Newsom Signs Plug and Play Solar Act
The new California law lets certified plug-in solar systems under 1,200 watts bypass utility approval.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Utilities
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California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Plug and Play Solar Act, which removes utility approval requirements for certified plug-in solar systems under 1,200 watts. The law takes effect in January.
Why it matters
Plug-in panels need neither roof access nor costly installation, making solar more accessible to apartment residents who have historically been excluded from rooftop systems. The law offers no explicit protection for tenants' installation rights, leaving that question open for renters across California.
The law's 1,200-watt threshold sets the ceiling for exempt systems, and a 400-watt panel can run a standard refrigerator, though recommended kits of 3,000 to 4,000 watts are needed for meaningful air-conditioning savings. Whether renters will be able to install these systems over landlord objections remains unresolved.
The players
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom is the Governor of California, who signed the Plug and Play Solar Act into law.
Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles
The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles is a landlord trade group that may seek to amend California's law.
The details
The Plug and Play Solar Act removes utility approval requirements for small systems built from certified panels under 1,200 watts, and it is modeled on a Solar Rights Act first written in the 1970s for homeowners. New Jersey, Colorado, Virginia, and Vermont have adopted similar provisions that bar landlord prohibitions on plug-in solar and require tenant notice, while California's law does not include such protections.
Timeline
1970s: The Solar Rights Act was enacted, written for homeowners.
2000s: A rooftop solar boom followed, and the Solar Rights Act settled homeowners-association conflicts.
January 2027: The Plug and Play Solar Act takes effect.
Roadmap
The law builds on the Solar Rights Act, first enacted in the 1970s to protect homeowners installing solar, and extends that protection to a renter-accessible format. Its omission of explicit tenant safeguards departs from the approach taken by New Jersey, which bans landlord prohibitions and requires tenant notice.
Renters who want to add a small solar system may be able to do so without landlord approval, but the law does not guarantee that right. Tenants weighing a plug-in kit should check their lease terms before buying.
The takeaway
Plug-in solar lowers the barrier to renewable power for apartment residents, but its real-world reach will depend on whether tenants can actually install systems over landlord objections. Renters should watch for amendments before committing to a purchase.
What happens next
The Plug and Play Solar Act takes effect in January 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on California utilities for context on how state energy rules shape household power costs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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