Plug-in solar, a tiny corner of the renewable energy sector, has big ambitions.
New laws in four states, with a few more states poised to follow, are making it easier for households to install solar panels that deliver power directly into a home outlet — also known as balcony solar. Cheaper and easier to install than rooftop solar, advocates say the technology may give renters a better shot at cutting their electricity bills.
Spiking energy prices have turbocharged interest in the systems. Because states have few tools to directly address the price of electricity, plug-in solar has won support from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers looking for rare wins on the issue. (The very first state to OK the systems was Utah, which in 2025 passed its balcony solar law unanimously.)
Supporters see these systems as more than just a quick affordability fix, though. They hope they’ll act as the thin end of a wedge that shifts U.S. culture toward renewables in a major way. Depending on size, plug-in solar systems can range from several hundred dollars to more than one thousand, but developers say they expect prices to drop as the market expands.
