SB 6050

S-4465.2
  SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6050
State of Washington  69th Legislature        2026 Regular Session
By Senate Environment, Energy & Technology (originally sponsored by
Senators Liias, Short, Lovelett, Shewmake, Wellman, and J. Wilson)
READ FIRST TIME 02/02/26.
1     AN ACT Relating to expanding the use of distributed energy
2 resources; amending RCW 64.38.055 and 64.90.510; reenacting and
3 amending RCW 80.60.010; adding new sections to chapter 80.60 RCW;
4 adding a new section to chapter 80.28 RCW; creating a new section;
5 providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.
6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
7     NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that electricity is
8 an essential resource, the rising cost of electricity is a barrier to
9 basic necessities, interconnection fees and processes can add
10 substantial costs and time to the adoption of solar energy systems,
11 and upgrading electrical panels can be cost-prohibitive for some
12 customers seeking to embrace additional electrification in their
13 homes.
14     The legislature also finds that grid reliability and safety is of
15 the utmost importance. The legislature recognizes that underwriters
16 laboratories launched UL 3700, the testing and certification program
17 for safer plug-in solar systems, in January 2026, and the existing UL
18 1741 and IEEE 1547 further provide safeguards for these systems. The
19 IEEE 1547 standards provide uniform requirements for the safe
20 interconnection of distributed energy resources to the grid, and
21 specifically to the part of the grid that delivers power to homes and
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1 other buildings. UL 1741 specifies the testing methods to ensure
2 safety for inverters and other utility interconnected distributed
3 generation equipment to enable smarter, safer, and reactive grid
4 interconnection. Together, these standards ensure that, if the grid
5 goes down, a customer's solar system will also shut down, ensuring
6 the customer's electricity lines are deenergized. Furthermore, the
7 legislature intends to ensure that portable solar generation devices
8 meet the national electrical code standards, and that any such device
9 that is coupled with storage also complies with UL 3141.
10     Regarding meter-mounted devices, the legislature finds that these
11 devices can provide a safe and cost-effective option for enabling
12 electric vehicle charging, solar generation, emergency generation,
13 and more, without an expensive electrical panel upgrade.
14     Therefore, the legislature intends to reduce barriers to small-
15 scale solar systems and home electricity upgrades, and to further
16 promote distributed energy resources.
17     Electrical and natural gas companies maintain programs offering
18 incentives for single-family and multifamily housing owners to have
19 conservation and energy efficiency measures financed and installed at
20 their premises. The owners of single-family and multifamily rental
21 housing may be reluctant to participate in such programs when they
22 are required to financially supplement the company's incentive to
23 fully   fund  cost-effective   conservation  and   energy  efficiency
24 measures. By not participating in an electrical or natural gas
25 company's programs, single-family and multifamily rental housing
26 owners expose tenants to higher energy bills and deny electrical and
27 natural gas companies from being able to achieve greater reductions
28 in energy consumption.
29     Therefore, the legislature intends to incentivize and enable
30 electrical and natural gas companies to access conservation and
31 energy efficiency opportunities in single-family and multifamily
32 rental housing in a manner that reduces the energy burden of
33 customers, especially low-income customers, vulnerable populations,
34 and customers in highly impacted communities; benefit the premises
35 owner by enhancing the value of their property; and treat capital
36 investments in conservation and energy efficiency comparably to
37 capital investment in generation resources.
38Part I
39Addressing Balcony Solar
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1     Sec. 101.   RCW 80.60.010 and 2019 c 235 s 1 are each reenacted
2 and amended to read as follows:
3     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
4 unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
5     (1) "Aggregated meter" means an electric service meter measuring
6 electric energy consumption that is eligible to receive credits under
7 a meter aggregation arrangement as described in RCW 80.60.030.
8     (2)   "Commission"   means  the   utilities   and   transportation
9 commission.
10     (3) "Consumer-owned utility" means a municipal electric utility
11 formed under Title 35 RCW, a public utility district formed under
12 Title 54 RCW, an irrigation district formed under chapter 87.03 RCW,
13 a cooperative formed under chapter 23.86 RCW, or a mutual corporation
14 or association formed under chapter 24.06 RCW, that is engaged in the
15 business of distributing electricity to more than one retail electric
16 customer in the state.
