CA Bill Could Help Renters Lower Utility Bills With Plug-In Solar Systems

A Bay Area state senator has proposed a bill that would make it easier for Californians to get approved for renter-friendly plug-in solar systems, potentially saving households hundreds of dollars per year.

Senate Bill 868 would establish safety standards for the devices and prohibit utilities from requiring an interconnection agreement, which residents must currently seek from PG&E in order to use a plug-in system, according to a news release introducing the bill from state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco.

“Californians should have every tool available to lower energy costs, especially given the disastrous rate hikes in recent years,” Wiener said in the news release on Tuesday.

“Renters and residents of apartment buildings in particular deserve options to lower costs and access clean energy the same way homeowners can access rooftop solar. These technologies are a win-win-win, and enabling access to them is simply good government.”

Electricity rates for PG&E customers increased nearly 40 percent between 2022 and 2025, according to the news release, which said a plug-in solar system can save a California household up to $450 per year.

The systems, over 1 million of which have been installed in Germany, are typically 200-1,800 watts, compared to the 5,000-10,000 watts of a residential rooftop system, according to the news release. The plug-in systems can cover up to 20 percent of a home’s average energy use and they range in price from $400 to $2,000.

A PG&E spokesperson told the San Francisco Chronicle that the company was reviewing the legislation.

Wiener announced the bill as part of a package, the Clean Homes and Energy Affordability Package, which also included Senate Bill 222, which would streamline permitting for heat pump HVAC and water heater systems.