Virginia HB 779

Electric utilities; small portable solar generation devices; local regulation; Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Permits any electric utility customer to own and operate a small portable solar generation device, defined in the bill as a nationally certified, plug-in solar photovoltaic device with a maximum power output of no more than 1,200 watts that is not designed to be interconnected with the electric grid and is intended primarily to offset part of the customer's electricity consumption, provided that such customer has submitted notice to its incumbent investor-owned utility, municipal utility, or electric cooperative. The bill prohibits an investor-owned utility, municipal utility, or electric cooperative from imposing interconnection requirements, charging any fee related to the device, or requiring that the customer obtain the utility's approval before installing or using the device. Under the bill, no electric utility or electric cooperative shall be liable for damage or injury caused by a small portable solar generation device. The bill also restricts (i) localities from prohibiting the use of a small portable solar generation device on a residential structure, provided that certain requirements are met, and (ii) landlords owning more than four rental dwelling units from prohibiting a tenant from installing a small portable solar generation device on the exterior of the tenant's premises, provided that reasonable restrictions may be established concerning size, manner, and placement.