17     (4) "Customer-generator" means a user of a net metering system.
18     (5) "Designated meter" means an electric service meter at the
19 service of a net metering system that is interconnected to the
20 utility distribution system.
21     (6) "Electric cooperative" means a cooperative or association
22 organized under chapter 23.86 or 24.06 RCW.
23     (7) "Electric utility" means any electrical company, public
24 utility district, irrigation district, port district, electric
25 cooperative, or municipal electric utility that is engaged in the
26 business of distributing electricity to retail electric customers in
27 the state.
28     (8) "Electrical company" means a company owned by investors that
29 meets the definition of RCW 80.04.010.
30     (9) "Irrigation district" means an irrigation district under
31 chapter 87.03 RCW.
32     (10) "Meter aggregation" means the administrative combination of
33 billing net energy consumption from a designated net meter and
34 eligible aggregated meter.
35     (11) "Municipal electric utility" means a city or town that owns
36 or operates an electric utility authorized by chapter 35.92 RCW.
37     (12) "Net metering" means measuring the difference between the
38 electricity supplied by an electric utility and the excess
39 electricity generated by a customer-generator's net metering system
40 over the applicable billing period.
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1     (13) "Net metering system" means a fuel cell, a facility that
2 produces electricity and used and useful thermal energy from a common
3 fuel source, or a facility for the production of electrical energy
4 that generates renewable energy, and that:
5     (a) Has an electrical generating AC capacity of not more than one
6 hundred kilowatts;
7     (b) Is located on the customer-generator's premises;
8     (c) Operates in parallel with the electric utility's transmission
9 and distribution facilities and is connected to the electric
10 utility's distribution system; ((and))
11     (d) Is intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer-
12 generator's requirements for electricity; and
13     (e) Does not include a portable solar generation device.
14     (14) "Portable solar generation device" means a moveable
15 photovoltaic generation device that:
16     (a) Is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system
17 through a standard 120-volt alternating current outlet;
18     (b) Is intended primarily to offset part of the customer's
19 electricity consumption;
20     (c) Meets the standards of the most recent version of the
21 national electrical code;
22     (d) Is not combined with any other portable solar generation
23 device on the same premises;
24     (e) Includes integrated functionality that complies with UL 1741
25 or IEEE 1547 standards as they existed as of January 1, 2026, or
26 equivalent standards, including anti-islanding protection and rapid
27 shutdown that prevents the system from energizing the building's
28 electrical system during a power outage;
29     (f) Is certified by underwriters laboratories under UL 3700 as
30 the standard existed as of January 1, 2026;
31     (g) Has a maximum power output of not more than 1,200 watts
32 behind the common point of coupling with the electric utility; and
33     (h) If coupled with storage, is certified by underwriters
34 laboratories under UL 3141 as the standard existed as of January 1,
35 2026.
36     (15) "Port district" means a port district within which an
37 industrial development district has been established as authorized by
38 Title 53 RCW.
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1     (((15)))   (16)  "Premises"   means   any  residential   property,
2 commercial real estate, or lands, owned or leased by a customer-
3 generator within the service area of a single electric utility.
4     (((16))) (17) "Public utility district" means a district
5 authorized by chapter 54.04 RCW.
6     (((17))) (18) "Renewable energy" means energy generated by a
7 facility that uses water, wind, solar energy, or biogas as a fuel.
8     (((18))) (19) "Retail electric customer" includes an individual,
9 organization, group, association, partnership, corporation, agency,
10 unit of state government, or entity that is connected to the electric
11 utility's distribution system and purchases electricity for ultimate
12 consumption and not for resale.
13     NEW SECTION.   Sec. 102.   A new section is added to chapter 80.60
14 RCW to read as follows:
15     (1) A portable solar generation device:
16     (a) Is exempt from the interconnection requirements described in
17 RCW 80.60.020;
18     (b) Is not required to be the subject of an interconnection
19 agreement under this chapter; and
20     (c) Is not subject to the net metering program requirements under
21 this chapter.
