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The California Senate has passed a bill known as SB 868, referred to as ‘The Plug And Play Solar Act,’ according to pv magazine USA. The legislation would permit portable solar generation devices with an output of up to 1,200 W to connect to a building through a standard outlet. Such devices, often called ‘balcony solar panels‘ or ‘plug-in photovoltaics’ (PIPV), would be exempt from rules requiring owners to pay a fee and obtain utility permission for interconnection.
The bill, introduced by Senator Scott Wiener in early January, passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support on a 35-1 vote. It now moves to the state Assembly, which has until August 31 to pass it during the current session. The legislation was modeled after Utah’s HB 340, passed in 2025, which was the nation’s first successful plug-in solar bill. Following Utah’s law, legislators in six other states have passed balcony solar laws, though two have not yet been signed by their governors.
California is viewed by advocates as the most important market for the technology, as the state has long led in installed solar capacity, though Texas has become the national solar hub as California policy has slowed new distributed solar additions. Proponents argue that plug-in solar will spread quickly across the state, enabling companies to reach millions of new customers. While it is uncertain whether the Assembly will pass the bill or whether outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom would sign it, at least one candidate running to replace Newsom has expressed support for plug-in photovoltaics.
Some companies are already selling plug-in solar products in California, including APsystems, Craftstrom, and the nonprofit Bright Saver, but they continue to push for SB 868’s passage. The cofounder of Bright Saver has been a vocal advocate for plug-in solar laws nationwide, stating that residents from large states like California and New York to smaller states like New Hampshire and Virginia are contacting elected officials to request plug-in solar access.
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