HB4524 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 17587 AAS 31015 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4524

Introduced 1/30/2026, by Rep. Daniel Didech - Laura Faver Dias

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

55 ILCS 5/5-46005
65 ILCS 5/11-15.5-5
220 ILCS 5/16-507.5a new
765 ILCS 165/10

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that "plug-in solar energy system" means a moveable photovoltaic generation device that (i) may or may not include an energy storage system; (ii) exports no more than 1,200 watts to an outlet; (iii) is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system through a standard outlet; (iv) is intended primarily to offset part of an eligible customer's electricity consumption; and (v) is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory. Provides that an electricity provider shall not require an eligible customer who uses, or intends to install and use, a plug-in solar energy system to do certain actions. Provides that a plug-in solar energy system is exempt from interconnection requirements under provisions concerning net electricity metering and any rules adopted pursuant to those provisions. Provides that a plug-in solar energy system is not eligible for net electricity metering or any distributed generation rebate. Provides that an electricity provider is not liable for any damage or injury caused by an eligible customer's plug-in solar energy system. Provides that a plug-in solar energy system that has a maximum power output to a receptacle outlet of 391 watts or less is exempt from any product listing standard that would require alterations to a building's premises, wiring, or electrical panels. Provides that landlords, homeowners' associations, common interest community associations, and condominium unit owners' associations shall not adopt, enforce, or attempt to enforce any restriction, covenant, bylaw, regulation, lease stipulation, or other rule that directly or indirectly restricts, prohibits, or imposes unreasonable conditions on the installation, use, or operation of a plug-in solar energy system. Amends the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, and the Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act. Provides that "solar energy system" includes a plug-in solar energy system. Makes other changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by changing Section 5-46005 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/5-46005)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 5-46005. Definitions. As used in this Division:

"Low-voltage solar-powered device" means a piece of equipment designed for a particular purpose, including, but not limited to, doorbells, security systems, and illumination equipment, powered by a solar collector operating at less than 50 volts, and located:

(1) entirely within the lot or parcel owned by the property owner; or

(2) within a common area without being permanently attached to common property.

"Plug-in solar energy system" has the meaning given to that term in Section 16-507.5a of the Public Utilities Act.

"Solar collector" means:

(1) an assembly, structure, or design, including passive elements, used for gathering, concentrating, or absorbing direct and indirect solar energy and specially designed for holding a substantial amount of useful thermal energy and to transfer that energy to a gas, solid, or liquid or to use that energy directly;

(2) a mechanism that absorbs solar energy and converts it into electricity;

(3) a mechanism or process used for gathering solar energy through wind or thermal gradients; or

(4) a component used to transfer thermal energy to a gas, solid, or liquid, or to convert it into electricity.

"Solar energy" means radiant energy received from the sun at wavelengths suitable for heat transfer, photosynthetic use, or photovoltaic use.

"Solar energy system" means:

(1) a complete assembly, structure, or design of a solar collector or a solar storage mechanism that uses solar energy for generating electricity or for heating or cooling gases, solids, liquids, or other materials; and

(2) the design, materials, or elements of a system and its maintenance, operation, and labor components, and the necessary components, if any, of supplemental conventional energy systems designed or constructed to interface with a solar energy system.

"Solar energy system" includes a plug-in solar energy system.

"Solar storage mechanism" means equipment or elements, such as piping and transfer mechanisms, containers, heat exchangers, batteries, or controls thereof and gases, solids, liquids, or combinations thereof, that are utilized for storing solar energy, gathered by a solar collector, for subsequent use.

(Source: P.A. 104-458, eff. 6-1-26.)

Section 10. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by changing Section 11-15.5-5 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/11-15.5-5)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 11-15.5-5. Definitions. As used in this Division:

"Low-voltage solar-powered device" means a piece of equipment designed for a particular purpose, including, but not limited to, doorbells, security systems, and illumination equipment, powered by a solar collector operating at less than 50 volts, and located:

(1) entirely within the lot or parcel owned by the property owner; or

(2) within a common area without being permanently attached to common property.

"Plug-in solar energy system" has the meaning given to that term in Section 16-507.5a of the Public Utilities Act.

"Solar collector" means:

(1) an assembly, structure, or design, including passive elements, used for gathering, concentrating, or absorbing direct and indirect solar energy and specially designed for holding a substantial amount of useful thermal energy and to transfer that energy to a gas, solid, or liquid or to use that energy directly;

(2) a mechanism that absorbs solar energy and converts it into electricity;

(3) a mechanism or process used for gathering solar energy through wind or thermal gradients; or

(4) a component used to transfer thermal energy to a gas, solid, or liquid, or to convert it into electricity.

"Solar energy" means radiant energy received from the sun at wavelengths suitable for heat transfer, photosynthetic use, or photovoltaic use.

