SB 868: Electricity: portable solar generation devices. - California

08/28/26 - Enrolled → SB868 · 1 edit

MINOR

The substantive legislative text of SB 868 is unchanged between these two versions. The difference is purely in document presentation: the first version uses the traditional enrolled bill format with page numbers, signature blocks, and governor approval lines, while the second version is a web-based rendering that adds navigation elements, author/coauthor information, a status timeline, and a digest key (vote type, appropriation, fiscal committee, local program flags). No policy provisions were added, removed, or modified.

TECHNICAL

The document was reformatted from a traditional enrolled bill layout (with page numbers, Secretary of the Senate and Chief Clerk signature lines, and Governor approval block) to a web-based rendering that includes site navigation, version history, author attribution (Senator Wiener with coauthors), introduction date (January 5, 2026), and a structured digest key showing Vote: MAJORITY, Appropriation: NO, Fiscal Committee: YES, Local Program: YES.

08/20/26 - Amended Assembly → 08/28/26 - Enrolled · 2 edits · Aug 28, 2026

MINOR

The enrolled version of SB 868 makes two substantive changes to the portable solar generation device provisions: it removes a requirement that Underwriters Laboratories certification be conducted in a standards process subject to public comment, and it broadens the post-2030 sales ban by removing the phrase 'all of' from the conditions a device must fail to meet. These are minor clarifications made during final enrollment.

REQUIREMENT

Section 8530(c)(5) no longer requires that the Underwriters Laboratories (or equivalent) plug-in photovoltaic certification be conducted 'in a standards process subject to public comment.' This removes a procedural transparency requirement from the device qualification criteria.

SCOPE

Section 8532's post-January 1, 2030 sales ban was changed from prohibiting devices that 'do not otherwise meet all of the conditions' in paragraphs (4) through (6) to those that simply 'do not meet the conditions.' Removing 'all of' broadens the ban so that a device failing to meet even one of the code, certification, or backfeed-isolation requirements would be prohibited from sale, rather than only devices failing all three.

08/17/26 - Amended Assembly → 08/20/26 - Amended Assembly · 3 edits · Aug 20, 2026

MINOR

SB 868 was amended to narrow the post-2030 sales prohibition on portable solar devices. The ban previously applied to any receptacle-connected photovoltaic device that failed to meet all six definitional conditions in Section 8530(c); it now applies only to devices that fail the three safety-related conditions (electrical code compliance, UL certification, and backfeed protection). The amendment also adds the word 'portable' as a qualifier to the banned device category and fixes several typos throughout the bill.

SCOPE

Section 8532's post-January 1, 2030 sales ban is narrowed. Previously, any photovoltaic energy generation device connected via receptacle that did not meet ALL conditions in Section 8530(c) (including the 1,200-watt limit and onsite-consumption intent) was prohibited from sale. Now only devices failing conditions (4) through (6) - electrical code compliance, UL or equivalent certification, and backfeed isolation feature - are banned. Devices exceeding 1,200 watts or not intended solely for onsite offset can still be sold after 2030 if they meet the safety requirements.

DEFINITION

The term 'portable' was added before 'photovoltaic energy generation device' in Section 8532, further limiting which devices are subject to the post-2030 sales prohibition.

TECHNICAL

Multiple typos were corrected: duplicate 'of' in the short title ('Division 4.1 of of'), duplicate 'would' in the digest ('This bill would would'), and a new drafting artifact 'but and does not' was introduced in Section 8532.

06/15/26 - Amended Assembly → 08/17/26 - Amended Assembly · 5 edits · Aug 17, 2026

MODERATE

The August 17 amendment adds a January 1, 2030 sunset date to all exemptions for portable solar generation devices and introduces a new ban on selling non-compliant plug-in photovoltaic devices in California after that date. The definition of 'portable solar generation device' was broadened to include combinations of devices and removed the 'moveable' requirement, while the connection point language was changed from 'single standard electrical outlet' to the broader term 'receptacle.'

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a permanent exemption framework to a time-limited one (through January 1, 2030) with a post-expiration sales ban on non-compliant plug-in solar devices. The device definition was broadened to cover combinations of devices and removed the movability requirement.

TIMELINE

Section 8531 now includes a sunset provision: all exemptions (interconnection exemption, prohibition on fees and approval requirements, notification authorization) expire January 1, 2030.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 8532 prohibits the sale or offer for sale in California of any photovoltaic device designed to connect through a receptacle that does not meet all conditions of the portable solar generation device definition. This ban takes effect January 1, 2030.

The UL certification requirement now specifies that certification must occur 'in a standards process subject to public comment,' adding a transparency condition to the testing laboratory process.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'portable solar generation device' was changed from 'a moveable photovoltaic energy generation device' to 'a photovoltaic energy generation device, or combination of devices,' removing the movability requirement and explicitly allowing multiple devices combined.

