daily · energy-economics

California's balcony solar bill is waiting on Newsom

SB 868 would let Californians plug in solar kits up to 1,200 watts without utility approval. It has sat with the governor since Aug. 31; if he does nothing, it takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.

By Greener Numbers Editorial Team · Published September 24, 2026 · Updated 9/24/2026

California's Plug and Play Solar Act, Senate Bill 868, is waiting on Gov. Gavin Newsom. The Legislature passed the bill in late August, and the official bill record shows it was presented to the governor on Aug. 31 with no action since. If he neither signs nor vetoes it, it becomes law and takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, according to Canary Media.

The bill would let households install plug-in solar kits of up to 1,200 watts per home without going through the utility interconnection process required for larger rooftop systems. The panels plug into a standard 120-volt wall outlet and feed power to nearby devices. State Sen. Scott Wiener, who wrote the bill, said households could cut their annual electric bill by an estimated $400.

There are limits. Only kits certified safe by a nationally recognized testing lab would be allowed. UL Solutions started testing plug-in systems this year under a new standard, UL 3700, but no product had earned certification as of late August, and the standard still requires an electrician. The law would also expire for new installs: starting Jan. 1, 2030, households would need utility sign-off again.

Eight states have already adopted balcony solar laws: Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, Utah, Vermont and Virginia. Even a 400-watt system can cover about 14% of an apartment's energy use, according to the Environmental Working Group, which backed the bill.

Official source: Canary Media ↗