Is Plug-In Solar Legal in Arizona? Balcony Solar Rules (2026)

Short answer: not under a specific law. As of October 22, 2026, Arizona has no plug-in solar law. SB 1606, which would have allowed certified kits of up to 1,200 W without utility approval, didn't pass in 2026. A grid-tied kit needs approval from APS, TEP, SRP or your co-op. A new bill could come in the January 2027 session.

Status: No law; 2026 bill didn't pass
2026 bill: SB 1606 (Sen. Kuby and others)
Next session: From January 2027
What applies today: Utility interconnection rules
Average price: About 15.4¢/kWh (July 2026)

What SB 1606 proposed

Devices of up to 1,200 W, certified by a nationally recognized lab and meeting the current National Electrical Code.
A built-in feature that stops the device energizing the building during an outage.
Both investor-owned utilities (APS, TEP) and public power entities (such as SRP) barred from requiring approval, charging fees or requiring extra equipment.
Plug-in devices kept out of net metering and the state's distributed generation definitions.

Including public power was notable: SRP serves much of metro Phoenix and isn't regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission. Any 2027 bill will likely use similar language. Compare with laws passed elsewhere.

What applies today

APS and TEP follow the Arizona Corporation Commission's interconnection rules; SRP and co-ops set their own. All require an application and approval for grid-connected solar. Read do you need to tell your utility?

Plugging an unapproved grid-tied kit into an outlet in a state without a law may break your utility's terms of service, your lease and possibly your insurance terms. It also earns nothing for exported power.

Heat, HOAs and placement

Heat lowers output. Panels lose roughly 0.3 to 0.4% per degree Celsius above 25°C (77°F). On a 110°F afternoon a panel can run well below its rating; leave an air gap behind it.
HOAs. A.R.S. 33-439 generally stops associations from banning solar devices on property you own, with reasonable rules allowed. It was written for rooftops; condo balconies are less clear. See balcony solar and HOA rules.
Direction. West-facing panels produce more during the late-afternoon peak, when APS and SRP time-of-use rates are highest. See best angle and direction.

What a kit could save in Arizona

Arizona has the best sunshine in the country, but its average residential price was about 15.4 cents per kWh in July 2026 (EIA). Summer air-conditioning means most of a kit's output would be used at home.

Setup	Produced per year	Saved per year
400 W kit, vertical on a south railing, some shade	~440 kWh	~$64
800 W kit, vertical on a south railing, some shade	~880 kWh	~$109
800 W kit, tilted south, no shade	~1,400 kWh	~$172
1,200 W kit, tilted south, no shade	~2,100 kWh	~$210

Estimates assume you use 80% of the output (95% for 400 W, 65% for 1,200 W) at 15.4¢/kWh. Try your numbers with the calculator, preset for Arizona.

Frequently asked questions

Is balcony solar legal in Arizona?

Not under a specific law. SB 1606, a 2026 bill to allow certified plug-in solar devices up to 1,200 W without utility approval, didn't pass before the session ended. A grid-tied kit needs your utility's interconnection approval.

What did Arizona's SB 1606 propose?

Devices of up to 1,200 W, certified by a nationally recognized lab and meeting the National Electrical Code, with an outage shut-off. Utilities, including public power entities like SRP, couldn't require approval, charge fees or require extra equipment.

Can my Arizona HOA ban solar panels?

Arizona law (A.R.S. 33-439) generally stops HOAs from prohibiting solar energy devices on property you own, while allowing reasonable rules. It was written for rooftop systems; how it applies to balcony kits in condos isn't settled.

How much could balcony solar save in Arizona?

Arizona's sun means a well-placed 800 W kit could produce about 1,400 kWh a year and save roughly $110 to $170 at about 15.4 cents per kWh.

Balcony Solar in Arizona: Is Plug-In Solar Legal?