How Virginia's HB 395 stacks up against Utah's HB 340
The two earliest US plug-in solar statutes take different routes to the same destination. Virginia leans consumer-protection; Utah leans equipment.
Context
Utah beat Virginia to the punch on effective date but not on passage. HB 395 cleared the Virginia General Assembly in 2024 with a delayed effective date to give the SCC time to build a rulemaking process. Utah's HB 340 passed a year later and took effect almost immediately — but without a comparable stakeholder process.
The result: Utah residents can plug in today; Virginia residents get a more thoroughly-negotiated set of protections in 2027.
Side-by-side
| Provision | Virginia HB 395 | Utah HB 340 |
|---|---|---|
| System cap (AC) | 1,200 W | 1,200 W |
| Required certification | UL 3700 | UL 3700 |
| Landlord restriction | ≥ 4-unit owners cannot unreasonably refuse | Silent — landlord may refuse |
| HOA restriction | Cannot prohibit; may regulate placement | Cannot prohibit; may regulate placement |
| Interconnection agreement | Not required | Not required |
| Utility notification | Voluntary, standardized form | Mandatory notification to utility |
| Net metering | Not eligible | Not eligible |
| Historic districts | Local ARB may impose reasonable conditions | Local historic authority may prohibit |
| Effective date | Jan 1, 2027 (protections) | May 1, 2025 |
What Virginia got right
Three provisions where HB 395 goes further than Utah:
Landlord restrictions with teeth. Virginia bars landlords owning 4+ units from unreasonably refusing plug-in solar. Utah is silent, meaning a Utah tenant's landlord can refuse for any reason or none.
Voluntary utility notification. HB 395 makes notification optional and standardized. HB 340 makes it mandatory, which introduces a compliance step Virginia doesn't impose.
Historic-district balance. Virginia allows local ARBs to impose reasonable conditions but not outright bans; Utah preserves local prohibition authority entirely.
What Utah got right
Immediate effect. HB 340 was live within 90 days of passage. Virginia residents wait until 2027 for the consumer-protection provisions.
Utility notification as data. Mandatory notification gives Utah utilities a clean dataset for distribution planning. Virginia's voluntary approach may leave utilities guessing at system saturation.
Related Reading
- Consult our comprehensive 5-state legal breakdown in detailed multi-state comparison guide.
- Read about Virginia consumer protection enforcement in our report on the Attorney General opinion on HOA enforcement.
- Learn why state statutes set specific capacity limits in 1,200 W AC cap rationale.
Stay updated on Virginia balcony solar
Get notified when the State Corporation Commission issues new HB 395 regulations, forms, or legal updates.
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