California residents, including renters and apartment dwellers, are now authorized to install and use smaller plug-in solar panels designed to reduce electricity costs. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Plug and Play Solar Act on Wednesday, a bill authored by Sen. Scott Wiener.
The new law allows individuals, whether renters or homeowners, to set small solar panels on their patios or fences and connect them directly into wall outlets. Crucially, the legislation removes the requirement to navigate utility permissions for these systems. Sen. Wiener stated that this law and the small solar panels it enables aim to put people, including renters, “in charge of their energy bills.”
These systems, also known as “balcony solar,” are capable of generating a maximum of 1,200 watts, sufficient to power appliances such as a refrigerator and a few other small household devices. Similar plug-in solar solutions are already in use in Germany and have been legalized in at least nine other U.S. states. The source material indicates that many Californians have previously adopted these panels by purchasing them online and plugging them in, operating within what was described as a legal gray area.
For panels to be legally plugged and played under the new act, they must be sold in the U.S. and certified as safe by recognized gold-standard testing groups, such as UL Solutions. Bernadette del Chiaro, a senior vice president at the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, which co-sponsored the bill, indicated that at least two companies anticipate receiving approval by the end of the year, potentially leading to products on shelves “not long after that in 2027.”
Pacific Gas & Electric had opposed the bill, citing concerns regarding safety and the potential for those without panels to disproportionately bear the costs of grid maintenance. Paul Doherty, a spokesperson for the utility, noted that as implementation progresses, various essential elements require further development. These include ensuring consumer protections, establishing appropriate safety standards, maintaining affordability, and defining clear operating rules that are effective for all customers.
In related legislative action on Wednesday, Governor Newsom also signed additional bills aimed at supporting small-scale solar initiatives and home energy storage. One such measure, SB 905 by Sen. John Becker, will require California to identify existing power lines with capacity for increased electricity flow. It also mandates an assessment of whether home batteries, smart thermostats, and other devices capable of sharing power or reducing demand during grid stress could offer more cost-effective solutions than expensive infrastructure upgrades.
Another bill from Sen. Becker, SB 913, will establish a pathway for these types of devices, referred to as “virtual power plants,” to sell power directly into California’s energy market. These signatures follow a decision by Governor Newsom not to include funding in this year’s budget to sustain the state’s largest virtual power plant through the upcoming year.
However, Governor Newsom did veto AB 1813. This bill, representing a third attempt, sought to compel the California Public Utilities Commission to develop a more robust community solar program. Such a program would allow residents to subscribe to a small solar array located near their homes, receiving a monthly discount on their electricity bills.
