California Renters Could Soon Plug Solar Panels Into a Wall and Save Up to $450 a Year
Small balcony solar systems could offer renters a new way to lower power bills as California moves to ease utility approval requirements.
The California State Assembly voted overwhelmingly this week to pass the Plug and Play Solar Act to Governor Gavin Newsom for approval. The act would allow home installation of certified plug-in solar devices without prior utility approval. Compatible with standard electrical wall outlets, these plug-in panels don’t require roof installation, making them compatible with more types of homes.
These systems are sometimes referred to as balcony solar systems because their small footprint and accessibility outlets can make them suitable for set-up on an apartment balcony, instead of a roof.
Typically, even smaller scale plug-in solar systems require
Typically, even smaller scale plug-in solar systems require interconnection approval from utilities, but bills like California’s are trying to exempt plug-ins from this process for easier adoption. The fees and lengthy approval times are what many plug-in solar advocates, like EWG, say stands in the way of larger adoption of these systems. Pending the governor’s approval, the law would take effect January 1, 2027 and the exemption will end January 1, 2030.
Why It Matters
Residential electricity prices have increased nearly 40 percent since 2021, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration. And 75 percent of Americans are concerned about their electric bills rising, according to a 2025 poll by Powerlines, a nonprofit aimed at modernizing the utility regulatory system.
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Rooftop solar installation can help save on electric bills, and though it is different for every household, the U.S. Department of Energy projects that a hypothetical California household could save up to $200 per month. However,ot have access to rooftop solar power because they’re either renters, have shaded roofs, or installation is too expensive or some combination of these factors
Plug-in solar can expand that access by allowing
Plug-in solar can expand that access by allowing people to place the panels on balconies, fences, patios or other areas with suitable sun conditions besides roofs. Though they cannot capture as much energy as traditional rooftop solar, these portable panels can provide some savings on electric bills, supporters of the California bill argue.
California renters, whose units make up around 44 percent of all occupied housing in the state, may soon be able to participate in solar energy by setting up these plug-in panels. The bill notes the solar units can have a maximum output of 1200 watts per dwelling and must be certified by “Underwriters Laboratories, or an equivalent nationally recognized testing.”
Source: www.inc.com
