Washington D.C.

DC

B26-0602 — GRID Act — Grid Resilience and Independence through Distributed Energy Act

Pending
Current Status
Last verified: March 2026

Legislative Status

Introduced in DC Council. In Committee on Transportation and the Environment. No committee vote yet.

Sponsored by: Councilmember Charles Allen

Legislation Progress

In Committee

30%

pipeline complete

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

Passage Likelihood

55%

In DC Council committee. DC meets year-round and has a strongly progressive council. Pepco opposition is the main risk. DC has high rates ($0.172/kWh) and a dense apartment population that would benefit greatly.

Session Deadline

Year-round (no fixed adjournment)

Legislative calendar cutoff

Expected Timeline

Committee vote possible Spring–Summer 2026. Mayor Bowser has been supportive of clean energy initiatives.

Washington D.C. Solar Data

Avg. Electricity Rate17.2¢/kWh
TOU Peak Spread
7¢/kWh
Est. Annual Savings
~$195/yr
Last UpdatedMarch 2026
Calculate DC Savings
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Key Provisions

Would exempt balcony solar from interconnection requirements. Specifically designed for apartment and condo residents in DC.

Effective DateNot specified in bill text
Wattage Limit1,200 watts
UL 3700Not mentioned
PermitNot addressed
Utility ApprovalWaived
UL 3700 DetailsUL or equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory certification required
HOA / DeedNot addressed in the bill text.
RentersNot addressed in the bill text.
Net MeteringNot explicitly addressed.
What Makes This State Unique

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 Gaps

Does not address HOA restrictions, renter rights, net metering, or building permits.

What This Means for You

What You Can Do

If passed: DC apartment residents could self-install without Pepco approval.

Current Limitations

Law not yet enacted. Pepco currently requires interconnection agreements.

Official Bill Reference

In DC Council Committee on Transportation and the Environment (2026)
View Full Bill Text — B26-0602

Opens official state legislature website in a new tab.

Washington D.C. State Overview

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

Solar Resource
Peak Sun Hours4.3 hrs/day
Optimal Tilt38°
Best FacingDue South (180°)
Est. Annual Output (800W)1,032 kWh/yr
Best MonthsApril–September

DC has a dense urban environment with significant shading from buildings. Balcony and rooftop installations are common. DC has strong SREC incentives that significantly improve ROI.

Major Utilities
Pepco (Potomac Electric Power Company)
~300,000 customers
Net metering

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 Income
$90,842
Median Home Value
$618,000

66% of Washington D.C. households are renter-occupied — approximately 200,000 households that could benefit from plug-in solar without owning their home.

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.

Washington D.C. 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 →

News Coverage

Media coverage of plug-in solar developments in Washington D.C..

28 states and DC could legalize 'balcony solar'

PlanetizenFebruary 2026

Balcony solar is taking state legislatures by storm

Canary MediaFebruary 2026