Californians, who face some of the highest electricity rates in the country, could get financial relief from something as simple as plugging a device into an outlet at home.
Plug-in solar technologies, also known as balcony solar, are portable panels that simply plug into standard wall outlets in a house or apartment. These panels are small enough to attach to apartment balcony railings, sit on a patio or lean against a backyard fence.
The electricity the panels generate from the sun instantly powers everyday essentials, such as lights, refrigerators and air conditioners, using only the home’s existing wiring. This approach cuts the amount of energy homes need from the grid and in turn lowers utility bills. And, because they are portable and small, they work especially well for renters and people with limited space.
Sounds great so far, right? Well, there’s a catch.
Despite the clear benefits of balcony solar, widespread use of these systems is tied up in red tape and bureaucratic uncertainty. Currently, the utility companies treat these small portable devices as if they were large-scale power plants. They subject the consumers who own them to fees and lengthy and convoluted contracts and approvals.
EWG is working to free millions of consumers, especially renters, from unnecessary delays and costs. We’re sponsoring a bill in the California Legislature that would eliminate utility red tape and make plug-in systems accessible and affordable.
Balcony solar bill
Senate Bill 868, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), would free plug-in solar devices of all utility interconnection requirements. The bill would prevent utilities from forcing plug-in solar panel users to notify the utility, seek the utility’s permission, or pay any kind of solar fee or charge. SB 868 would also require manufacturers of these solar devices to meet the latest consumer safety standards.
California faces an energy affordability crisis, and this bill is one way to tackle that problem fast. As the proposed legislation notes, electricity is an essential resource, especially on hot summer days. But for a growing number of families, soaring energy costs are a barrier to basic necessities such as air conditioning.
Plug-in solar is a particularly powerful tool when the mercury rises and air conditioning demand causes bills and stress on the grid to peak. Many cash-strapped consumers face a dangerous choice: cool their home or buy other essentials, like food.
Balcony solar can help families by covering 20% or more of a typical household’s electricity use – an estimated $500 per year in utility bill savings, providing immediate financial relief.
Of course, there is an outlay on the front end. The upfront cost of the systems range from $500 to $1,200. At these prices, the consumer could net savings within a year or two and then have free solar-generated electricity for decades to come. What’s more, the panels are portable so consumers can pack them up and bring them to any new home in the future.
And, as the market for these technologies grows, thanks to bills like SB 868, economies of scale will drive prices even lower.
Greater access to solar power
Enacting SB 868 and removing the existing regulatory hurdles for balcony solar is essential to expanding access to solar energy to more hardworking Californians.
SB 868 would classify qualifying portable solar devices as simple household appliances – like toaster ovens – for use only by the customer in the customer’s home, and free of costly reviews and fees.
That’s why EWG is sponsoring this legislation. Other groups backing SB 868 include the California Solar & Storage Association, Environment California, Solar Rights Alliance, the Climate Center, the Western Center for Law & Poverty and many others.
The bill is reasonable, and if signed into law would bring California in line with places where balcony solar is already common and producing tangible benefits for consumers. Millions of households in Europe benefit from balcony solar technologies today, including four million systems in Germany alone.
It’s time for the California State Legislature to quickly advance SB 868 and send it to the governor, so everyday consumers throughout California can find immediate utility bill relief by plugging into the sun. Ratepayers deserve real solutions to the energy affordability crisis. SB 868 can help make that a reality.
