Balcony Solar in Vermont
Vermont's Act 84 is the second state law to name UL 3700. It allows up to 1,200 W of plug-in solar per meter (smart meters only), with no Public Utility Commission review and no interconnection agreement.
Reviewed August 6, 2026 against primary sources. Laws change — the sources below let you re-check.
Does Vermont require UL 3700?
Yes — the statute names UL 3700.
complies with UL 3700 for plug-in photovoltaic systems by UL Solutions or an equivalent certification by an equivalent Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for use in the United States.
Names UL 3700, or an equivalent NRTL certification. The enacted text upgraded this from the as-introduced 'Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent NRTL.'
Why this matters: “certified by UL” names an organization; “certified to UL 3700” names a plug-in-PV standard. They are not the same claim. Full explainer →
What the law does
- Must include a feature that prevents the system from energizing the building's wiring during a power outage (anti-islanding).
- No Section 248 certificate of public good and no interconnection agreement required.
- Not eligible for net metering; excess export is uncompensated.
What's still unsettled
- Read from the Senate-passed PDF; the UL 3700 language is the enacted Act 84 version per secondary sources, not confirmed against a separate final-Act PDF.
Before you buy in Vermont
A state law opening the door is only one of three gates. The gear must actually be certified to what the law asks for — and today no plug-in kit sold in the US carries UL 3700 yet. Your utility may still want notification. If you rent, your lease or HOA is a separate yes. What "UL 3700 certified" really means →