22     (2) A customer must notify their electric utility prior to
23 installing a portable solar generation device.
24     (3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, an
25 electric utility, city, or county in which the customer is located,
26 or landlord as defined in RCW 59.18.030:
27     (a) May not require a customer using a portable solar generation
28 device to:
29     (i) Obtain the approval of the electric utility, the city or
30 county, or the landlord before installing or using the device;
31     (ii) Pay any fee or charge related to the device; or
32     (iii) Install any additional controls or equipment beyond what is
33 integrated into a device compliant with all provisions of RCW
34 80.60.010(14); and
35     (b) Is not liable for any damage or injury caused by a portable
36 solar generation device.
37     (4) An electric utility with fewer than 25,000 customers may
38 prohibit portable solar generation devices.
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1      (5) It is a per se violation of chapter 19.86 RCW and is
2  considered a deceptive practice to:
3      (a) Sell a portable solar generation device that is not in
4  compliance with the provisions of RCW 80.60.010(14); or
5      (b) Advertise or otherwise communicate or imply that a portable
6  solar generation device that is not in compliance with the provisions
7  of RCW 80.60.010(14) as being capable of integration into electrical
8  systems without installation by a licensed electrician.
9     Sec. 103.   RCW 64.38.055 and 2009 c 51 s 1 are each amended to
10 read as follows:
11     (1) The governing documents may not prohibit the installation of
12 a solar energy panel by an owner or resident on the owner's or
13 resident's property as long as the solar energy panel:
14     (a) Meets applicable health and safety standards and requirements
15 imposed by state and local permitting authorities;
16     (b) If used to heat water, is certified by the solar rating
17 certification    corporation   or    another  nationally    recognized
18 certification agency. Certification must be for the solar energy
19 panel and for installation; and
20     (c) If used to produce electricity, meets all applicable safety
21 and performance standards established by the national electric code,
22 the institute of electrical and electronics engineers, accredited
23 testing laboratories, such as underwriters laboratories, and, where
24 applicable, rules of the utilities and transportation commission
25 regarding safety and reliability.
26     (2) The governing documents may:
27     (a) Prohibit the visibility of any part of a roof-mounted solar
28 energy panel above the roofline;
29     (b) Permit the attachment of a solar energy panel to the slope of
30 a roof facing a street only if:
31     (i) The solar energy panel conforms to the slope of the roof; and
32     (ii) The top edge of the solar energy panel is parallel to the
33 roof ridge; or
34     (c) Require:
35     (i) A solar energy panel frame, a support bracket, or any visible
36 piping or wiring to be painted to coordinate with the roofing
37 material;
38     (ii) An owner or resident to shield a ground-mounted solar energy
39 panel if shielding the panel does not prohibit economic installation
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1 of the solar energy panel or degrade the operational performance
2 quality of the solar energy panel by more than ten percent; or
3     (iii) Owners or residents who install solar energy panels or
4 portable solar generation devices to indemnify or reimburse the
5 association or its members for loss or damage caused by the
6 installation, maintenance, or use of a solar energy panel or portable
7 solar generation device.
8     (3) The governing documents may include other reasonable rules
9 regarding the placement and manner of a solar energy panel.
10     (4) The governing documents may not prohibit the placement or use
11 of a portable solar generation device by an owner or resident on the
12 owner's or resident's property.
13     (5)(a) For purposes of this section, "solar energy panel" means a
14 panel device or system or combination of panel devices or systems
15 that relies on direct sunlight as an energy source, including a panel
16 device or system or combination of panel devices or systems that
17 collects sunlight for use in:
18      (((a))) (i) The heating or cooling of a structure or building;
19      (((b))) (ii) The heating or pumping of water;
20      (((c))) (iii) Industrial, commercial, or agricultural processes;
21 or
22     (((d))) (iv) The generation of electricity.
23     (((5))) (b) "Solar energy panel" does not include a portable
24 solar generation device, as defined in RCW 80.60.010.
