California plug-in solar law: SB 868 explained

What California SB 868 changes

California enacted Senate Bill 868, authored by Senator Wiener, under the title "Electricity: portable solar generation devices." It was chaptered on September 30, 2026, as Chapter 985, and adds Public Utilities Code sections 8530 through 8532. Those provisions take effect January 1, 2027.

The law defines a category of portable photovoltaic devices that feed electricity into a building through a receptacle, meant to offset the electricity used onsite. It sets conditions for electrical output, code compliance, product certification and isolation during outages, and it limits what electric utilities can require from customers who use a qualifying device.

The six conditions a device must meet

California's definition requires a photovoltaic device, or combination of devices, to satisfy every condition below.

The conditions work together. Meeting the output limit alone doesn't make a product a qualifying portable solar generation device, and a product sold as balcony solar doesn't automatically meet the California definition either. The equipment's documentation has to support the certification and outage isolation requirements.

How the 1,200W limit works

The law sets a maximum aggregated AC output of 1,200W per dwelling. As we read the text, the word "aggregated" and the phrase "device, or combination of devices" mean the ceiling applies to the combined AC output serving the dwelling. It doesn't allow a separate 1,200W for each device.

The limit refers to AC output, not battery capacity or the advertised DC nameplate power of an individual solar panel. So don't use a panel's wattage alone to judge whether a complete system meets it. Check the certified system's AC output information for the configuration you plan to use, and remember that the device still has to meet the other five conditions to qualify for the exemption.

What electric utilities cannot require

Qualifying portable solar generation devices are exempt from all interconnection requirements imposed by state law, the California Public Utilities Commission, electrical corporation rules and local publicly owned electric utility rules, including any requirement to enter into an interconnection agreement. Section 8531 also says plainly that a device missing any of the six conditions doesn't qualify for these exemptions.

During the exemption period, an electrical corporation or local publicly owned electric utility can't require a customer using a qualifying device to:

• Obtain utility approval before installing or using it
• Pay a fee or charge related to the device or electricity it feeds into the building
• Install additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the device

These limits protect qualifying devices only. They aren't permission to use uncertified equipment or to ignore other requirements that apply.

What utilities can still request

SB 868 lets electrical corporations and local publicly owned electric utilities require a simple online notification. The registration form may ask for:

• Address
• Device make
• Device model
• Device size

This notification isn't an approval process. A utility can't turn the notice into a requirement to get permission before using a qualifying device under the exemption, which is worth knowing if a utility or seller tells you otherwise.

Why certification and outage isolation matter

A plug-in photovoltaic device supplies electricity to a building's wiring during normal operation. When utility power fails, a poorly designed generating device could create an unsafe electrical condition. That's why California's definition requires a certified feature that isolates the device from the building's electrical system, so electricity can't backfeed the grid during an outage. The device must also be certified as a plug-in photovoltaic system by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory.

Never use a plug-in solar device that lacks certified outage isolation. Don't assume a standard portable solar inverter or battery power station qualifies under SB 868 either: check the exact device and its certification, not the marketing description.

Can you buy a qualifying device yet?

This page doesn't list any qualifying products, on purpose. As of October 19, 2026, the law hadn't taken effect, and a product qualifies only if it is certified as a plug-in photovoltaic system and has a certified outage isolation feature, both by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory. We haven't matched any product against a certifier's own listing for both, so we can't name one yet. UL Solutions announced its plug-in solar certification program, based on the UL 3700 outline of investigation, on January 8, 2026.

When you shop, ask the seller for the certification that covers the complete system and the isolation feature, then look the product up in the certifier's own listing. A certified part, such as a microinverter on its own, isn't the same as a certified plug-in photovoltaic system.

California SB 868 timeline

Why the effective date is January 1, 2027

The California Constitution, Article IV, section 8(c)(1), sets the ordinary effective-date rule for regular-session statutes: they take effect on January 1 following a 90-day period after enactment, subject to the section's exceptions. SB 868 was enacted September 30, 2026, as a majority-vote bill, so under that rule it takes effect January 1, 2027.

What changes in 2030

Public Utilities Code section 8531, which holds the interconnection exemption and the related utility restrictions, expires January 1, 2030. The rest of the framework doesn't simply disappear on that date. Section 8532 sets a separate sales rule starting the same day: a receptacle-connected portable photovoltaic generation device may not be sold or offered for sale in California if it fails the conditions covering:

• Electrical code compliance
• Plug-in photovoltaic system certification
• Certified outage isolation

These are conditions 4 through 6 of the device definition. The sales restriction is separate from the earlier utility interconnection exemption.

What homeowners and renters should check

Before buying equipment for use in California, verify:

• Its maximum aggregated AC output in the proposed dwelling configuration
• Whether it is specifically designed for receptacle connection
• Whether it meets the required electrical codes
• Whether the plug-in photovoltaic system certification is documented
• Whether the outage isolation feature is certified
• Whether the utility requires simple online notification
• Whether lease, landlord, HOA, or building requirements affect the intended installation

The utility exemption doesn't settle property permissions or every electrical requirement that applies. Renters should check their lease and get any required authorization from the property owner, and homeowners should look at building and HOA rules where they apply.

What this law does not provide

SB 868's definition doesn't turn a basic plug-in photovoltaic device into a battery backup system. The certified outage isolation requirement exists to stop grid backfeeding when utility power fails, so if you want to run appliances during an outage, you need a separate backup power setup. Our plug-in solar overview explains the difference between grid-connected solar and stored battery energy, and the home backup guide covers outage preparation.

Legal notice

Date checked: October 19, 2026, against the bill text listed below. The constitution section was last checked October 9, 2026.

This page provides general information, not legal or electrical advice. The law had been enacted but was not yet effective on the date checked. Review the current law, applicable local requirements, and device certification before purchasing or installing equipment.