"Solar energy system" means:

(1) a complete assembly, structure, or design of a solar collector or a solar storage mechanism that uses solar energy for generating electricity or for heating or cooling gases, solids, liquids, or other materials; and

(2) the design, materials, or elements of a system and its maintenance, operation, and labor components, and the necessary components, if any, of supplemental conventional energy systems designed or constructed to interface with a solar energy system.

"Solar energy system" includes a plug-in solar energy system.

"Solar storage mechanism" means equipment or elements, such as piping and transfer mechanisms, containers, heat exchangers, batteries, or controls thereof and gases, solids, liquids, or combinations thereof, that are utilized for storing solar energy, gathered by a solar collector, for subsequent use.

(Source: P.A. 104-458, eff. 6-1-26.)

Section 15. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding Section 16-507.5a as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/16-507.5a new)

Sec. 16-507.5a. Plug-in solar energy system.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Electricity provider" has the meaning given to that term in Section 16-107.5.

"Eligible customer" means a retail customer of an electricity provider.

"Net electricity metering" has the meaning given to that term in Section 16-107.5.

"Plug-in solar energy system" means a moveable photovoltaic generation device that:

(1) may or may not include an energy storage system;

(2) exports no more than 1,200 watts to an outlet;

(3) is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system through a standard outlet;

(4) is intended primarily to offset part of an eligible customer's electricity consumption; and

(5) is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory.

(b) An electricity provider shall not require an eligible customer who uses, or intends to install and use, a plug-in solar energy system to do any of the following:

(1) obtain the electricity provider's approval before installing or using the plug-in solar energy system;

(2) pay a fee or charge related to the installation or use of the plug-in solar energy system; or

(3) install additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the plug-in solar energy system.

(c) A plug-in solar energy system is exempt from interconnection requirements under Section 16-107.5 and any rules adopted by the Commission pursuant to Section 16-107.5.

(d) A plug-in solar energy system is not eligible for net electricity metering under Section 16-107.5 or any rebate under Section 16-107.6.

(e) An electricity provider is not liable for any damage or injury caused by an eligible customer's plug-in solar energy system.

(f) A plug-in solar energy system that has a maximum power output to a receptacle outlet of 391 watts or less is exempt from any building safety code provisions or any product listing standard provisions that would require alterations to a building's premises, wiring, or electrical panels. Landlords, homeowners' associations, common interest community associations, and condominium unit owners' associations shall not adopt, enforce, or attempt to enforce any restriction, covenant, bylaw, regulation, lease stipulation, or other rule that directly or indirectly restricts, prohibits, or imposes unreasonable conditions on the installation, use, or operation of a plug-in solar energy system subject to this subsection (f). Any such restriction, covenant, bylaw, regulation, lease stipulation, or other rule is void and unenforceable as a matter of public policy. Landlords, homeowners' associations, common interest community associations, and condominium unit owners' associations may not impose fees, insurance requirements, or procedural conditions that function as a prohibition on the installation, use, or operation of a plug-in solar energy system subject to this subsection (f). This subsection (f) applies only to leases, contracts, covenants, bylaws, rules, or other governing documents created, entered into, renewed, or amended on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

Section 20. The Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act is amended by changing Section 10 as follows:

(765 ILCS 165/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Plug-in solar energy system" has the meaning given to that term in Section 16-507.5a of the Public Utilities Act.

"Solar energy" means radiant energy received from the sun at wave lengths suitable for heat transfer, photosynthetic use, or photovoltaic use.

"Solar collector" means:

(1) an assembly, structure, or design, including passive elements, used for gathering, concentrating, or absorbing direct and indirect solar energy, specially designed for holding a substantial amount of useful thermal energy and to transfer that energy to a gas, solid, or liquid or to use that energy directly; or

(2) a mechanism that absorbs solar energy and converts it into electricity; or

(3) a mechanism or process used for gathering solar energy through wind or thermal gradients; or

(4) a component used to transfer thermal energy to a gas, solid, or liquid, or to convert it into electricity.

"Solar storage mechanism" means equipment or elements (such as piping and transfer mechanisms, containers, heat exchangers, batteries, or controls thereof, and gases, solids, liquids, or combinations thereof) that are utilized for storing solar energy, gathered by a solar collector, for subsequent use.

"Solar energy system" means:

(1) a complete assembly, structure, or design of solar collector, or a solar storage mechanism, which uses solar energy for generating electricity or for heating or cooling gases, solids, liquids, or other materials; and

(2) the design, materials, or elements of a system and its maintenance, operation, and labor components, and the necessary components, if any, of supplemental conventional energy systems designed or constructed to interface with a solar energy system.

"Solar energy system" includes a plug-in solar energy system.

(Source: P.A. 102-161, eff. 7-26-21.)