SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes is leading a measure to prohibit cities and municipalities from regulating residential energy backup systems’ installation and inspection.

“This measure comes back to consumer protections,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “It is about saving people money and simplifying the installation process for residential batteries.”

The measure would require Illinois to adopt the most recent version of the National Energy Code as a standard for the installation and inspection of residential-sized batteries. The legislation’s intent is to simplify the process for installing and inspecting batteries that are used with solar panels. Currently, there are regulations for commercial batteries but not for residential batteries.

The measure would define “residential energy backup systems” as backup energy systems providing less than 50 kilowatts of electricity or 200 kilowatt hours. It would also include the system’s infrastructure, equipment and components.

“There are currently no restrictions on residential energy backup systems, but we do not know how long that will be the case,” Cervantes said. “We want to get ahead of it and protect consumers now, before it becomes an issue.”

Senate Bill 3794 passed the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee on Thursday, and it will now head to the full Senate for further consideration.