Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..
Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Updated: May 12, 2026 @ 9:16 pm
Between all the concern over the high energy costs, the construction of massive solar arrays polluting the visual landscape, and the cost and complexity of repaving roofs with solar panels, New Yorkers should welcome a simpler, cheaper solution to reducing their energy costs.
Imagine if you could just buy a small solar panel or two, generating anywhere from 800-1,600 watts of electricity, about enough to power a microwave oven or refrigerator. Imagine then that you can prop the solar panel up on your apartment balcony or on your back porch or yard, plug it into a standard outlet in your home, and start shaving money off your monthly energy bill.
No expensive installation. No government permits. No hookup charges or registration fees imposed by the utility companies. Just a small power bank fueled by the sun to let you keep some of your money and your independence from the energy monopoly.
The technology for these “plug-in” or “balcony” solar panels already exists and it is growing in popularity, especially in Europe, where 25 countries have legalized them. Germany dominates the market with installation in 1.2 million homes.
Here in the U.S., these devices haven’t yet caught on. But consumer and lawmaker interest is starting to grow. Utah was the first state to legalize the devices last year, and Maine allowed them last month. Virginia’s bill is awaiting the governor’s signature, and 30 other states are considering laws.
Quietly, the New York state Senate on April 21 unanimously passed the SUNNY Act (Solar Up Now NY), bill number S8512A. The companion bill in the Assembly (A9111C) is in committee.
So if these devices are so great and popular, what’s the problem?
Well, for starters, the technology is new, and that naturally breeds mistrust and concern, as it should.
Lawmakers need to address the concerns in their legislation, particularly those regarding safety, before allowing consumers to install and use these devices in their homes unregulated.
One safety concern is that by feeding electricity into the system, these devices could feed energy into lines during power outages and threaten utility workers who believe downed power lines have no power running through them. Other concerns relate to fire risks from overloaded circuits, electric shocks from live plugs and potential damage to household wiring.
Supporters of the technology have argued that these concerns have already been addressed, and a U.S. Department of Energy report from Germany says that country has experienced none of these problems.
The Utah, Maine and Virginia laws all, for instance, require that units require certification by an accredited nationally recognized testing lab like UL Solutions.
New York’s proposed law also requires that certification. It also limits devices to 1,200 watts, requires installation in accordance with state fire code and manufacturer instructions, and mandates that plug-in panels contain a feature that shuts down power to keep the panels from energizing downed power lines.
While the technology has proven to be safe under these conditions, the state should err on the side of caution and do a more thorough review of this new technology. Lawmakers should hear from manufacturers, utilities, emergency services, electrical installers and codes officers in a public session before moving forward.
The last thing anyone wants is for a utility worker to be electrocuted or for a house with poor wiring to catch fire because of the misuse or incorrect installation of unsafe devices.
Everyone wants low-cost electricity. And these plug-in devices seem like a viable option for consumers.
But state approval of new technology has to be done with safety as the top priority.
Until all those with a stake in these devices are satisfied that the state has all the necessary controls in place, New York should hold off on approving them.
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