Newsom signs California plug-in solar bill, establishing the nation’s largest balcony solar market

California now allows plug-in solar panels, sometimes called balcony solar, under a new law signed by Governor Newsom. Senate Bill 868, the "Plug In the Sun Act," takes effect January 1, 2027. It defines these as small solar devices that plug directly into a wall outlet to offset a home's electricity use. A single home can have up to 1,200 watts of these devices, and they must be certified by UL or an equivalent testing lab. Utilities cannot charge fees for them or require permission to install and use them, and the devices are exempt from the usual utility interconnection paperwork that applies to rooftop solar systems.

This matters most for renters and condo owners, who often cannot install traditional rooftop solar but can plug a portable panel into a balcony or patio outlet. California joins Utah and several other states that have passed similar laws over the past two years, and New York has a similar bill awaiting the governor's signature. Companies like EcoFlow and the nonprofit Bright Saver already sell these kits and expect California's size and sunny climate to make it the country's biggest market for the technology.

One catch: lawmakers added a provision that lets the new rules expire in 2030 unless renewed. Advocates say the law passed unusually fast, but utilities pushed for this sunset clause as a condition of support. Supporters of the law hope that by 2030, enough Californians will be using these devices that lawmakers won't want to roll back the rules. For now, if you rent or live in a condo without access to full rooftop solar, this law opens a simpler, cheaper way to generate some of your own power starting next year.