---
title: HB 1304. Public utilities; portable solar generation devices; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1304
cite_as: HB 1304, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1304
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1304.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1304/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73191
date: 2026-02-18
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1303.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1305.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1304.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1304
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-12
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
  - Imani Barnes
  - Eric Gisler
  - Karla Drenner
  - Samuel Park
  - Jordan Ridley
  - Beth Camp
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1304/2025
upstream_id: 2116182
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - solar energy
  - public utilities
  - electricity regulation
  - home energy devices
  - Georgia Public Service Commission
---

# HB 1304. Public utilities; portable solar generation devices; provide

## Text

House Bill 1304
By: Representatives Barnes of the 86th, Gisler of the 121st, Drenner of the 85th, Park of the
107th, Ridley of the 22nd, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 3 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to sale of electricity by facility generating electricity, steam, or other
forms of energy for its own consumption, so as to provide for portable solar generation
devices; to exempt electricity generation devices below 1,200 watts from certain
requirements of interconnection and operation; to prohibit electric service providers from
requiring certain criteria prior to the operation of portable solar generation devices; to limit
liability; to prohibit the sale of electricity generated by portable solar generation devices; to
provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 3 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to sale of electricity by facility generating electricity, steam, or other forms of energy
for its own consumption, by amending Code Section 46-3-52, relating to jurisdiction of
commission over cogeneration facility the energy from which is used solely by operator, as
follows:
"46-3-52.
As used in this part, the term:
(1) 'Bidirectional metering' means measuring the amount of electricity supplied by an
electric service provider and the amount fed back to the electric service provider by the
customer's distributed generation facility using the same meter.
(2) 'Cogeneration facility' means a facility, other than a distributed generation facility,
which produces electric energy, steam, or other forms of useful energy (such as heat)
which are used for industrial, commercial, heating, or cooling purposes.
(3) 'Customer generator' means the owner and operator of a distributed generation
facility.
(4) 'Distributed generation facility' means a facility owned and operated by a customer
of the electric service provider for the production of electrical energy that:
(A) Uses a solar <del>Photovoltaic</del> <ins>photovoltaic</ins> system, fuel cell, or wind turbine;
(B) Has a peak generating capacity of <ins>more than 1,200 watts but</ins> not more than 10kw
for a residential application and 100kw for a commercial application;
(C) Is located on the customer's premises;
(D) Operates in parallel with the electric service provider's distribution facilities;
(E) Connected to the electric service provider's distribution system on either side of the
electric service provider's meter; and
(F) Is intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer generator's requirements
for electricity.
(5) 'Electric membership corporation' means a corporation organized under Article 2 of
this chapter.
(6) 'Electric service provider' means any electric utility, electric membership corporation,
or municipal electric utility that is engaged in the business of distributing electricity to
retail electric customers in the state.
(7) 'Electric supplier' means any electric utility, electric membership corporation
furnishing wholesale service, any municipal electric utility or any other person which
furnishes wholesale service to any municipality, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
(8) 'Electric utility' means any retail supplier of electricity whose rates are fixed by the
commission.
(9) 'Municipal electric utility' means a city or town that owns or operates an electric
utility.
(10) 'Person' means a natural person, corporation, trust, partnership, incorporated or
unincorporated association, or any other legal entity.
(11) <ins>'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 customer's electricity consumption;
(D) Meets the standards of the most recent version of the National Electrical Code; and
(E) Is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized
testing laboratory.
(12)</ins> 'Renewable energy sources' means energy supplied from technologies as approved
in the Georgia Green Pricing Accreditation Program."
SECTION 2.
Said part is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
<ins>"46-3-57.
(a) A customer using a portable solar generation device shall not be required to enter into
a written agreement with an electric service provider prior to such device's use.
</ins>
<ins>(b) An electric service provider shall not require a customer using a portable solar
generation device to:
(1) Obtain the electric service provider's approval before installing or using such device;
(2) Pay any interconnection fee for such device;
(3) Install or use a bidirectional meter; or
(4) Pay any additional metering fees based on the customer's use of such device.
(c) An electric service provider shall not be required to purchase or provide credit for any
electricity generation by a portable solar generation device above the customer's usage.
(d) A portable solar generation device shall include a device or feature that prevents the
system from energizing the building's electrical system during a power outage.
(e) An electric service provider is not liable for any damage or injury caused by a portable
solar generation device."
</ins> SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

House Bill 1304 would let Georgians plug small, portable solar panels directly into a wall outlet without utility approval or special fees, as long as the devices stay under 1,200 watts.

### Plain-language summary

Georgia law currently regulates home solar setups as 'distributed generation facilities,' which come with rules like needing a written agreement with the utility, possible interconnection fees, and special metering equipment. This bill carves out a new category for small, plug-in solar devices called 'portable solar generation devices,' defined as movable panels producing no more than 1,200 watts that plug into a standard 120-volt outlet, meet national electrical safety codes, and carry safety certification from a lab like Underwriters Laboratories.
For these small devices, the bill bars electric service providers (utilities, electric membership corporations, and municipal electric utilities) from requiring prior approval, a written agreement, interconnection fees, a bidirectional meter, or extra metering charges. Utilities would not have to pay customers for any extra power the device generates beyond what the customer uses, and they would not be liable for damage or injury the device causes. The devices must also include a safety feature that stops them from feeding power into the grid during an outage. Selling electricity generated by these devices remains prohibited.

### What it does

- Creates a new legal category called 'portable solar generation device' for plug-in solar panels of 1,200 watts or less that meet electrical code and safety certification standards.
- Exempts these small devices from the interconnection agreement, approval, and bidirectional metering requirements that apply to larger home solar systems.
- Prohibits electric service providers from charging interconnection fees or extra metering fees tied to use of a portable solar device.
- Relieves electric service providers of any obligation to pay customers for excess electricity these small devices generate.
- Shields electric service providers from liability for damage or injury caused by a customer's portable solar generation device.
- Requires the devices to include a feature that automatically stops them from sending power into the grid during a power outage.

### Who it affects

Homeowners and renters who want to use small plug-in solar panels, electric utilities, electric membership corporations, municipal electric utilities, and the Georgia Public Service Commission, which oversees rules for electricity generation and interconnection in the state.

### Why it matters

People who want a small solar setup, such as a portable panel for a balcony or window, would be able to plug it in without utility paperwork, approval, or fees that currently apply to larger home solar systems, though they could not sell any extra power back or hold the utility responsible for problems the device causes.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 46-3-52 to add a definition of 'portable solar generation device': a movable photovoltaic device of 1,200 watts or less that plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet, meets National Electrical Code standards, and is safety certified.
- Section 1 also raises the minimum size threshold for the existing 'distributed generation facility' category to 'more than 1,200 watts,' separating small plug-in devices from that larger regulatory category.
- Section 2 creates new O.C.G.A. § 46-3-57, barring utilities from requiring a written agreement, prior approval, interconnection fees, a bidirectional meter, or extra metering fees for portable solar devices.
- Section 2 states utilities are not required to pay or credit customers for excess electricity these devices generate beyond the customer's own use.
- Section 2 requires portable solar devices to include an automatic shutoff feature preventing them from energizing the building's system during a power outage.
- Section 2 exempts electric service providers from liability for damage or injury caused by a portable solar generation device.
- Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2026-02-12)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-18)
- Sponsors: Imani Barnes, Eric Gisler, Karla Drenner, Samuel Park, Jordan Ridley, Beth Camp
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73191

> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1304.md?full=1