Reporting on plug-in solar in California and beyond: the law, utilities, kits and safety. Every item links to the original article.
9 articles · updated · RSS feed
Articles are found and summarized automatically each day. Summaries are short, in our own words, and may contain mistakes: the linked article is the source. News is not advice; check our SB 868 guide and kit checker before you buy.
9 articles shown
Solar BuilderOther states and Congress
Solar Builder reports that Rep. Rob Menendez introduced H.R. 10851, the first federal bill aimed at plug-in solar. The proposal would fund state programs for low- and moderate-income households, set a federal safety standard and add savings labels to products. It is a proposal only and has not passed.
Read at Solar Builder →pv magazine USACalifornia law
In an opinion piece, installer Oren Tamir explains what SB 868 allows and what it leaves to homeowners. He advises using a certified kit on a lightly loaded outlet, getting landlord or HOA permission in writing, telling your insurer and treating exported power as worth nothing.
Read at pv magazine USA →National GeographicResearch and features
National Geographic looks at plug-in solar spreading across the US after Utah legalized it in 2025, with California the latest state to follow. The piece covers savings for renters and homeowners, Germany's long experience with the systems and the local rules that can still limit where panels go.
Read at National Geographic →pv magazine USACalifornia law
pv magazine USA reports that Governor Newsom signed SB 868, letting Californians plug certified solar devices of up to 1,200 watts AC per home into an outlet starting January 1, 2027. The law exempts these devices from utility interconnection and fees, with the exemptions set to expire in 2030 unless extended.
Read at pv magazine USA →KQEDCalifornia law
KQED reports that SB 868 passed the Legislature with bipartisan support and went to the governor. The bill would replace the utility interconnection application with a free online registration form for certified kits of up to 1,200 watts, and PG&E described its current process as costing about $100 to $800.
Read at KQED →pv magazine USAOther states and Congress
pv magazine USA reports that New York lawmakers passed the SUNNY Act, which would allow certified plug-in solar devices of up to 1,200 watts AC without an interconnection agreement or fees. Owners would have to notify their utility within 30 days, and the bill was awaiting the governor's decision.
Read at pv magazine USA →MIT Technology ReviewResearch and features
MIT Technology Review reports that dozens of states were weighing plug-in solar laws after Utah became the first to allow them. The article also covers safety concerns such as overloaded circuits and notes that no kit had been fully certified under UL 3700 as of early May 2026.
Read at MIT Technology Review →UL SolutionsSafety and standards
UL Solutions announced a testing and certification program for plug-in solar based on UL 3700, its outline of investigation for these systems. The program sets construction, performance and labeling criteria, including protections against overloaded circuits and power flowing back through a plug.
Read at UL Solutions →KQEDUtilities and rates
KQED profiles Bay Area residents using small plug-in solar panels before California had a law covering them. The story describes PG&E's registration requirements, which critics called burdensome, and compares California with Utah and Germany.
Read at KQED →