Key facts
- California lawmakers approved SB 868, a bill to create a dedicated path for plug-in solar devices.
- The bill exempts qualifying plug-in solar devices up to 1,200 watts from utility interconnection requirements.
- Utilities will be prohibited from charging extra fees for these devices.
- The devices must be certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory and meet electrical code standards.
- The legislation awaits Governor Newsom's action and is not yet law.
California lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 868, a significant piece of legislation that aims to streamline the adoption of plug-in solar generation devices. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener, was approved by the Assembly on August 25, 2026, and the Senate concurred in amendments on August 26, 2026. It now awaits action from Governor Newsom.
SB 868 would exempt qualifying plug-in solar devices, with a wattage limit of 1,200 watts AC per dwelling, from all interconnection requirements imposed by state law, the Public Utilities Commission, or local publicly owned electric utility rules. This exemption would be in effect until January 1, 2030. The bill also prohibits electrical corporations and local publicly owned electric utilities from charging any fees or charges related to these devices or the electricity they feed into a building's electrical system. Utilities may require customers to notify them of the device's address, make, model, and size via a simple online registration form.
The legislation mandates that these devices must be certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory and meet the standards of the most recent versions of the National Electrical Code and the California Electrical Code. The bill applies to both investor-owned utilities and local publicly owned electric utilities. Notably, it does not explicitly address Homeowners Association restrictions or renter rights, nor does it directly address net metering or compensation for excess generation.
Currently, California utilities require interconnection agreements for any grid-tied system. The proposed law aims to simplify the process for homeowners and renters, potentially leading to significant savings given California's high electricity rates, estimated at $0.314/kWh. The bill also includes provisions that would prohibit the sale of certain plug-in photovoltaic energy generation devices after January 1, 2030, if they do not meet specified definitions and standards.
Violations of commission actions implementing the bill's requirements would be a crime, and the bill imposes state-mandated local programs on local publicly owned electric utilities, though no reimbursement is specified for certain reasons.