Plug-in solar in California: questions and answers
Last updated
Short answers to the questions people ask most about plug-in (balcony) solar in California, each with a link to the full guide.
Is plug-in solar legal in California?
Yes, from . SB 868 lets a certified plug-in kit connect without the utility's approval.[source] Your utility may ask you to register it through a simple online form but can't charge fees related to it.[source] More in SB 868 explained.
Does it apply to my utility?
The law names "an electrical corporation or a local publicly owned electric utility", so it covers PG&E, SCE and SDG&E as well as city and district utilities.[source] Electric cooperatives aren't named. See all the utilities we cover.
How big a kit can I use?
1,200 W AC for all the plug-in devices at one home.[source] Check a kit with is my kit legal?
Does it need to be certified?
Yes. SB 868 requires certification by UL or an equivalent testing laboratory, and UL launched its UL 3700 program for plug-in systems in 2026.[source] See UL 3700 explained for what to check on a kit.
What does a kit cost, and what will it save?
Prices and savings vary by kit and utility. Our kit tracker lists prices from each seller's own page with the date we checked, and the calculator estimates savings from your utility's tariff. Power you send to the grid earns nothing, so size the kit to your daytime use.[source]
Can renters use one?
Usually with the landlord's permission: SB 868 doesn't appear to override a lease or HOA rules.[source] See plug-in solar for renters.
Do I need an electrician?
Kits certified under today's UL framework may need a special receptacle on a dedicated circuit, which means an electrician.[source] See do I need an electrician?. We never give wiring instructions.
Will it keep my power on in an outage?
No. A plug-in kit has to switch off when the grid goes down. See batteries and outages.
Is it safe on a balcony?
Secure the panels against wind and keep them and their cables out of exit paths; tell your insurance company before you install.[source] More in the before-you-buy checklist.
Is there a tax credit or rebate?
No. The IRS says the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit isn't available for property placed in service after the end of 2025.[source] See no tax credit, explained.
Not legal, electrical or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
- Is plug-in solar legal in California?
- Yes, from January 1, 2027, under SB 868, for a certified kit of up to 1,200 W AC per home. The utility can ask you to register it but can't require approval or charge fees related to it.
- How big a plug-in solar kit can I use?
- Up to 1,200 W AC for all the plug-in devices at one home.
- Is there a tax credit for balcony solar?
- No. The IRS says the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after the end of 2025.
Next steps
Sources
- pv magazine: Newsom signs California plug-in solar bill (Oct 2, 2026) (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Plug-in Solar Hub: California and SB 868 (quotes Sections 8530-8531) (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- CalMatters Digital Democracy: SB 868 as chaptered (Chapter 985, Statutes of 2026), with the Legislative Counsel's Digest (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 23, 2026
- NRG Clean Power: SB 868 explainer (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- UL Solutions: certification framework for plug-in solar (UL 3700) (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 22, 2026
- IRS: Residential Clean Energy Credit (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- pv magazine USA: California legalized balcony solar, here's what homeowners should know (Oren Tamir, NRG Clean Power, Oct 21, 2026) (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 23, 2026
- CA Senate Energy Committee: SB 868 analysis (Mar 17, 2026) (opens in a new tab) · checked Oct 20, 2026