Quick Answer
Plug-in solar isn’t law in California yet, but it has never been this close. SB 868 passed both chambers of the Legislature on August 25–26, 2026 with over 90% support, and it reached Governor Newsom’s desk on August 31, 2026, which gives him until September 30 to sign or veto it. If he signs, or lets the deadline pass without acting, renters and homeowners statewide could plug in up to 1,200 watts of solar without utility approval or an interconnection agreement starting January 1, 2027, and California would become the largest plug-in solar market in the US.
California SB 868: What It Would Do
California Senate Bill 868 would let any California household, renter or homeowner, plug in a solar system of up to 1,200 watts per dwelling (three standard 400W panels) without asking the utility first. Utilities couldn’t require approval, an interconnection agreement, or any fee for the device or the power it feeds into the building. The most a utility could ask is a simple online registration with your address and the system’s make, model and size. Systems would have to meet the electrical code and be certified as a plug-in system by UL or an equivalent lab. The bill doesn’t address landlords or HOAs, so if you rent, your lease would still decide.
Where things stand
| Senate | Passed, final concurrence vote August 26, 2026, with over 90% support |
| Assembly | Passed August 25, 2026, with over 90% support; sent to Governor |
| Governor’s deadline | Presented August 31, 2026. Sign or veto by September 30; if he does neither, it becomes law without his signature |
| If enacted, effective | January 1, 2027 |
If you like reading bill text (no judgment, we do too), the full history is at the California Legislature’s official SB 868 page. And if you want to see this one signed, find your representative or write the Governor’s office and say so.
Why California is such a big deal
California has approximately 17 million renters, which is more people than live in many US states. For most of them, solar has never really been an option: rooftop panels require owning the roof, and community solar waitlists run years long. SB 868 would take the utility out of the way for all of them at once, though renters would still need a lease that allows it. It also helps that California’s electricity is some of the most expensive in the continental US, averaging $0.25–$0.35/kWh, so a single 400-watt panel saves roughly $13–$19/month and pays for itself in 3–4 years.
What you’d save in California
| System size | Monthly savings (at $0.25/kWh) | Payback |
| 1 panel (400W) | ~$13/month | ~4 years |
| 2 panels (800W) | ~$27/month | ~3.5 years |
| 3 panels (1,200W, max) | ~$40/month | ~3 years |
What you can do in the meantime
SB 868 hasn’t been signed yet, so for now there’s some waiting to do. While you wait, it’s worth checking your lease, since many are simply silent on balcony solar. If you want to be ready the day the law takes effect, look for a UL 1741-certified kit; that’s the established US safety standard for grid-connected inverters. (UL 3700, the newer standard written specifically for plug-in solar, has so far been certified on only two microinverters and no complete kits.) And keep an eye on Governor Newsom: the bill was presented to him on August 31, so he has until September 30 to sign or veto, and if he does neither, it becomes law anyway. New Jersey signed its own version on September 1 and became the ninth state with a plug-in solar law, which is a good sign for where this is heading. We’ll update this page the day it’s signed.
We follow SB 868 and every other state on the Solarly state law tracker, and when you’re ready to shop, our recommended plug-in solar kits are a good place to start. Last updated: September 19, 2026.
