California lawmakers have passed a bill that would let residents install small, plug-in solar panels without hiring a licensed electrician or getting sign-off from their utility company, a change that supporters say expands access to solar power but that electrical workers warn could create fire and shock hazards.
The California Legislature passed Senate Bill 868 on August 26, sending it to Governor Gavin Newsom, who must now decide whether to sign it or veto it. The bill was authored by Democratic state senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco.
SB 868 would set safety standards for portable solar systems, often called “balcony solar,” and remove existing barriers to their use. Under the bill, homeowners and renters could install these systems without hiring a professional installer or seeking utility approval. A company could still require users to register their devices, but the bill bars utilities from charging fees or requiring the panels to be wired into a building’s main electrical system.
“This is a way that we can expand access to solar to a huge array of Californians who are not benefiting now, including renters, including people who own smaller, more modest homes,” Wiener said.
How plug-in solar works
The systems are straightforward: small solar panels, placed on a balcony or in a backyard, plug directly into a standard 120-volt outlet rather than being hard-wired into a home’s electrical panel. The technology is already common elsewhere. Germany has more than a million such systems installed, and IKEA’s European websites have offered plug-in kits starting around $570 as of August 2026.
California would not be the first U.S. state to allow it. Eight other states have passed similar laws, starting with Utah in 2025.
The bill arrives as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. rates have climbed nearly 40% between 2022 and 2025. Advocacy group Solar United Neighbors estimates plug-in systems could save residents $400 to $800 a year, with a typical system paying for itself in about five years. The group also projects that if enough states adopt similar laws, per-watt costs could fall from nearly $3 to under 60 cents within a few years.
Electrical workers raise safety concerns
The California State Association of Electrical Workers has come out strongly against the bill, calling it a