25     (6) This section does not apply to common areas as defined in RCW
26 64.38.010.
27     (((6))) (7) This section applies retroactively to a governing
28 document in effect on July 26, 2009. A provision in a governing
29 document in effect on July 26, 2009, that is inconsistent with this
30 section is void and unenforceable.
31     Sec. 104. RCW 64.90.510 and 2024 c 321 s 322 are each amended to
32 read as follows:
33     (1)(a) An association may not prohibit display of the flag of the
34 United States, or the flag of Washington state, on or within a unit
35 or a limited common element, except that an association may adopt
36 reasonable restrictions pertaining to the time, place, or manner of
37 displaying the flag of the United States necessary to protect a
38 substantial interest of the association.
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1     (b) The association may not prohibit the installation of a
2 flagpole for the display of the flag of the United States, or the
3 flag of Washington state, on or within a unit or a limited common
4 element, except that an association may adopt reasonable rules and
5 regulations pertaining to the location and the size of the flagpole.
6     (c) For purposes of this section, "flag of the United States"
7 means the flag of the United States as described in 4 U.S.C. Sec. 1
8 et seq. that is made of fabric, cloth, or paper. "Flag of the United
9 States" does not mean a flag, depiction, or emblem made of lights,
10 paint, roofing, siding, paving materials, flora, or balloons, or of
11 any similar building, landscaping, or decorative components.
12     (2) An association may not prohibit display of signs, including
13 outdoor signs, regarding candidates for public or association office,
14 or ballot issues, on or within a unit or limited common element, but
15 an association may adopt reasonable rules pertaining to the placement
16 and manner of those displays.
17     (3) The association may not prohibit the installation of a solar
18 energy panel on or within a unit so long as the solar panel:
19     (a) Meets applicable health and safety standards and requirements
20 imposed by state and local permitting authorities;
21     (b) If used to heat water, is certified by the solar rating
22 certification   corporation    or    another  nationally    recognized
23 certification agency. Certification must be for the solar energy
24 panel and for installation; and
25     (c) If used to produce electricity, meets all applicable safety
26 and performance standards established by the national electric code,
27 the institute of electrical and electronics engineers, accredited
28 testing laboratories, such as underwriters laboratories, and, where
29 applicable, rules of the utilities and transportation commission
30 regarding safety and reliability.
31     (4) The association may not prohibit a unit owner from storing
32 containers for municipal or private collection, such as compost,
33 garbage, and recycling receptacles, in any private garage, side yard,
34 or backyard reserved for the exclusive use of a unit. However, the
35 association may adopt and enforce rules requiring that such
36 receptacles be screened from view and establishing acceptable dates
37 and times that such receptacles may be presented for collection.
38     (5) The governing documents may:
39     (a) Prohibit the visibility of any part of a roof-mounted solar
40 energy panel above the roof line;
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1     (b) Permit the attachment of a solar energy panel to the slope of
2 a roof facing a street only if:
3     (i) The solar energy panel conforms to the slope of the roof; and
4     (ii) The top edge of the solar energy panel is parallel to the
5 roof ridge; and
6     (c) Require:
7     (i) A solar energy panel frame, a support bracket, or any visible
8 piping or wiring to be painted to coordinate with the roofing
9 material;
10     (ii) A unit owner or resident to shield a ground-mounted solar
11 energy panel if shielding the panel does not prohibit economic
12 installation of the solar energy panel or degrade the operational
13 performance quality of the solar energy panel by more than 10
14 percent; and
15     (iii) Unit owners or residents who install solar energy panels or
16 portable solar generation devices to indemnify or reimburse the
17 association or its members for loss or damage caused by the
18 installation, maintenance, or use of a solar energy panel or portable
19 solar generation device.
20     (6) The governing documents may include other reasonable rules
21 regarding the placement and manner of a solar energy panel.
22     (7) The governing documents may not prohibit the placement or use
23 of a portable solar generation device by an owner or resident on the
24 owner's or resident's property.
