The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA), Electrical Safety First, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), NICEIC and SELECT issued a joint statement on 8 June 2026 setting out six public safety issues they say must be resolved before plug-in solar PV units are sold at scale1. The bodies said they support wider access to cheap and clean energy but that public safety must be the first principle in any rollout1.
"these products should only enter the mass market once the necessary regulatory, technical and product safety framework is fully in place"
The statement says the Government has announced that plug-in solar panels will be made available quickly, and warns that products reaching retail before a robust and enforceable UK standard is embedded could expose consumers to inconsistent quality, unclear compliance requirements and unsafe imports1. It notes that some products are already being promoted with flattened cables intended to pass under doors or through openings not designed for electrical equipment1.
On electrical safety, the bodies say plug-in units change the direction of power flow, with the installation having to import power, and that under certain conditions the RCD in a home's consumer unit can be compromised1. They state that Amendment 3:2024 to BS 7671:2024 addressed this issue, and that one death resulting from this failure has been reported by one Australian state, adding that this view is not shared by regulators from other Australian states1. They also say that over 50% of UK housing stock is more than a century old, that adding a plug-in unit without a proper electrical assessment is contrary to clause 5 of BS 1363-1, and that multiple units can increase the risk of localised overheating of cables1.
The six issues listed are:
| Issue | What the statement says |
|---|---|
| Bi-directional flow | Power flow runs in both directions; RCD protection can be compromised1 |
| Fire risk | Older wiring may be unfit to carry extra load; localised cable overheating1 |
| Product standards | Inconsistent quality, unclear compliance and unsafe imports possible1 |
| Grid capacity | Notification to the DNO should be clear before a device becomes operational1 |
| Liability and insurance | It is not yet clear how insurers will assess cover for self-installed, undeclared products1 |
| Daisy-chaining | Extension leads and adaptors increase overheating and fire likelihood1 |
The statement also says it is not known how quickly multiple plug-in units will shut down in the event of a power cut, whereas rooftop solar PV has a single dedicated connection through an inverter that shuts down very quickly1. It adds that if multiple flats in a single block each installed units, the cumulative effect on the local network could be significant1.
Why it matters for households
Plug-in solar is marketed on low upfront cost and simple connection, and the bodies acknowledge that appeal while arguing affordability alone is not a sound basis where electrical safety is concerned1. For a household, the practical questions raised here concern the existing wiring in the property, whether the protective devices in the consumer unit will still operate as assumed, and whether an insurer would treat a self-installed, undeclared unit as covered1. The statement also raises the prospect that a product sold as consumer-friendly could be connected to an installation never assessed for it1. On energy independence, the bodies do not dispute that the technology can expand access to cleaner energy; their position is that the supporting framework, including product standards, enforcement, competent installation pathways and consumer guidance, should exist first1.
What happens next
No timetable, consultation date or draft standard is given in the statement. The bodies say they are urging Government to proceed with caution and to design safety, product assurance, competence and system resilience into any rollout from the outset, and that plug-in units should not be rolled out unless and until that framework is in place1.