Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH) announced that its IQ Meter Collar has received approval for behind-the-meter installation from 80 utilities across the United States and Canada, collectively serving more than 38 million customers.

The approvals include all three major investor-owned electric utilities in California and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Hawaiian Electric has approved initial pilot installations, with full approval expected in the coming months, according to the company.

The IQ Meter Collar is a microgrid interconnection device that mounts behind a utility meter or on a standalone meter socket. The device enables whole-home backup without requiring circuits to be moved to a dedicated backup sub-panel or the installation of additional consumption current transformers. It is part of Enphase's 4th-generation energy system, alongside the IQ Battery 10C and the IQ Combiner 6C. The product carries a 15-year limited warranty.

"Utility approvals are critical to scaling whole-home backup," said Ken Fong, senior vice president of sales at Enphase Energy. "With the IQ Meter Collar now approved by 80 utilities, we are removing a key barrier to battery adoption, enabling installers to bring our 4th-generation Enphase Energy System to more homeowners, faster and more efficiently."

The company said the device reduces wiring complexity and installation time through integrated metering and streamlined commissioning. Enphase stated that additional utility approvals are expected in the near term.