25     (8)(a) For purposes of this section, "solar energy panel" means a
26 panel device or system or combination of panel devices or systems
27 that relies on direct sunlight as an energy source, including a panel
28 device or system or combination of panel devices or systems that
29 collects sunlight for use in:
30     (((a))) (i) The heating or cooling of a structure or building;
31     (((b))) (ii) The heating or pumping of water;
32     (((c))) (iii) Industrial, commercial, or agricultural processes;
33 or
34     (((d))) (iv) The generation of electricity.
35     (b) "Solar energy panel" does not include a portable solar
36 generation device, as defined in RCW 80.60.010.
37     (((8))) (9) This section must not be construed to permit
38 installation by a unit owner of a solar panel on or in common
39 elements without approval of the board.
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1     (((9))) (10) Unit owners may peacefully assemble on the common
2 elements to consider matters related to the common interest
3 community, but the association may adopt rules governing the time,
4 place, and manner of those assemblies.
5     (((10))) (11) An association may adopt rules that affect the use
6 or occupancy of or behavior in units that may be used for residential
7 purposes, only to:
8     (a) Implement a provision of the declaration;
9     (b) Regulate any behavior in or occupancy of a unit that violates
10 the declaration or adversely affects the use and enjoyment of other
11 units or the common elements by other occupants; and
12     (c) Restrict the leasing of residential units to the extent those
13 rules are reasonably designed to meet underwriting requirements of
14 institutional lenders that regularly make loans secured by first
15 mortgages on units in comparable common interest communities or that
16 regularly purchase those mortgages.
17Part II
18Addressing Meter-Mounted Devices
19     NEW SECTION. Sec. 201. A new section is added to chapter 80.60
20 RCW to read as follows:
21     (1) Each electric utility must allow the installation and
22 operation of no more than one customer-owned meter-mounted device
23 between a retail electric customer's meter and meter socket, provided
24 the retail electric customer ensures the conditions outlined in
25 subsection (2) of this section are met and the meter-mounted device
26 meets the conditions outlined in subsection (3) of this section.
27     (2) A meter-mounted device must be installed in accordance with
28 the national electrical code by a licensed electrical contractor and
29 the installation must be approved by the local permitting authority.
30 After a retail electric customer has identified a licensed electrical
31 contractor to install a meter-mounted device, the retail electric
32 customer must work with the servicing electric utility to schedule a
33 mutually agreeable time for an electric utility representative to
34 remove and then reconnect the utility's meter to allow for the
35 licensed electrical contractor to install the customer's meter-
36 mounted device.
37     (3) An installed meter-mounted device must:
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1     (a) Be qualified to be connected to the supply side of the
2 service disconnect pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
3 national electric code;
4     (b) Be approved or listed by a nationally recognized testing
5 laboratory and is suitable, according to the device's approval or
6 listing documentation, for use in meter sockets that are rated up to
7 200 amperes;
8     (c) Be certified to meet all applicable standards, as determined
9 by a nationally recognized testing laboratory;
10     (d) Not impede or interfere with the functions of analog,
11 digital, or advanced electric meters or measurement devices used by
12 the   utility,  including   current   and  future  systems,  network
13 communications, hardware, and firmware;
14     (e) Not impede access to the sealed meter socket compartment or
15 the pull section of the service section of the electric meter or
16 switchboard, as applicable; and
17     (f) Be approved by the electric utility in accordance with
18 subsection (4) of this section.
19     (4) An electric utility must approve or disapprove a request from
20 a manufacturer for approval of a specific model of meter-mounted
21 device for installation in its service area based on the requirements
22 in subsection (3) of this section. Upon receiving such a request for
23 approval, an electric utility with more than 25,000 customers must
24 make an approval decision within 90 days, and an electric utility
25 with 25,000 customers or fewer must make an approval decision within
26 180 days. An electric utility must maintain an annually updated
27 public list of all approved models of meter-mounted devices,
28 including by posting the information on the utility's website.
29     (5) An electric utility may remove any customer-owned meter-
30 mounted device that does not meet the requirements of subsection (3)
31 of this section.
