Could California’s 1.2 kW Plug-In Solar Rule Bring Europe’s Balcony PV Model to the US?

California is moving toward establishing a dedicated regulatory framework for plug-in residential solar, potentially opening the door to a larger US market for the balcony solar model that has gained traction across Europe.

The latest version of California SB 868, updated on August 17, would create a simplified framework for qualifying Portable Solar Generation Devices, allowing them to connect to residential electrical systems through existing outlets rather than going through the conventional interconnection process used for rooftop solar.

Up to 1.2 kW of AC Output

Under the latest text, qualifying systems would need to meet several conditions.

The combined maximum AC output of all eligible devices at a single residence would be capped at 1.2 kW.

The systems would also need to be designed to connect and disconnect through a building's existing electrical outlets rather than through permanent wiring into the home's distribution system.

The relatively small capacity makes the technology particularly relevant to:

• Apartment residents

• Renters

• Homes without suitable rooftops

• Consumers seeking lower-cost residential solar

• Households unwilling or unable to install conventional rooftop PV

While 1.2 kW is significantly smaller than a conventional rooftop PV system, it could still cover part of a household's daytime electricity demand.

The Bigger Change Is Interconnection

The most significant element of SB 868 is not the 1.2 kW capacity limit itself, but the proposed change to interconnection requirements.

Under the latest version, qualifying portable solar devices would be exempt from existing state, California Public Utilities Commission, utility and local publicly owned utility interconnection requirements, including conventional interconnection agreements.

The proposed exemption would currently remain in effect until January 1, 2030.

Utilities could require customers to submit a basic online notification containing information such as the installation address, equipment manufacturer, model and capacity.

However, the notification would not be allowed to become a new approval process.

This could significantly reduce one of the major barriers facing small residential solar systems: the administrative complexity and cost associated with conventional grid interconnection.

Plug-In Does Not Mean Plug-and-Play

The proposed framework would not allow consumers to simply purchase any solar panel and connect it to a household outlet.

Eligible equipment would need to comply with the latest National Electrical Code (NEC) and California Electrical Code requirements.

The system would also need certification as a plug-in photovoltaic system by UL or another nationally recognized testing laboratory.

Another critical requirement concerns islanding protection. If the grid experiences an outage, the system must be capable of appropriately isolating itself from the household electrical system and preventing electricity from being exported onto the wider grid.

In other words, SB 868 would create a simplified pathway for certified plug-in solar systems, rather than removing electrical safety and grid-protection requirements.

What About Batteries?

Another notable change is that the latest version of the bill does not explicitly require or define battery storage as part of a portable solar generation device.

Earlier descriptions of SB 868 from the office of Senator Scott Wiener had referred to plug-in systems incorporating solar panels, an inverter and potentially small-scale energy storage connected through a standard 120V outlet.

The August 17 version, however, focuses its formal definition primarily on portable solar generation equipment.

How batteries could ultimately be integrated into these systems—and whether storage products would qualify under the same simplified framework—will depend on subsequent legislation, regulations and certification requirements.

Could California Follow Europe?

SB 868 is not yet California law and remains within the legislative process.

However, if ultimately enacted, the legislation could create a clearer legal pathway for a product category that has already gained significant traction in Europe.

Rather than replacing conventional rooftop solar, plug-in PV could target a largely underserved segment of the residential market: consumers who want to generate their own electricity but lack the roof, ownership status or budget required for a conventional PV installation.

For solar and inverter manufacturers, the potential opportunity could extend beyond panels themselves to include:

microinverters + plug-in PV + monitoring + small-scale storage

The key question is whether California can develop a regulatory framework that combines simple installation with adequate electrical safety and grid protection.