New York

NY

S 8512 / A 9111 — SUNNY Act — Solar Utility Notification and Net Yield Act

Pending
Current Status
Last verified: April 2026

Legislative Status

Passed Senate floor on April 21, 2026 as part of Earth Day legislative package. Assembly bill A9111C amended and reported out of Energy committee to Rules committee on May 11, 2026. Awaiting Rules committee clearance and Assembly floor vote.

Sponsored by: Sen. Liz Krueger (S 8512B)

Legislation Progress

Passed Committee

50%

pipeline complete

Introduced
In Committee
Passed Committee
One Chamber
Both Chambers
Gov. Desk
Enacted

Passage Likelihood

70%

Senate passed the bill April 21, 2026 as part of Earth Day package. Assembly A9111C reported to Rules committee May 11 — a strong signal of imminent floor vote. Strong Assembly Majority support with 37 co-sponsors. Utility opposition (Con Edison) remains but did not block Senate vote. Governor Hochul's position is the key remaining unknown.

Session Deadline

Year-round (no fixed adjournment)

Legislative calendar cutoff

Expected Timeline

Assembly floor vote expected imminently (Rules committee clearance is typically the last step before a floor vote). If passed, Governor Hochul signature needed. New York meets year-round so timeline is flexible.

New York Solar Data

Avg. Electricity Rate22.6¢/kWh
TOU Peak Spread
10¢/kWh
Est. Annual Savings
~$270/yr
Last UpdatedApril 2026
Calculate NY Savings
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Key Provisions

Exempts certified plug-in solar devices from utility interconnection requirements. Prohibits utilities from charging extra fees. Allows self-installation. Requires state energy code to permit plug-in solar connections through standard electrical outlets.

Effective DateNinetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Wattage Limit1,200W AC inverter nameplate output
UL 3700Referenced
PermitWaived (building code to be updated)
Utility ApprovalWaived (notification required)
UL 3700 DetailsReferenced but not required (requires certification by an accredited nationally recognized testing laboratory to a standard)
RentersThe act aims to expand equitable access for New Yorkers to participate in the solar economy, particularly benefiting those who may be renters or have the ability to install rooftop systems.
Net MeteringPortable solar generation devices are exempt from interconnection or net metering requirements. Any energy exported to the utility electric grid shall be uncompensated unless the customer voluntarily enters a net metering or other compensation agreement.
What Makes This State Unique

This bill establishes a regulatory framework for plug-in solar devices in New York, aiming to remove regulatory barriers and expand access, particularly for renters. It explicitly exempts these devices from interconnection and net metering requirements, and utility approval is waived with a notification requirement.

Notable Gaps

The bill does not explicitly address HOA restrictions on portable solar generation devices.

What This Means for You

What You Can Do

If the Assembly passes A9111 and Governor Hochul signs: self-install without Con Edison or National Grid approval. At $0.226/kWh, an 800W system could save $250+ per year.

Current Limitations

Law not yet enacted. New York utilities currently require interconnection agreements. Assembly vote and Governor's signature still required.

Official Bill Reference

Passed Senate — April 21, 2026. Assembly A9111C in Rules Committee (May 11, 2026).
View Full Bill Text — S 8512 / A 9111

Opens official state legislature website in a new tab.

New York State Overview

Key data on solar potential, demographics, utilities, and incentives.

Solar Resource
Peak Sun Hours4.08 hrs/day
Optimal Tilt40°
Best FacingDue South (180°)
Est. Annual Output (800W)1,330 kWh/yr
Best MonthsMay - July

New York experiences significant snowfall in winter months which can impact solar production due to shading. This is not explicitly mentioned as a specific note in PVWatts, but is a general consideration for solar panel performance in regions with heavy snowfall.

Major Utilities
Con Edison
~3 million customers
Net metering
National Grid
~1.6 million customers
Net metering
PSEG Long Island
1.1 million customers
Net metering
New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG)
~900,000 customers
Net metering
Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E)
385,925 customers
Net metering

Population
20,002,427
Total Households
7,722,646
Owner-Occupied
4,687,707
Renter-Occupied
3,943,525
Single-Family Homes
3,518,867
Apartment Units (5+)
3,018,829
Median Income
$85,974
Median Home Value
$423,800

51% of New York households are renter-occupied — approximately 3,943,525 households that could benefit from plug-in solar without owning their home.

NY-Sun Incentive Program provides upfront $/W rebates for residential solar (higher for low-to-moderate income). New York State 25% solar tax credit (up to $5,000). New York State sales tax exemption for residential solar systems. 15-year property tax exemption for solar system added value. The federal 30% ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025.

New York has a fully deregulated electricity market. You may be able to get plug-in solar bundled with your electricity plan through a Retail Energy Provider (REP) — potentially at lower cost than buying hardware outright.

Learn about REP partner offers →

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News Coverage

Media coverage of plug-in solar developments in New York.

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