32     (6) An electric utility may recover the cost of service work on
33 any customer-owned meter-mounted device, or the cost of maintenance,
34 repair, removal, or reinstalling work on any electric utility-owned
35 equipment necessary due to the installation of a customer-owned
36 meter-mounted device, by charging the customer directly.
37     (7) Each electric utility must implement the provisions of this
38 section no later than six months after the effective date of this
39 section.
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1     (8) An electric utility may not be held liable for damage,
2 attributable to a customer-owned meter-mounted device installed
3 pursuant to this section, to any person or property.
4     (9) An electric utility may inspect and maintain the point of
5 common connection without prior notice to the customer for reasons of
6 safety, maintenance, or power quality. If the removal of a customer-
7 owned meter-mounted device is necessary for such inspection or
8 maintenance, either:
9     (a) The customer is responsible for hiring a licensed electrician
10 to remove and reinstall the device; or
11     (b) The electric utility is held harmless for removing and
12 reinstalling the device.
13     (10) A city, county, or other local jurisdiction may not prohibit
14 the installation and operation of a meter-mounted device as described
15 in this section.
16Part III
17    Incentivizing Investment in Energy Conservation and Efficiency
18Measures
19     NEW SECTION. Sec. 301. A new section is added to chapter 80.28
20 RCW to read as follows:
21     (1) The commission must allow an electrical or natural gas
22 company to invest in programs that achieve energy conservation and
23 improve the efficiency of energy end use of single-family and
24 multifamily rental housing in lieu of requiring a contribution from
25 the premises owner to finance measures that would be cost-effective
26 in the aggregate. The commission shall allow the company to earn a
27 return on cost-effective investments made under this section over a
28 duration of time that reduces the customer's energy burden and
29 minimizes the investment's impact on the customer's bill, while
30 providing a return on equity that incentivizes the company to make
31 such an investment.
32     (2) The electrical or natural gas company shall prioritize
33 investments made under this section on single-family and multifamily
34 rental housing to reduce the energy burden of low-income customers,
35 vulnerable populations, and customers in highly impacted communities
36 while meeting the customer's comfort and productivity needs.
37     (3) Investments made under this section must be secured through
38 the meter and recovered through the regular billing paid by the
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1 tenant, including any successor tenant, or owner of the premises. If
2 the bill is paid by the premises' owner, the company's investment
3 must be recovered pursuant to a site-specific services agreement. The
4 investment must be recovered as any other energy charge, including
5 being subject to collection, until the authorized return on the
6 investment has been fully recovered. An investment made under this
7 section must be designated as an "energy savings charge" as a line
8 item on the regular customer billing.
9     (4) The electrical or natural gas company shall provide the
10 premises owner sufficient information for the owner to provide a
11 tenant who is responsible for paying the electric or gas bill as
12 required under this subsection. At least 30 days prior to the
13 commencement of work to install conservation measures at the
14 premises, the premises owner shall notify a tenant of the owner's
15 authorization   for  an   electrical   or  gas  company   to  install
16 conservation measures at the premises inhabited by the tenant under a
17 financial arrangement provided under this section. The notice must
18 include a description of the work to be performed and the expected
19 benefits of the conservation measures.
20     (5) The commission may not incur administrative costs under this
21 section until January 1, 2029.
22     (6) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this
23 section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
24     (a) "Cost-effective" has the same meaning as defined in RCW
25 80.52.030.
26     (b) "Energy burden" has the same meaning as defined in RCW
27 19.405.020.
28     (c) "Highly impacted communities" has the same meaning as defined
29 in RCW 19.405.020.
30     (d) "Low-income" has the same meaning as defined in RCW
31 19.405.020.
32     (e) "Vulnerable populations" has the same meaning as defined in
33 RCW 19.405.020.
34Part IV
35Miscellaneous
36
37     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 401. If any provision of this act or its
38 application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
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1 remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other
2 persons or circumstances is not affected.
3     NEW SECTION.   Sec. 402.   Section 103 of this act expires January
4 1, 2028.
5     NEW SECTION.   Sec. 403.     Section 301 of this act takes effect
6 January 1, 2029.
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