In the consultation, we sought views on proposed UK-wide amendments to the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (PSSR) and on the Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification (IPS). We did not consult on amendments to the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (ESQCR).

The proposed PSSR amendments are narrow in scope. They would create a route for approving standard plugs intended for use with plug-in solar microgenerators where the plug complies with all relevant BS 1363 requirements. These BS 1363 plugs cannot currently be approved because BS 1363 prohibits the use of plugs for connecting electricity-generating devices to socket-outlets.

The IPS was also consulted on and sets out the minimum technical and safety requirements for plug-in solar devices. Only plug-in solar devices that are compliant with the IPS will be able to be sold in the UK and plugged in under the PSSR amendment. The IPS applies specifically to plug-in solar products only and does not extend to other plug-in technologies, such as plug-in batteries. Separately, compliance with the IPS is also relevant under the ESQCR in determining whether a plug-in solar device may be connected to and used on the consumer’s electrical connection.

Together, the proposed PSSR amendments and the plug-in solar device interim specification support the government’s approach to enabling consumers to use compliant plug-in solar devices safely.

This government response summarises the feedback received on those proposals and sets out the government’s position on the issues raised through the consultation. It is accompanied by an Impact Assessment for the proposed amendments.

Over 85% of respondents agreed with the proposed IPS. The specification would form part of the approval framework for standard plugs intended for use with plug-in microgenerators under the proposed amendments to the PSSR. A majority of respondents also supported the proposed PSSR amendments, with many considering the proposals a practical and proportionate first step to support the safe deployment of plug-in solar devices. Respondents highlighted the potential for plug-in solar to help households reduce electricity costs and increase access to clean, home-grown power, including for people who may not be able to install rooftop solar panels.

A minority of respondents raised concerns about the safety of electrical installations in older properties, the availability of non-compliant products through online marketplaces, and the possibility that the changes could be wrongly interpreted as applying to other plug-in technologies, such as plug-in batteries. Respondents also emphasised the importance of clear consumer information. Having considered this feedback, the government intends to proceed with the proposed amendments to the PSSR and the IPS, with refinements made in response to consultation feedback. The government will publish consumer guidance alongside commencement of the regulations and continue to gather evidence from deployment and real-world use to inform the development of enduring product standards.

We received 466 responses to this consultation from a wide range of stakeholders, including:

• trade associations
• energy suppliers
• electricians
• regulatory bodies
• manufacturers
• think tanks
• academics
• network operators
• local and community groups
• members of the public