Across California, plenty of people live in apartments, condos, or other housing where rooftop solar doesn't make sense. A pair of bills the Legislature has passed aims to give those residents another route to cheaper, cleaner electricity.
Taken together, the proposals focus on expanding community solar and allowing small plug-in panels on balconies, patios, and fences.
Here's what to know
According to the Los Angeles Times, Assembly Bill 1813 would require the California Public Utilities Commission to create a larger community solar program, while Senate Bill 868 would permit plug-in "balcony solar" units once they have U.S. safety certification. Both measures have been approved by lawmakers and await Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature.
At the center of the legislation is the fact that many residents want solar power's benefits but lack access to a usable rooftop.
Assemblymember Chris Ward of San Diego, author of AB 1813, argued that California's clean energy transition should benefit everyone, not just those who can afford rooftop solar. Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco, who authored SB 868, said balcony solar could lower bills by hundreds of dollars a year.
For households with a suitable roof, going solar remains one of the best ways to save money on home energy. Homeowners can explore EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
The measures arrive after a difficult stretch for rooftop solar in the state. Installation rates dropped after California reduced incentives in 2022, following pressure from utilities that argued higher payouts to solar customers shifted grid costs onto households without panels.
More background
Instead of installing panels at home, people in a community solar program would subscribe to a share of a nearby solar project and receive credits on their monthly bills. That arrangement could be especially helpful for renters and condo owners who cannot tap into typical rooftop-solar savings.
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Supporters say the model could open the door to solar savings for people long excluded. Critics, however, argue the costs could still be passed on to other customers.
Utilities are pushing back. PG&E spokesperson Lynsey Paulo said the company remains opposed to AB 1813: "We remain opposed to AB 1813 because it would shift significant costs to customers who do not participate in the program. This legislation is about profits for solar companies, not customer affordability." Mary Flannelly, a spokesperson for the Public Advocates Office, said the agency's analysis found the bill could shift roughly $12 per month in costs onto customers who cannot participate.
SB 868 also faced safety objections, and PG&E secured a provision requiring lawmakers to reauthorize the balcony-solar program before 2030. If Newsom signs the bill, plug-in systems could start rolling out after approval from a U.S.-recognized testing lab such as UL Solutions; similar systems are popular in Germany.
What's being done?
Supporters say the measures would give Californians more control over energy costs amid stubbornly high utility bills. Wiener said both bills could help people avoid being "trapped in the monopoly utility model that is so expensive." Lawmakers also passed Senate Bill 913, which would group batteries, electric vehicles, smart thermostats, and other customer-owned devices together to support the grid.
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For households that can install their own systems, EnergySage's free services can make the process easier and cheaper. With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage's solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system on a state-by-state level, as well as details on solar panel incentives for each state, and together these resources can help readers get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. Batteries can also help households store power for later use instead of buying more expensive electricity during peak periods. Readers can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
Wiener said, "We should empower people to generate their own electricity and to lower their electric bills."
Where can I learn more?
California's solar bills are part of a wider effort to make lower-cost electricity available to people who can't put panels on a roof. These articles show how plug-in panels and other policy changes are giving renters and other residents more practical ways to tap into solar.
• In Maine, lawmakers proposed access to plug-in solar so renters can share homeowner-like savings.
• Vermont legislators weighed a new plug-in bill for renters and homeowners seeking lower bills.
• In one California city, officials turned rooftop solar into relief for low-income households.
Across the country, lawmakers and local officials are experimenting with different ways to widen access to solar savings. For Californians waiting on Newsom's decision, these examples offer a clearer sense of what more energy choice could look like.
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