California Lawmakers Pass Bill Legalizing Plug-in Solar Systems

The California State Legislature passed a bill on Wednesday to legalize plug-in solar systems, which allow residents to install solar panels that connect directly to standard electrical outlets. These systems, frequently referred to as balcony solar, are smaller and faster to install than traditional rooftop arrays and typically do not require approval from building departments or utilities.

The legislation received broad bipartisan support as a means to lower residential electricity costs in a state that currently has the highest residential electricity rates among the 48 contiguous U.S. states. The move follows a trend of rising national electricity costs fueled by infrastructure spending and the growth of data centers. Investor-owned utilities opposed the measure.

If signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, California will join nearly a dozen other states, including Virginia, Maryland, Colorado, and Utah, that have already legalized the technology. The bill aims to increase energy affordability and reduce the state's overall climate impact.