{
  "id": 4847904,
  "title": "California Lawmakers Greenlight Solar Panels You Can Plug Into the Wall",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-01T11:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Slashdot",
    "slug": "slashdot",
    "url": "https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/09/01/0318201/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "California lawmakers have greenlit plug-in balcony solar systems, granting residents the ability to connect small solar panels to a standard wall outlet following a simple online registration. The legislation, SB 868, passed both the state assembly and senate with bipartisan support and now awaits the governor's signature. These systems, ranging from $300 to $2200, will cater to renters, those with unsuitable roofs, and individuals lacking the financial means to install a traditional rooftop system. If Governor Newsom signs the bill, plug-in solar devices will bypass the cumbersome and costly interconnection application process, instead requiring only a free and straightforward online registration. The devices are limited to generating 1,200 watts per home, must plug into a standard outlet, offset a customer's onsite electricity use, and adhere to state and national electrical codes. They also require certification from an outside safety organization like Underwriters Laboratories and feature a mechanism preventing electricity from feeding back into the grid during a power outage.",
  "summary": "California lawmakers have passed a bill that would legalize plug-in \"balcony\" solar systems, allowing residents to connect small solar panels directly to a standard wall outlet after completing a simple online registration. The systems would be capped at 1,200 watts and must meet safety requirements designed to prevent power from feeding back onto the grid during outages. KQED reports: The…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}