HouseH.R. 10851119th Congress
Socket Full of Sunshine Act
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10851 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10851
To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to
establish a Federal standard for States to consider measures to promote
portable solar generation devices, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 19, 2026
Mr. Menendez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to
establish a Federal standard for States to consider measures to promote
portable solar generation devices, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Socket Full of Sunshine Act''.
SEC. 2. PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICES.
(a) Federal Standard.--Section 111(d) of the Public Utility
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621(d)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(22) Portable solar generation devices.--
``(A) Consideration.--Each State shall consider
measures to promote the use of portable solar
generation devices, particularly those manufactured in
the United States, including by--
``(i) exempting portable solar generation
devices from--
``(I) any requirement to obtain or
execute an interconnection agreement
prior to operating the portable solar
generation device; and
``(II) net metering program
requirements; and
``(ii) prohibiting electric utilities from
requiring an electric consumer using a portable
solar generation device to--
``(I) obtain the electric utility's
approval prior to installing or using
the portable solar generation device;
``(II) purchase insurance for use
of the portable solar generation
device;
``(III) pay any fee or charge
related to the portable solar
generation device; or
``(IV) install any additional
controls or equipment beyond what is
integrated into the portable solar
generation device.
``(B) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term
`portable solar generation device' means a moveable
photovoltaic generation device that--
``(i) has a maximum power output of not
more than 1,200 watts;
``(ii) is designed to be connected to a
building's electrical system through a standard
120-volt alternating current outlet;
``(iii) is intended primarily to offset
part of the electricity consumption of the
electric consumer who owns or uses the device;
``(iv) meets the standards of the most
recent version of the National Electrical Code;
``(v) is certified by Underwriters
Laboratories or an equivalent nationally
recognized testing laboratory; and
``(vi) is equipped with a power control
system, if the device has a maximum power
output that is greater than or equal to 400
watts.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Consideration and determination.--Section 111(a) of the
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
2621(a)) is amended by striking ``Each State'' and inserting
``Except as otherwise provided, each State''.
(2) Obligations to consider and determine.--
(A) Time limitations.--Section 112(b) of the Public
Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
2622(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(9)(A) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with
respect to each electric utility for which the State has
ratemaking authority) shall commence consideration under
section 111, or set a hearing date for consideration, with
respect to the standard established by paragraph (22) of
section 111(d).
``(B) Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this paragraph, each State regulatory authority (with respect
to each electric utility for which the State has ratemaking
authority) shall complete the consideration and make the
determination under section 111 with respect to the standard
established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d).''.
(B) Failure to comply.--Section 112(c) of the
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 2622(c)) is amended by adding at the end the
following: ``In the case of the standard established by
paragraph (22) of section 111(d), the reference
contained in this subsection to the date of enactment
of this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the
date of enactment of that paragraph (22).''.
(C) Prior state actions.--Section 112 of the Public
Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
2622) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(i) Prior State Actions.--Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply
to the standard established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d) in the
case of any State regulated electric utility in a State if, before the
date of enactment of this subsection--
``(1) the State has implemented for the State regulated
electric utility the standard (or a comparable standard);
``(2) the State regulatory authority for the State has
conducted a proceeding to consider implementation of the
standard (or a comparable standard) for the State regulated
electric utility; or
``(3) the State legislature has voted on the implementation
of the standard (or a comparable standard) for the State
regulated electric utility during the 3-year period ending on
that date of enactment.''.
(c) Prior and Pending Proceedings.--Section 124 of the Public
Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2634) is amended by
adding at the end the following: ``In the case of the standard
established by paragraph (22) of section 111(d), the reference
contained in this section to the date of enactment of this Act shall be
deemed to be a reference to the date of enactment of that paragraph
(22).''.
SEC. 3. DOE GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out a
program to award grants to States to establish and carry out a point-
of-sale rebate program under which rebates shall be provided to assist
low- or moderate-income households with the purchase of a portable
solar generation device.
(b) Application.--A State seeking a grant under the program
established by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall submit to the
Secretary an application that includes a plan to implement a point-of-
sale rebate program described in subsection (a), including--
(1) a plan to verify the income eligibility of households
seeking a rebate for a portable solar generation device;
(2) a plan to allow rebates for portable solar generation
devices at the point of sale in a manner that ensures that the
income eligibility of a household seeking a rebate may be
verified at the point of sale;
(3) a plan to prioritize renters, multifamily residents,
and high-energy burdened communities;
(4) a plan to ensure that a household does not receive a
rebate for the same portable solar generation device through
both a point-of-sale rebate program described in subsection (a)
and any other Federal grant or rebate program; and
(5) any additional information that the Secretary may
require.
