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Is plug-in solar legal in Tennessee?
No specific law
Tennessee has no plug-in solar law. Plugging a kit into an outlet falls under your utility's interconnection rules, which usually require approval.
Max system sizeNo capsmallest tier: No size floor
Electrician / permitPermit and inspectionutility rules apply
Tell the utility?Interconnection applicationtypical fee $750
CertificationUL 1741 inverterrequired by every utility
What this means for you
✓ What you can do
- Apply for interconnection like any small generator (No size floor), typical fee $750.
- Use portable panels with a power station, never connected to house wiring, with no permission at all.
- Install conventional rooftop or ground-mount solar through the standard interconnection process.
✕ Not yet / not allowed
- Plug a grid-tied kit into an outlet without an interconnection agreement; it can breach your service terms.
- Expect a permit or wiring exemption; none exists without a law.
- Count on a law soon: no plug-in solar bill has been filed.
What the rules say
No plug-in solar law or bill in Tennessee.
No law doesn't mean no rules. In Tennessee, a kit that pushes power back into your home wiring is treated like any other grid-connected generator. Most utilities require an interconnection application, and plugging in without one can breach your service agreement. Off-grid use (panels charging a battery that powers devices directly) avoids this entirely.
Before you plug in: Tennessee checklist
- The rule that applies is None at state level; TVA (federal) via 153 local power companies's interconnection process: TVA Dispersed Power Production / Green Connect; LPC programs (NESolar).
- A plug-in kit falls in the smallest tier (No size floor). Not stated (NES); Volunteer EC $750 DPP (dated).
- Permits: 2017 NEC with TN amendments; local permits.
- Only consider kits with a UL 1741-listed inverter (UL 3700 preferred); a non-listed inverter will not be approved anywhere.
- What exports are worth: Avoided cost (~3 c/kWh); NES displaced-energy credit 4.3-7.0 c + purchase 2.9-3.1 c.
- If approval is slow or costly, a portable panel and power station (never connected to house wiring) needs no permission.
- No plug-in solar bill has been filed yet; the nearby states that passed laws in 2026 are the template to expect.
The rules in detail
Tennessee has no statute specific to plug-in solar. Average residential electricity price: 13.71¢ per kWh (EIA, July 2026).
Your utility's rules in Tennessee
No utility in Tennessee publishes a rule that specifically allows or bans outlet-connected generation, so the general interconnection agreement is what applies. Here is what the largest residential utilities say and require.
| Utility | Residential customers | Published position on plug-in kits |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville Electric Service | 417,640 | No specific statement; 'No Energy Resource may be deployed until it has been approved by NES'. source |
| Memphis Light, Gas & Water | 380,286 | No specific statement; TVA DPP contract; Electric Service Availability charge for self-generators. source |
| Middle Tennessee Electric | 307,370 | No specific statement. |
| Knoxville Utilities Board | 193,707 | No specific statement. |
Interconnection terms for a sub-1.2 kW system
| Regulator | None at state level; TVA (federal) via 153 local power companies. |
|---|---|
| Governing rule | TVA Dispersed Power Production / Green Connect; LPC programs (NESolar). |
| Smallest tier | No size floor; LPC application. |
| Application fee | Not stated (NES); Volunteer EC $750 DPP (dated). |
| Electrician / permit | 2017 NEC with TN amendments; local permits. |
| Export compensation | Avoided cost (~3 c/kWh); NES displaced-energy credit 4.3-7.0 c + purchase 2.9-3.1 c. |
| Electrical code | 2017 NEC (eff. 10/1/2018). |
In practice
- LPC boards under TVA rules decide, not a state PUC.
- Still on 2017 NEC statewide.
State incentives
- None for residential.
Who is pushing for a law
- Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
- Tennessee Solar Energy Association
- Sierra Club TN
Savings preview: 800 W kit in Tennessee
Adjust for your setup →≈ $118/year
Frequently asked questions
Is plug-in solar legal in Tennessee?
Tennessee has no plug-in solar law. Plugging a kit into an outlet falls under your utility's interconnection rules, which usually require approval.
Do I need a permit or electrician for plug-in solar in Tennessee?
Default. Check with your local building department before you plug in.
Do I have to tell my utility in Tennessee?
Default (TVA distributors). Plugging in a grid-tied kit without following this can breach your service agreement.
What can an 800 W plug-in kit save in Tennessee?
Roughly 864 kWh and about $118 per year at Tennessee's average residential rate of 13.71¢/kWh, assuming a typical balcony or patio mount. See the calculator for your exact setup.