut passed Public Act 26-127, with a 1,200 W limit and one device per meter, effective October 1, 2026.
Vermont enacted Act 149, with a combined 1,200 W limit per meter and a smart meter requirement. Exported power is not paid.

If you own a second home in one of these states, the state rules there apply to that address, not to your New York one. See the full list on our state-by-state page.

The Short Version

New York: no plug-in solar law today No law yet
The SUNNY Act passed both chambers, not delivered to the Governor
If enacted as passed, the bill would set a 1,200 W cap and a 30-day utility notice
Until then, ask your utility before you connect anything
Renting or in a co-op: written permission first

Plug-in solar laws by stateVerified November 9, 2026

Law in force
Signed, starts later
No state law (not a ban)
Bill passed, not law

New York

No law yet

The SUNNY Act passed both chambers on May 28, 2026, but has not been delivered to the Governor. It is not law.

Verified November 9, 2026NY Senate, S8512C New York guide

Sources

Each one opened and checked on November 9, 2026.

Questions people ask

Is plug-in solar legal in NY?

New York has no plug-in solar law yet. The SUNNY Act passed both chambers on May 28, 2026 but, as of November 9, 2026, had not been delivered to the Governor. Until it becomes law, your utility's interconnection process applies. We have found no state rule that bans a plug-in kit.

Can I put a solar panel on my NYC balcony?

There is no New York plug-in rule to cite either way. Your lease, co-op proprietary lease or condo bylaws decide whether anything can be mounted on a balcony, and the building or your landlord may refuse. Ask in writing before you buy, and check with your utility about connecting.

When could the SUNNY Act take effect?

We cannot say. The bill has to be delivered to the Governor, who then signs or vetoes it, and any effective date comes from the final text. As of November 9, 2026 it had not been delivered. We will update this page when the Senate record changes.