You have the right to make energy from the sun without interference from the utilities.
Portable solar panels can now be hung from a balcony, set out on a patio, or placed in your yard, and then safely plugged into a wall outlet just like a toaster. Once plugged in, the solar electricity immediately flows through the home to power your appliances. This new technology is taking off in places like Germany but has yet to truly arrive in the United States. Let’s change that!
Portable solar panels can now be hung from a balcony, set out on a patio, or placed in your yard, and then simply plugged into a wall outlet just like a toaster. Once plugged in, the solar electricity immediately flows through the home to power your appliances. This new technology is taking off in places like Germany but has yet to truly arrive in the United States. Let’s change that!
Balcony Solar, also known as Plug-In solar, are portable solar panels that simply plug into a regular wall outlet.
One panel can power a refrigerator, a home computer, and a few lights. Combine a few panels together, and you’d have enough power to run a window-unit air conditioner on a sunny day. Balcony Solar can safely, cheaply, and easily reduce a consumer’s electricity bill.
Renters and homeowners alike can hang these off balconies, lean them against mobile homes, or put them in a yard or patio.
It has a lot of potential, but the utilities are already trying to make consumers go through red tape and pay fees in order to use them. Our goal is to eliminate these barriers. You can help!
SB 868 is a bill in the California Legislature that would let consumers use portable Balcony Solar panels without having to go through utility red tape and without paying fees. To ensure consumer safety, the bill also establishes a statewide safety standard for all Plug-In solar panels.
SB 868 passed the state Senate and is now being considered by the state Assembly. Please ask your Assemblymember to support SB 868.
Plug-In solar is already popular in Germany, where there are around 4 million systems currently in operation. Germany has not had safety issues because experts developed safety standards for these products.
SB 868 follows Germany’s example by baking safety into the law: it requires Plug-In solar systems sold in California to be certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized consumer safety organization.
To further ensure safety, SB 868 also requires that Balcony Solar panels have a feature that prevents the panels from sending electricity into the grid during a power outage.
Plug-In solar is already popular in Germany, where there are around 4 million systems currently in operation. Germany has not had safety issues because experts developed safety standards for these products.
SB 868 follows Germany’s example by baking safety into the law: it requires Plug-In solar systems sold in California to be certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized consumer safety organization.
To further ensure safety, SB 868 also requires that Balcony Solar panels have a feature that prevents the panels from sending electricity into the grid during a power outage.
A single Balcony Solar panel will generate approximately 360 watt-hours in an hour on a sunny day. This would be enough to power a standard refrigerator, a home computer, and a few lights.
Two or three panels can be daisy-chained together to run a window-unit air conditioner or other electricity needs of an apartment or small home.
A single Balcony Solar panel will generate approximately 360 watt-hours in an hour on a sunny day. This would be enough to power a standard refrigerator, a home computer, and a few lights.
Two or three panels can be daisy-chained together to run a window-unit air conditioner or other electricity needs of an apartment or small home.
California utilities treat even one or two Plug-In solar panels as if they are a large power plant, with contracts, fees, and utility approvals. But utility involvement is completely unnecessary.
SB 868 would treat a Plug‐In solar panels like a simple household appliance. You don’t need the utility’s permission to plug in your refrigerator. You shouldn’t need the utility’s permission to power that refrigerator with the sun. Just buy it, plug it in, and capture the power of the sun. You can make it happen by contacting your state elected officials in support of SB 868 today!
Your actions are proof: when constituents contact their elected officials, legislators are far more likely to vote in support of your solar rights.
Legislators give more weight to your message if you follow up with a phone call. Click this box to get your legislator's phone number and a sample script you can use or modify.
Legislators pay attention when lots of people are talking about an issue. Click this box to share this issue on social media, NextDoor, or over email.
We are a network of 150,000 solar users and supporters across California. We have the right to make energy from the sun without unreasonable interference from the utilities or the government.
By completing this form, you consent to be contacted by Solar Rights Alliance and Cinnamon Energy Systems. Solar Rights Alliance will never share your information without your express consent.
By completing this form, you agree to be contacted by Solar Rights Alliance and Renova Energy. Solar Rights Alliance will never share your information without your express consent.
In order to be eligible for this discount, you must be signed up for email updates with the Solar Rights Alliance and purchase at least two Aztec Solar batteries totaling $20,000 before the discount. We will never share your contact information without your express consent.
