Plug-In Solar in Washington D.C. — Legislation Pending
Bill: B26-0602 — GRID Act — Grid Resilience and Independence through Distributed Energy Act
Sponsor: Councilmember Charles Allen
Legislative Status: Introduced in DC Council. In Committee on Transportation and the Environment. No committee vote yet.
Current Status: In DC Council Committee on Transportation and the Environment (2026)
Last Updated: March 2026
Key Information
| Average Electricity Rate | 17.2¢/kWh |
| Estimated Annual Savings | $205/year |
| TOU Rate Spread | 7¢/kWh |
| Peak Sun Hours/Day | 4.3 |
| Retail Choice | full |
Key Provisions
Would exempt balcony solar from interconnection requirements. Specifically designed for apartment and condo residents in DC.
Law Provisions
| Effective Date | Not specified in bill text |
| Wattage Limit | 1,200 watts |
| UL 3700 | not_mentioned — UL or equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory certification required |
| HOA Provision | Not addressed in the bill text. |
| Renter Provision | Not addressed in the bill text. |
| Utility Approval | Waived |
| Permit Required | Not addressed |
| Backfeed/Net Metering | Not explicitly addressed. |
| Key Differences | B26-0602 would make Washington D.C. the first non-state jurisdiction to legalize plug-in solar. D.C. has a high percentage of renters and apartment dwellers who could benefit from plug-in solar. |
| Notable Omissions | Does not address HOA restrictions, renter rights, net metering, or building permits. |
What You Can Do
If passed: DC apartment residents could self-install without Pepco approval.
What You Can't Do (Yet)
Law not yet enacted. Pepco currently requires interconnection agreements.
Available Rebates & Incentives
DC SREC market: earn and sell Solar Renewable Energy Certificates for each MWh generated (DC SRECs trade at a premium due to DC's RPS requirements). Net metering available through Pepco. DC solar property tax exemption available. The federal 30% ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025.
Incentive Program Links
- DC SREC Program — DOEE — Earn and sell SRECs for each MWh of solar generation; DC SRECs trade at a premium.
- DSIRE — Washington DC Solar Incentives — Full list of DC solar incentive programs.
Demographics (US Census 2023)
| Population | 671,803 |
| Total Households | 305,000 |
| Owner-Occupied | 105,000 |
| Renter-Occupied | 200,000 |
| Single-Family Homes | 80,000 |
| Apartment Units (5+) | 145,000 |
| Median Household Income | $90,842 |
| Median Home Value | $618,000 |
Solar Resource Data (NREL PVWatts)
| Peak Sun Hours/Day | 4.3 |
| Optimal Tilt Angle | 38° |
| Optimal Azimuth | Due South (180°) |
| Est. Annual kWh (800W system) | 1032 kWh |
| Best Solar Months | April–September |
Major Utilities
| Utility | Customers | Net Metering |
|---|---|---|
| Pepco (Potomac Electric Power Company) | ~300,000 customers | Yes |
News Coverage
- 28 states and DC could legalize 'balcony solar' — Planetizen (February 2026)
- Balcony solar is taking state legislatures by storm — Canary Media (February 2026)