The Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee on June 10 advanced SB 868, a bill by Sen. Scott Wiener that would create statewide safety standards for balcony solar, or plug-in solar, devices.
According to the committee’s hearing summary, the panel approved the measure 17-0. Supporters framed the bill as a way to expand access to small-scale solar for renters and apartment dwellers, with testimony citing a 400-watt balcony solar system that could save a typical renter about $250 a year and cover roughly 14% of an apartment’s annual electricity bill.
Opponents raised safety concerns. The hearing summary says San Diego Gas & Electric warned against weakening existing safety and interconnection protections.
The summary also indicates the bill is intended to establish a statewide safety baseline for the devices, though it does not spell out the final amended standards in detail. The committee hearing record references California Electric Code, the National Electric Code and UL standards in connection with the bill.