(c) Guidelines.--The Secretary shall prescribe guidelines for
point-of-sale rebate programs described in subsection (a).
(d) Amount of Rebate.--The amount of a rebate provided under a
point-of-sale rebate program described in subsection (a) for the
purchase of a portable solar generation device shall be not more than
$1,000.
(e) Buy America Requirements.--A rebate may be provided for a
portable solar generation device under a point-of-sale rebate program
described in subsection (a) only if the portable solar generation
device--
(1) was manufactured in the United States; and
(2) the cost of the components of the portable solar
generation device that are mined, produced, or manufactured in
the United States is greater than 55 percent of the total cost
of all components of the portable solar generation device,
unless another standard for determining the minimum amount of
domestic content of the portable solar generation device has
been established under applicable law or regulation.
(f) Protection for Tenants.--
(1) In general.--A State may only receive a grant under
this section if, subject to paragraph (2), the State prohibits
landlords from prohibiting a tenant who is responsible for
payment of the electric service used within the tenant's leased
premises from--
(A) utilizing a portable solar generation device;
or
(B) placing a portable solar generation device on
the exterior of, or within, the tenant's leased
premises, including any leased balcony or patio.
(2) Reasonable restrictions.--A State receiving a grant
under this section may--
(A) authorize a landlord to establish reasonable
restrictions concerning the physical dimension,
placement, or manner of placement of a portable solar
generation device on the leased premises of the
tenant's accessible exterior, including the balcony,
patio, and exterior wall surfaces; or
(B) require a tenant to provide written notice and
other documentation the State determines appropriate to
the landlord or any other person the State determines
necessary, regarding the tenant's intended use of a
portable solar generation device.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to
carry out this section, of which not more than 10 percent may be used
for administrative and outreach purposes.
SEC. 4. EXPECTED ELECTRICITY COSTS SAVINGS LABEL.
The Federal Trade Commission, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary,
shall establish a label, to be used voluntarily, for portable solar
generation devices that--
(1) identifies the expected savings in costs of electricity
for the electric consumer using the portable solar generation
device; and
(2) is similar in appearance to an Energy Guide label.
SEC. 5. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY STANDARD FOR PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION
DEVICES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall
promulgate, under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, a final
consumer product safety standard for portable solar generation devices
that ensures that portable solar generation devices are safe to use at
home, including by requiring that any such portable solar generation
device include information (through a pamphlet or through any other
form as the Consumer Product Safety Commission determines appropriate)
on the following:
(1) How to use the portable solar generation device at home
in a safe manner.
(2) How to install the portable solar generation device.
(3) Any expected savings from the portable solar generation
device.
(4) Any warranties with respect to the portable solar
generation device.
(5) Any other information related to the safety of the
portable solar generation device as the Consumer Product Safety
Commission determines appropriate.
(b) Consultation.--In promulgating the standard under subsection
(a), the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall consult with the
following:
(1) The Department of Energy.
(2) The Environmental Protection Agency.
(3) Labor organizations.
(4) UL Solutions.
(5) Solar industry associations.
(6) Any other relevant group as the Consumer Product Safety
Commission determines appropriate.
(c) Modifications.--At any time after the promulgation of the
standard under subsection (a), the Consumer Product Safety Commission
may, through a rulemaking under section 553 of title 5, United States
Code, modify the requirements of the standard.
(d) Treatment of Standard.--A standard promulgated under subsection
(a), including a modification of such standard, shall be treated as a
consumer product safety rule promulgated under section 9 of the
Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2058).
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Electric consumer.--The term ``electric consumer'' has
the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Public Utility
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2602).
(2) Low- or moderate-income household.--The term ``low- or
moderate-income household'' has the meaning given such term in
section 50122 of Public Law 117-169 (42 U.S.C. 18795a).
(3) Portable solar generation device.--The term ``portable
solar generation device'' means a moveable photovoltaic
generation device that--
(A) has a maximum power output of not more than
1,200 watts;
(B) is designed to be connected to a building's
electrical system through a standard 120-volt
alternating current outlet;
(C) is intended primarily to offset part of the
electricity consumption of the electric consumer who
owns or uses the device;
(D) meets the standards of the most recent version
of the National Electrical Code;
(E) is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an
equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory;
and
(F) is equipped with a power control system, if the
device has a maximum power output that is greater than
400 watts.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
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