Plug-in solar in California: what SB 868 actually allows

The short answer

Governor Newsom signed SB 868 on September 30, 2026. From January 1, 2027, a qualifying plug-in solar kit is exempt from every utility interconnection rule in California. You can plug it in without an interconnection agreement, without your utility's approval, and without a fee.

A kit qualifies only if it meets all six of these conditions:

1. 1,200 watts AC or less per home, counting every kit you own.
2. Connects and disconnects through a receptacle, meaning it plugs in.
3. Is meant to offset your own use, not to sell power.
4. Meets the National Electrical Code and the California Electrical Code.
5. Is certified as a plug-in photovoltaic system by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized lab.
6. Has a certified anti-backfeed feature that stops it sending power to the grid during an outage.

A kit that fails any one of them gets none of the protections. From January 1, 2030, plug-in kits that fail conditions 4 to 6 may not be sold in California at all.

What your utility can and can't do

• Can't require its approval before you install or use the kit.
• Can't charge any fee for the kit, or for the power it feeds into your home.
• Can't make you add controls or equipment beyond what's built into the kit.
• Can ask you to register it with a simple online form: address, make, model, and size. The law says registration may not require approval.

As of October 1, 2026, we found no registration form published by PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E. These protections expire on January 1, 2030, unless the Legislature extends them.

What the law doesn't say

Several sites are already answering these questions with confidence. The bill text answers none of them:

• Building permits. Not mentioned. See the FAQ below.
• Net metering. Not mentioned. This matters most if you already have rooftop solar. Read this first.
• Landlords and HOAs. Not mentioned. Earlier coverage said HOA limits would be restricted, but that is not in the signed text.
• What kind of outlet. The law says only "a receptacle". Why that matters.
• Whether you're paid for power you send out. Not mentioned.

How plug-in solar works

1. A few panels sit somewhere sunny, such as a balcony railing, a patio, a fence, or the yard.
2. A small inverter turns their DC power into the same AC power your outlets carry.
3. You plug it in. Its power flows into the circuit, and whatever is running in your home uses it first, such as the fridge, router, or TV.
4. Your meter then records less power drawn from the grid. That is the whole saving.

If the kit makes more than your home is using at that moment, the extra flows out through your meter. The law doesn't say whether you get paid for it.

Can I buy a qualifying kit today?

Barely. The Assembly's final analysis (August 21, 2026) said: "No commercially available plug-in solar system has achieved that certification to date." The US safety framework, UL 3700, was only announced in January 2026.

Since then, pv magazine reported on September 21, 2026 that Mango Power's kit was certified to UL 3700 by Intertek. Hoymiles has announced a "UL 3700-compliant" microinverter, but that is one component, not a whole kit.

1. Ask for the certificate. The listing should say "plug-in photovoltaic system", name the lab, and cover the whole kit.
2. "UL listed" isn't enough. Panels and inverters are often UL listed as parts. The law asks for certification of the plug-in system as a whole.
3. Check the AC rating. It should say 1,200 W or less. A kit with 1,600 W of panels can still qualify if its inverter caps output at 1,200 W.

Already have solar on the roof?

Before you buy a plug-in kit, find out whether your house is already sending power to the grid at midday. If it is, a plug-in kit mostly adds to that export instead of cutting your bill. The WattHacker monitor shows your rooftop production live, panel by panel. It plugs into the SunPower or Enphase gateway you already own.

• Home use is shown too where your system was installed with consumption meters. Without them you see production only. Your utility's hourly usage download also shows export.
• A plug-in kit is a separate inverter. Your rooftop gateway will not count its production, so neither will we.
• Free to see your panel data, with no subscription. The monitor is a one-time purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Still have questions about your own system? I'll go through it with you — your panels, your bill, and what's worth doing about it.

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Common questions

Is plug-in solar legal in California?

Yes, from January 1, 2027. Governor Newsom signed SB 868 on September 30, 2026. It covers plug-in kits of up to 1,200 watts per home that are certified as a plug-in solar system by UL or an equivalent lab, include a certified feature that stops them feeding the grid in a power outage, and meet the electrical codes.

Do I need permission from PG&E, SCE or SDG&E?

No. The law bars utilities from requiring approval, charging a fee, or making you add equipment for a qualifying kit. A utility may ask you to fill in a simple online registration form with your address and the kit's make, model, and size. Registering is not asking for approval.

Do I need a building permit for plug-in solar in California?

The law does not say. SB 868 removes utility interconnection rules; it does not mention local building permits. The Senate committee's analysis said the bill 'would likely prevent additional permitting actions', but that is staff's reading, not the law, and the state's building officials opposed the bill. Ask your city or county building department before you install.

How many watts of plug-in solar can I have?

Up to 1,200 watts of AC output per home, in total. That is the inverter's output, which is what the plug delivers, not the panels' label rating. Two 1,200 watt kits on one home would not qualify.

Can a renter install plug-in solar in California?

The law does not address landlords or HOAs at all, so it neither grants renters a right nor lets landlords ban kits. California's Solar Rights Act limits restrictions on 'solar energy systems', but whether it covers a plug-in kit or a lease has not been tested. Get your landlord's agreement in writing.

Does plug-in solar work in a power outage?

No. The law requires a certified feature that disconnects the kit from your home's wiring when the grid goes down, so it cannot feed power onto lines that utility crews are working on. Kits sold with a battery may offer their own outlets during an outage; check the specific product.

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