Plug-in solar for renters and homeowners
Balcony solar is a small panel kit that plugs into a regular outlet and feeds sunshine straight into the things you already run. No roof, no contractor, no utility paperwork. California's SB 868 makes it legal statewide starting January 1, 2027, up to 1,200 watts per home.
Law status: Governor Newsom signed SB 868 on September 30, 2026 (Chapter 985, Statutes of 2026). The rules take effect January 1, 2027. Read the law.
Kits
These are real plug-in products sold in the US, with prices checked October 1, 2026. Under SB 868, a kit needs certification as a plug-in solar system (UL 3700 or equal) before it can skip utility approval in California. In the latest reporting we found, no complete kit has that yet. Each card says where the product stands, so you can see what's ready and what's still waiting.
Prices and stock from each seller's site on October 1, 2026, and they change often. We don't earn a commission on these links. Until a complete kit is certified as a plug-in solar system, connecting one in California still goes through your utility's interconnection process.
How it works
One to three panels clip to a balcony rail, a patio, or a wall bracket. Sun on the glass makes DC power.
A small box behind the panel turns DC into household AC and caps the output so the kit stays under its rated limit.
The kit plugs into a standard outdoor-rated outlet. If the grid goes down, it shuts off by itself so line workers stay safe.
Your fridge, router, and laptop draw solar power before they draw from the utility, so your meter spins slower.
The rules · SB 868, signed into law
SB 868 (Wiener) treats a certified plug-in kit like an appliance instead of a power plant. Here is what the law says, starting January 1, 2027. Read the full text.
Total AC output per dwelling unit. Panels can be larger on paper; the inverter limit is what counts.
Kits must be certified as plug-in PV equipment by UL or another nationally recognized testing lab, and meet electrical code. UL published its UL 3700 standard for these devices in 2026.
Certified kits skip the interconnection application. Utilities can't charge a fee or require permission.
Your utility may ask for a short online notice: your address and the kit's make, model, and size.
The kit must stop sending power when the grid is down, so it never back-feeds lines crews are working on.
The fee and interconnection exemptions expire January 1, 2030 unless the Legislature extends them.
Before you buy: SB 868 does not override your lease or HOA rules, so check with your landlord or association first. As of late summer 2026, reporting said no complete kit had yet earned UL 3700 certification. Every product we show is labeled with where it stands.
Questions
That's who it's built for. The kit clips on and unplugs when you move. SB 868 doesn't override a lease, though, so get your landlord's OK in writing before you mount anything.
SB 868 doesn't clearly protect plug-in kits from HOA rules, and it's unsettled whether California's Solar Rights Act covers balcony installs. Ask your association first and keep the kit's certification paperwork handy.
Plan on no. Plug-in kits are meant to offset what you use while the sun is up, not to sell power back. Size the kit to your daytime load (fridge, router, work-from-home gear) or add a battery to shift it to the evening.
Certified kits shut off within a fraction of a second when they lose grid power, and the output cap keeps current within what a normal household circuit handles. Plug directly into a grounded outdoor outlet, never into a power strip or extension cord, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
An 800 W kit on an east- or west-facing balcony makes roughly 900 to 1,000 kWh a year. At typical California investor-owned utility rates, that is a few hundred dollars a year. Use the budget meter at the top of this page to try your setup.
Today, connecting any generator to your home's wiring falls under your utility's interconnection rules. The SB 868 exemptions start January 1, 2027. Join the waitlist and we'll tell you when certified kits are available.
Waitlist
One email when kits are certified and in stock, and one when the law takes effect. Nothing else.