Bright Saver begins offering plug-in solar kits at wholesale costs to customers nationwide

Bright Saver, a nonprofit that promotes balcony solar, is now selling plug-in solar kits at close to its own cost to homeowners in nearly every state except Maine, New York, and Vermont. Previously the kits were only sold to California residents.

The kits include one or two 180-watt solar panels that attach to a balcony railing or fence with zip-ties or screws, plus a microinverter that plugs into a standard outlet. They're designed for DIY setup, with total output capped at 360 watts to stay within the safety limits of a typical 15-amp household circuit.

To get the lower pricing, you need to join Bright Saver as a member, which costs $29 a year. Members pay $285.30 for the 180-watt kit and $414.17 for the 360-watt kit, versus $499 and $699 for non-members. Since the membership fee is much smaller than the discount it unlocks, it pays for itself if you're buying a kit. Membership also includes access to a private community and future offers. Pre-orders placed now are expected to ship in late August.

The move comes as a wave of state laws easing rules on plug-in solar has spread following Utah's 2025 legislation, with dozens of states considering similar bills and some already passing them this year. Bright Saver says it plans to keep negotiating with manufacturers to lower prices further as its membership grows, and is treating that growth as a way to push for more supportive solar policies nationwide.