Plug-In Solar in California
That's right. California's new plug-in solar law is signed. When it takes effect, certified kits up to 1,200 watts for each home can then plug into an outlet without utility approval or any fee.
- Legal in California from Jan 1, 2027SB 868
- The cap per home is 1,200 W.
- A price of 32.6 cents.The EIA average home price per kWh from Jan to Aug 2026.
- $444 each year.In Los Angeles, this figure covers an 800 W kit and doesn't include any utility solar fee.
In California, choose a kit no larger than 1,200 W before you connect it. Its inverter must stop sending power when the grid goes down.
California's Law: What It Says
Signed on Sep 30, 2026, SB 868 takes effect on Jan 1, 2027. This law appears in Chapter 985, Statutes of 2026.
The size is 1,200 W.
Safety listing: The kit must comply with the California Electrical Code and the latest National Electrical Code. Certification of the plug-in photovoltaic system must come from Underwriters Laboratories or a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) with equivalent standing. An NRTL-certified feature that prevents backfeeding to the grid during outages must be included.
Utility approval: You don't need it. All interconnection requirements, including any interconnection agreement, don't apply to the device, whether the utility is investor-owned or a city or public utility.
Telling the utility: A simple online form for the device (address, make, model and size) may be required by the utility for customer registration. Registration can't count as an approval step.
Fees: The utility can't charge a fee tied to the device or to power that it feeds into the home. It also can't require extra controls or equipment.
- Each dwelling may have no more than 1,200 W of combined AC output. The kit's design must let it connect and disconnect through a receptacle (outlet).
- Unless the legislature extends it, the exemption section is scheduled to end on January 1, 2030.
- Beginning January 1, 2030, sales of outlet-connected solar devices that fail the code, certification and outage-protection conditions are barred in California.
Larger Systems and the Rules That Apply Before the Law
Hooking up: Any system on an investor-owned utility's grid must follow Electric Rule 21, the CPUC tariff covering interconnection, operating and metering requirements, until the law takes effect.
Net metering: Beginning April 15, 2023, PG&E, SCE and SDG&E serve new solar customers under the Net Billing Tariff (the utilities' Solar Billing Plan). The credits it gives for exports are usually below the retail rate.
Savings from a Kit in California
In Los Angeles, PVWatts estimates that panels rated at 1 kW produce 1,705 kWh each year. California households pay 32.6 cents for each kWh in 2026 so far. Results for an 800 W kit depend on where the panels go:
| Where the panels go | kWh a year | Saved a year |
|---|---|---|
| Tilted south on a stand | 1,364 | $444 |
| Upright on a railing | 859 | $280 |
| Facing east or west | 1,091 | $356 |
Each Month in Los Angeles
- Jan97
- Feb94
- Mar116
- Apr123
- May117
- Jun123
- Jul130
- Aug136
- Sep124
- Oct114
- Nov102
- Dec89
An 800 W kit makes this many kWh when tilted south.
Kits That Fall Under the 1,200 W Cap
| Kit | kWh a year | Saved a year | Pays back in | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Solar Supplier 1180 W EZ1 Kit | 2,012 | $655 | 1.4 years | $899 |
| Bright Saver 360 W Balcony Kit | 614 | $200 | 2.1 years | $414 |
| EcoFlow STREAM 800 W Kit | 1,364 | $444 | 2.5 years | $1,099 |
Tilted south, with all power used at home. Compare each kit
California Facts to Know
- California power is very expensive: homes paid an average of 31.97 cents/kWh in 2024, so a kit saves more per kWh than in most states.
- The law also applies to LADWP and SMUD, along with other city and public utilities. PG&E, SCE and SDG&E aren't the only ones covered.
- Rooftop solar exports now get lower Net Billing Tariff credits, so California's rules suit a small kit used mostly for your own daytime use.
Do You Rent or Use a Balcony?
The hookup falls under California's law, but the mount does not. Ask your landlord or HOA first. Read about balcony solar and solar for apartments.
Main Electric Providers
- Southern California Edison
- Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
- Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
- Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Next Steps for You in California
- Pick a kit that is 1,200 W or less. Of the 7 kits compared, all 7 fit that cap, and each must carry the listing named in the law. Compare kits.
- Check the notice rule above, and if it applies to you, tell your electric utility. Store the spec sheet for the kit with your papers.
- Connect it to a grounded outlet, and pick a circuit with little else on it. A power strip isn't allowed.
Sources
- SB-868 Electricity: portable solar generation devices. Bill Text (chaptered)
- Legislative update from Governor Newsom, 9.30.2026
- California Constitution, Article IV, Section 8
- Electric Rule 21: Generating Facility Interconnections (CPUC)
- Net Energy Metering and Net Billing (CPUC)
- EIA State Electricity Profile tables, California 2024
- NREL PVWatts, Los Angeles and EIA Table 5.6.B, 2026 price data
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