UL 3700 explained: what certified plug-in solar means
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The short answer: SB 868 requires a plug-in system to be "certified as a plug-in photovoltaic system" by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory.[source] UL 3700 is the test outline used for that. A certificate that covers only the inverter doesn't make a kit qualify.
What UL 3700 is
UL 3700, Outline of Investigation for Interactive Plug-In PV (PIPV) Equipment and Systems was first issued on , and UL Solutions began certifying products to it on .[source] It's an "outline of investigation", not yet a final consensus standard. The Senate committee analysis notes that a consensus standard may follow later, through a process that can take years.[source]
A certified inverter isn't a certified kit
Some parts already have certificates. For example, a CSA certificate for a Hoymiles plug-in microinverter covers the inverter and says "future evaluation should be considered when forming a complete PIPV system", and that the shut-off during a power outage "shall be evaluated when forming a complete PIPV system".[source]
That's why "UL 3700 compliant" on a product page, or a certified inverter, doesn't mean the kit meets SB 868. The Assembly committee analysis of SB 868 said "no commercially available balcony solar system has achieved that certification".[source]
Who can certify
Certification must come from a nationally recognized testing laboratory. OSHA runs that program; its list includes UL, Intertek, CSA and TÜV.[source]
Special plugs and an electrician
The Senate analysis says products certified under the current framework need "a unique plug (not the standard electrical outlet) and dedicated circuit", so in California an electrician installs them.[source] The CSA inverter certificate above instead describes a locking plug and matching receptacle on a non-dedicated circuit with ground-fault protection.[source] Either way, a licensed electrician installs the receptacle. See Do I need an electrician?
How to check a kit
- Ask the seller for the certificate number and the lab that issued it.
- Check that it covers the complete system, not just the inverter or the panels.
- Look it up in the lab's own directory.
- Our kit tracker shows a kit as verified only when the whole system's certification is confirmed with a source.
Frequently asked questions
- A seller says its kit is UL 3700 compliant. Does it qualify under SB 868?
- Not necessarily. SB 868 requires the system to be certified as a plug-in photovoltaic system. Ask for the certificate number and the lab, and check whether it covers the complete kit or only one part.
- Can I plug a certified kit into any outlet?
- Not with the products certified so far. They use a special receptacle that a licensed electrician installs. Ask an electrician about your home.
Next steps
Sources
- Plug-in Solar Hub: California and SB 868 (quotes Sections 8530-8531) (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- UL Solutions: certification framework for plug-in solar (UL 3700) (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 22, 2026
- CA Senate Energy Committee: SB 868 analysis (Mar 17, 2026) (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- CSA certificate 80310016 for Hoymiles HMS-xxx-1WM-LV inverters (copy hosted by Bright Saver) (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 22, 2026
- Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee: SB 868 analysis (June 10, 2026) (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 22, 2026
- OSHA: Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory program (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 22, 2026