California Opens Market for 1,200-Watt Plug-In Solar

California has signed SB 868 into law, creating a regulatory pathway for small plug-in solar systems that can connect directly to a building through an electrical receptacle. The law covers qualifying systems with a maximum combined AC output of 1,200 watts per dwelling and exempts them from utility interconnection requirements through the end of 2029. Utilities may require simple registration, but cannot require prior approval, interconnection fees or additional controls beyond those built into compliant devices.

 

The Law Removes the Interconnection Process for Small Systems

 

Traditional residential solar normally involves a formal utility interconnection process because the system is connected to the electricity network. SB 868 creates a separate treatment for much smaller portable systems intended primarily to offset electricity consumption within the home.

Qualifying devices will not need an interconnection agreement or utility approval before installation. Utilities can ask customers to register the address, make, model and size of a system through a simple online form, but that notification cannot be used as an approval process.

 

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Safety Requirements Define Which Systems Qualify

 

The exemption is limited to systems that meet specific technical requirements. Devices must comply with the latest applicable National Electrical Code and California Electrical Code standards, be certified as plug-in photovoltaic systems by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent testing body, and include protection that prevents electricity from feeding back into the grid during an outage.

The 1,200-watt ceiling also keeps the category well below the size of conventional residential rooftop solar. The model is closer to the balcony solar systems already used in some other markets, giving households a smaller entry point into generating electricity without committing to a full rooftop installation.

 

Plug-In Solar Could Reach Households Outside Traditional Rooftop Markets

 

Bright Saver, a nonprofit that has supported plug-in solar legislation, argues that the model could make solar accessible to people who face the cost or installation barriers associated with conventional rooftop systems. Small portable systems can be placed in suitable outdoor areas and connected through an approved receptacle rather than requiring a larger permanently installed array.

That does not make plug-in solar a replacement for rooftop solar. Its generation capacity is much smaller. The potential difference is accessibility: a lower-capacity system could allow more households to offset part of their electricity use without taking on the cost and complexity of a conventional residential solar project.

 

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The 2030 Deadline Creates an Early Test for the Market

 

Governor Gavin Newsom approved SB 868 on September 30, 2026, after the legislation was introduced by State Senator Scott Wiener. The interconnection exemptions remain in force until January 1, 2030, while the law also establishes standards governing which plug-in photovoltaic devices can continue to be sold after that date.

The next three years will show whether removing interconnection barriers is enough to create a meaningful market for plug-in solar in California. Adoption levels, system performance and how utilities manage registration will provide a clearer indication of whether small portable solar can become a significant part of residential distributed energy rather than remaining a niche product.