California Officially Legalizes Balcony Solar Power, Opening the Market to the New Technology

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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Wednesday legalizing balcony solar, or “plug-in,” power.

The device is a twist on rooftop solar: smaller, portable and relatively inexpensive.

Balcony solar kits consist of just a few panels, an inverter that converts solar energy into energy used in a home, and cables. In countries where this technology is popular, such as Germany, it can be plugged into a standard wall outlet.

The new law comes as Californians struggle to pay their outsized electricity bills, which have increased significantly in recent years. Rechargeable devices open up the solar market to renters, people with unsuitable roofs, and those who can’t afford to invest in a rooftop system.

“These small, easy-to-use solar panels will give everyone, including renters, the relief they desperately need from our sky-high energy bills,” State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said in a press release. Wiener authored the legislation.

The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support from state lawmakers before landing on Newsom’s desk.

The panels can be hung from a balcony, window or installed in the yard. Existing models range from $300 to $2,200, depending on size.

One of the reasons this technology is significantly less expensive than rooftop solar is that it reduces installation costs. The customers themselves set it up, which some said was simple and others found more difficult than expected.

California law presents a problem, however. Rechargeable solar panels must be certified by an external safety organization. Since the technology is new to the United States, there is only one certification offered by Underwriters Laboratories. Depending on how manufacturers innovate and deploy their products, some may require the help of an electrician to install, while others may be truly “plug and play.”

Electrical experts and other supporters of the new California law continue to call its passage a massive victory and expect safety certification to evolve and eventually allow plug-in panels to connect to a standard wall outlet.

“We’re celebrating,” said Cora Stryker, co-founder of the rechargeable solar energy advocacy group Bright Saver. “The market is sending a clear signal to manufacturers: they must develop a Californian system. »

The new law will exempt plug-in panels from the usual way rooftop solar must be registered with utilities. Instead of paying over a hundred dollars and waiting for days or even weeks, the new registration process will be free, simple and immediate.

A handful of states have passed similar legislation in the past 18 months. Utah was the first, with a law passed in March 2025.

Supporters of the technology say it can supply up to 20 percent of a home’s electricity needs and save up to $500 a year for a small apartment.

The new law sets out several requirements for the devices. Balcony solar systems must generate no more than 1,200 watts per home – enough energy to power a window air conditioning unit – and offset the customer’s on-site electricity consumption. They must be certified by an external safety organization and have a feature that would prevent electricity from flowing back into the grid in the event of a power outage.

Rechargeable solar products currently on the market do not yet meet the defined requirements and customers must therefore always register available systems as if they were rooftop solar systems. The sale of non-compliant systems will become illegal in 2030.

The groups that sponsored the bill said a few companies were already developing systems that meet California’s specific standards and that they expect those models to hit the market in the spring.

The legislation takes effect in 2027 and expires on Jan. 1, 2030, “making it an ongoing fight,” Stryker said.

From KQED’s Climate Desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What’s not working? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by making a donation today.