Changelog — UK plug-in solar transition
BS 7671 Amendment 4 Tracker last verified: 15 June 2026
This page tracks the UK plug-in / balcony solar regulatory transition under BS 7671 Amendment 4 and the updates we make to this site. Dates that have happened are shown plainly; future milestones are marked expected because they are anticipated, not confirmed. Newest first.
Anticipated (not yet confirmed)
| Date | Milestone | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| ~ October 2026 expected | End of the transitional period | By this point the legal and product-standard picture for DIY plug-in kits should be coherent end-to-end. Anticipated, not confirmed. |
| ~ 22 July 2026 expected | DESNZ consultation response summary | DESNZ expects to publish a summary of responses to the plug-in solar consultation, clarifying the legalisation timeline (PSSR amendment + interim product specification; enduring BSI standard to follow later). |
Happened
| Date | Milestone | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 30 June 2026 closed | DESNZ plug-in solar consultation closed (23:59) | The public consultation on legalising plug-in solar has closed. DESNZ is analysing responses; a response summary is expected around 22 July 2026, with the law change to follow. DIY plug-in is still not legal. |
| 16 June 2026 opened | DESNZ opened the consultation to legalise plug-in solar | Government formally proposed legalisation via a PSSR amendment + DESNZ Interim Product Specification v1.0 (written statement HCWS118). Consultation stage — not yet legal. Details. |
| 16 June 2026 site | Added UK guides: renters, planning permission, and G98 (UK Power Networks) | Expanded the practical guidance set for renters and the DNO notification route. |
| 15 June 2026 site | Site launched — honest BS 7671 Amendment 4 guide | First publication of BalconySolarHub, framing what is actually legal today during the transition. |
| 15 April 2026 in force | BS 7671 Amendment 4 came into force | Microgeneration up to 800W is now classed as a portable appliance, provided the safety requirements are met (800W AC cap, single-phase, type-approved anti-islanding inverter, RCD protection). |
| 16 March 2026 | BS 7671 Amendment 4 ratified by the IET | Industry signal that the rule change was final. No live effect until it came into force on 15 April 2026. |
Future dates are expected / anticipated, not confirmed — the DESNZ response summary, the PSSR amendment and the end of the transitional period have not happened yet. For what is legal today, see Is plug-in solar legal in the UK? Informational, not legal or electrical advice.