The FCC has added foreign-produced power inverters to its Covered List, immediately restricting new covered models from receiving the equipment authorization generally required for import, marketing, and sale in the United States.
The July 28, 2026, action is narrower and, in some respects, more consequential than early reports suggest. Previously authorized models may remain on the market, and the listing does not prohibit the operation or interconnection of installed equipment. But the operative entry contains no transition period for new covered models, and suppliers seeking a Conditional Approval must apply by January 1, 2028.
The released guidance also raises important questions about which inverters fall within the definition. The rule applies to foreign-produced inverters with specified connectivity capabilities, potentially leaving room to argue that equipment relying solely on wired communications falls outside the listing. At the same time, the FCC issued a temporary waiver allowing certain software and firmware updates for previously authorized models, but not hardware permissive changes.
Key takeaways include:
- The restriction applies immediately to new covered inverter models. January 1, 2028, is an application deadline for Conditional Approvals, not a grace period.
- “Foreign-produced” turns on U.S. manufacturing and domestic-content standards, not the manufacturer’s ownership or brand.
- The connectivity requirement may not be met by every modern inverter, particularly models without wireless interfaces.
- Conditional Approval depends heavily on supply-chain disclosures and a concrete U.S. manufacturing plan, and any approval remains revocable.
- Buyers should verify authorization records, firmware support, supplier onshoring plans, contract protections, and the consequences of substituting equipment.
Read the full update for a closer analysis of the listing, the guidance annex, the firmware waiver, and the diligence steps developers, owners, and suppliers should consider now.
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