Guides
Longer pieces, for when the FAQ answer wasn't enough. If you're starting from nothing, read the first one.
Start here
Plug-in solar for California renters: the start-here guide
You rent, you have no roof, and your SCE bill keeps climbing. Everything you need to know about plug-in solar, assuming you know nothing about solar.
How much does balcony solar actually save in California?
Between $95 and $564 a year depending on direction, tilt, and whether anyone's home. Every figure with the arithmetic shown.
Which way does your balcony face, and why it decides everything
A north-facing panel makes a third of what a south-facing one makes. Direction and tilt matter more than which kit you buy or what you spend.
Before you buy
Battery or no battery?
A battery raises your annual saving by about 50% and roughly doubles the payback. Worth it if you're out during the day or on a time-of-use plan.
What's in a kit, and what you'll also need to buy
Kits are sold as if they arrive complete. They rarely do. Here's what's in the box, what isn't, and what the extras cost.
Will it work with time-of-use rates?
Solar makes power at midday; utilities charge most from 4pm to 9pm. What that gap does to your savings, and how to close it.
Permission and law
Can your landlord or HOA say no?
Yes, your landlord probably can. Your HOA is a genuinely open question — the Solar Rights Act was written for roofs and has never been tested on balconies.
Is plug-in solar safe? What the fire officials and UL actually said
Firefighters and electrical workers opposed SB 868 on genuine engineering grounds. Here's their argument, the answer, and what it means for you.
Is plug-in solar legal in California yet?
SB 868 passed the Legislature on 26 August 2026 and awaits the Governor's signature by 30 September. What it does, what it doesn't, and what to do now.
Special cases
You already have rooftop solar. Read this first
If you have rooftop solar on net billing, a plug-in panel probably exports at 5-8 cents instead of saving you 33. Usually not worth it.
Plug-in solar for small businesses
A shop open during the day uses nearly all of what a panel makes, where a home uses about 60%. The catch: SB 868 is written around dwelling units.
The tools
All eight →Shorter than a guide, and they do the work for you.
What would a panel on your balcony actually save?
Seven questions, about a minute, and an honest number at the end — including when the honest answer is that it isn't worth it for your place.
Is this kit allowed in California?
Check whether a plug-in solar kit meets California's SB 868 requirements: 1,200W cap, plug-in PV certification, anti-islanding, standard outlet.
Ask your landlord or HOA
Generate a plain, factual request to install a plug-in solar panel — for a landlord, an HOA board, or a property manager. Free, no email needed.
Two-minute outlet check
Six questions about the outlet you'd use. Tells you whether you're fine, should ask an electrician, or shouldn't do it. No wiring instructions.