DIY solar energy is booming in the United States. After Utah led the way in 2025 with House Bill 340, over thirty states have introduced bills to legalize plug-in solar panels, widely known in Europe as "balcony solar." These kits, which plug into a standard wall outlet, allow renters and homeowners to save on electricity bills without the expense and delay of a full rooftop installation. Meanwhile, home battery installations in the US have hit a record high: 673 megawatts of storage were connected in the first quarter of 2026.
Utah paved the way and other states follow
In March 2025, Utah passed House Bill 340, permitting portable or rooftop solar panels up to a total capacity of 1,200 watts to be plugged into a regular outlet. The system uses an integrated microinverter to convert DC to household AC. Since then, according to the Bright Saver tracker, over thirty states have drafted similar bills, and six have enacted laws. Many proposals have been deferred over safety concerns: utilities worry that feeding power into home wiring could create risks. However, the UL 3700 safety certification, introduced this year, promises to address these issues by ensuring plug-in kits include safeguards against overloads and backflow. Just as Apple is redesigning the Apple Pencil with user-replaceable batteries for sustainability, the plug-in solar movement emphasizes modularity and ease of use.
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Concrete savings and affordable kits
Plug-in solar kits start at around $500 and can shave up to 10% off electricity bills, depending on sunlight and local energy prices. They are not a grid replacement but a way to cut a significant portion of consumption. Panels are portable and can be taken when moving, a huge advantage for renters. The energy produced is consumed instantly by home appliances, without storage, though some models include small portable batteries.
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Home battery boom: 673 MW in one quarter
Home batteries are experiencing a golden period. According to Ars Technica, 673 megawatts of storage were installed in Q1 2026, an all-time record. The main driver is rising electricity costs. Batteries can store energy from solar panels or draw off-peak power for use during peak hours. They also offer backup during outages. Unlike plug-in panels, batteries require professional installation and high upfront costs ($10,000 and up), but payback is achievable in a few years. Companies like Tesla pay users to remotely control their batteries, helping stabilize the grid during peak demand, especially from AI data centers.
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Future prospects for plug-in solar and batteries
While today's plug-in systems are not designed to connect directly to large home batteries, they can coexist in the same home. As safety certifications expand and the market grows, future kits may include battery connectivity. For a deeper understanding of photovoltaic systems, refer to the Wikipedia page on photovoltaic systems. The potential savings, concerns over grid reliability, and increasing ease of permitting are pushing more households toward these technologies. All signs indicate that plug-in solar and home batteries will become common tools in American homes in the near future.
