California SB 868 Explained: What the Balcony Solar Bill Actually Does
Update, September 30, 2026: Governor Newsom signed SB 868 into law. It takes effect January 1, 2027.
Plug-in solar (often called balcony solar) is simple: a couple of panels, a microinverter, and a cord that plugs into an ordinary outlet. It is common in Europe, but in California the rules written for rooftop solar have made it confusing. Senate Bill 868, authored by Senator Scott Wiener, is the first California law written specifically for these small systems. Here is a plain-English summary.
The short version
- Up to 1,200 watts. The law covers “portable solar generation devices” with no more than 1,200 watts of AC output per dwelling.
- No interconnection agreement. Qualifying devices are exempt from interconnection requirements imposed by state law, the CPUC, or utility rules.
- No utility approval. Your utility cannot require you to get its approval before plugging in.
- No utility fees. Your utility cannot charge a fee related to the device or the electricity it feeds into your home's wiring.
- A simple registration is allowed. Utilities may ask you to tell them about the device through a simple online form (address and system size), but they cannot turn that into an approval process.
- Safety rules still apply. Devices must be certified by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing lab, meet the National Electrical Code and California Electrical Code, and shut off automatically if the grid goes down (anti-islanding), so line workers are protected. That automatic shutoff is also why plug-in solar doesn't run during a blackout.
- Starts January 1, 2027. Until then, today's interconnection rules still apply.
- A sunset date. The interconnection exemption is scheduled to expire January 1, 2030 unless the Legislature extends it.
Why it matters
Until the law takes effect, anything that generates electricity and connects to your home's wiring falls under utility interconnection rules designed for rooftop systems: applications, reviews, and paperwork that make little sense for a small kit on a balcony. SB 868 carves out a lane for small, certified, plug-in devices so renters, condo owners and anyone without a suitable roof can use solar to offset what they use at home.
What SB 868 does not do
- It is not a rooftop or large-system law. Anything over 1,200 W AC per dwelling still goes through normal interconnection.
- It is about your utility. The law deals with what electrical corporations and publicly owned utilities can require. It does not address leases, landlords, HOAs, or local building departments, so those rules still apply as they do today. Renters, see what SB 868 means for balcony solar in your apartment.
- It is not a payment program. The law is about offsetting your own usage; it does not create a way to get paid for power you send to the grid.
How InCharge Solar kits fit in
Our APsystems EZ1-LV kits ship with the APmeter zero-export smart meter. It watches what your home is using and throttles the microinverter so the system never sends power back to the grid. That is how we sell plug-in solar in California today, before and after SB 868 takes effect. Learn more in Do you have to wait for SB 868?
The APmeter is installed at your electrical panel by a licensed electrician. Here's when you need one and how we can help.
Shop plug-in solar kits →Book an electrician
This article is a general summary for information only and is not legal advice. Details are based on the enrolled text of SB 868 (August 28, 2026), which Governor Newsom signed on September 30, 2026. Check with your utility and local authorities for rules that apply to your home.
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