Why do some electricians refuse to work on plug-in solar?
From 27 August 2026 compliant plug-in solar products have a legal route in the UK. That does not mean every electrician will immediately be comfortable inspecting, altering or signing work connected with them.
Being legal does not mean every electrician has to take the job
Electricians choose what work they are competent and insured to carry out. Plug-in solar is a new product category with unfamiliar paperwork, unusual current flow and a regulatory route that has only just been finalised.
So if an electrician says “I don't touch plug-in solar”, that is not automatically evidence that the product is illegal.
Why some are cautious
- Familiarity: many electricians are used to conventional hard-wired PV, not generation connected through a final socket circuit.
- Liability: nobody wants to be asked to “approve” an improvised kit that they did not design or supply.
- Product uncertainty: a G98 inverter does not automatically mean the complete kit meets the new IPS.
- Existing installation condition: old boards, unknown circuits and unclear RCBO behaviour can turn a simple check into a bigger job.
- Paperwork: G98, Part P and product compliance are separate issues and the industry is still adapting.
What an electrician can reasonably be asked to do
A useful request is specific. For example:
“I have a complete UK plug-in solar product and I need the existing socket circuit and protective arrangement checked against the manufacturer's requirements.”
That is much clearer than asking an electrician to “make my balcony solar legal”.
What I would not expect an electrician to sign off
I would not expect somebody to take responsibility for a home-built collection of panels, inverter, plug lead and brackets just because the owner wants a certificate.
If the new consumer-product route is being used, the product manufacturer carries the responsibility for the complete product design. The electrician's role, where needed, is around the existing installation or any fixed electrical work.
What if a new circuit is needed?
That is normal electrical installation work. It should be designed, installed, inspected, tested and certified in the usual way, with Part P notification where applicable in England.
At that point, finding an electrician comfortable with local generation is sensible.
Will this improve?
I expect so. Once compliant products are actually on the market, manufacturers publish clear instructions and electricians see real installations rather than consultation drafts, the work becomes less unusual.
The industry also now has BS 7671 Amendment 4 bringing more explicit attention to prosumer installations and bidirectional current.
What homeowners should do
- Buy a complete product with clear UK compliance evidence.
- Keep the manufacturer instructions and G98 details.
- Be clear whether you want an inspection of the existing circuit or actual new electrical work.
- Do not ask an electrician to retrospectively endorse an improvised kit.
- If one electrician declines, look for someone who is comfortable with PV, microgeneration and prosumer installations.
My view: this is a new market, so some caution from electricians is completely understandable. The answer is better product documentation and better-defined work scopes, not pretending that every electrician who says no is being difficult.
This page explains practical industry behaviour, not a requirement for any electrician to accept a particular job.