The connection point requirement was changed from 'a single standard electrical outlet' to 'a receptacle,' which is broader and does not specify a single outlet or a particular type.

04/07/26 - Amended Senate → 06/15/26 - Amended Assembly · 5 edits · Jun 15, 2026

MODERATE

The Assembly amendment to SB 868 makes several substantive changes to the portable solar generation device framework: it expands the information utilities can require during registration (adding make and model), adds an explicit disqualification clause for devices that fail to meet all statutory conditions, clarifies the wattage cap language, and emphasizes the plug-in nature of qualifying devices. These changes tighten the definition and enforcement mechanism while broadening coauthorship.

DEFINITION

The wattage threshold was clarified from 'has a maximum aggregated AC output of 1,200 watts' to 'has a maximum aggregated AC output of no more than 1,200 watts,' making the cap explicit rather than merely descriptive.

The connection requirement was changed from 'connected to a building's electrical system through a single standard electrical outlet' to 'connected to and disconnected from a building's electrical system through a single standard electrical outlet receptacle,' emphasizing that the device must be easily removable and using more precise terminology.

REQUIREMENT

The registration/notification requirement was expanded: utilities can now require customers to report the make and model of the device in addition to address and size, giving utilities more information about what is being installed.

ENFORCEMENT

A new subdivision (d) was added stating that any device failing to meet all conditions in Section 8530(c) does not qualify as a portable solar generation device and therefore loses all exemptions under the chapter. This creates an explicit disqualification mechanism that was previously implied but not stated.

SCOPE

Six new Assembly member coauthors were added (Boerner, Davies, Irwin, Kalra, Petrie-Norris, and Schiavo), indicating broader legislative support for the bill.

03/23/26 - Amended Senate → 04/07/26 - Amended Senate · 3 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MINOR

The April 7 amendment to SB 868 makes three substantive changes to the portable solar generation device framework: it adds a requirement that devices comply with the California Electrical Code in addition to the National Electrical Code, it removes a contradictory prohibition on utilities requiring notification or registration (resolving a conflict with the existing permissive provision), and it clarifies the wattage threshold language. These changes tighten safety standards and clean up an internal inconsistency in the bill.

REQUIREMENT

Portable solar generation devices must now meet the standards of both the National Electrical Code AND the California Electrical Code (Part 3 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), not just the NEC alone. This adds a state-specific code compliance requirement.

Removed the prohibition in Section 8531(b) that barred utilities from requiring customers to provide notification or registration for use of a portable solar generation device. This resolved a contradiction with Section 8531(c), which already permitted utilities to require notification via a simple online form.

DEFINITION

Clarified the wattage threshold in the definition of 'portable solar generation device' from the awkward phrasing '1,200 watts to a building's electrical system. per dwelling' to the cleaner '1,200 watts per dwelling.'

03/05/26 - Amended Senate → 03/23/26 - Amended Senate · 5 edits · Mar 23, 2026

MODERATE

The March 23 amendment makes several substantive changes to SB 868 on portable solar generation devices. Most significantly, it removes the blanket prohibition on utility notification requirements and instead allows utilities to require customers to register their device via a simple online form (without requiring approval). It also adds a National Electrical Code compliance requirement to the device definition, clarifies the 1,200-watt limit applies per dwelling, and removes the provision that shielded utilities from liability for damage caused by these devices.

REQUIREMENT

The bill no longer prohibits utilities from requiring notification or registration. Instead, a new subsection (c) authorizes utilities to require customers to submit a simple online registration form with the address and size of the device. The form cannot be used to require approval of the customer's use.

ENFORCEMENT

The provision stating that an electrical corporation or local publicly owned electric utility shall not be liable for any damage or injury caused by a portable solar generation device was deleted entirely.

DEFINITION

A new condition was added to the definition of 'portable solar generation device': it must meet the standards of the most recent version of the National Electrical Code.

The 1,200-watt maximum aggregated AC output limit was clarified to apply 'per dwelling' rather than being an unqualified per-device or per-customer cap.

TECHNICAL

The chapter numbering was corrected from Chapter 11 (Sections 8520-8521) to Chapter 13 (Sections 8530-8531), resolving an internal inconsistency in the earlier version.

01/05/26 - Introduced → 03/05/26 - Amended Senate · 2 edits · Mar 5, 2026

MINOR

The Senate amendment to SB 868 primarily renumbers the proposed chapter from Chapter 11 (Sections 8520-8521) to Chapter 13 (Sections 8530-8531) within Division 4.1 of the Public Utilities Code, likely to avoid a numbering conflict with another pending bill. The substantive policy content - definitions, interconnection exemptions, utility prohibitions, and liability provisions - remains unchanged. Additional coauthors were added, indicating broader legislative support.

TECHNICAL

The proposed chapter was renumbered from Chapter 11 (Sections 8520-8521) to Chapter 13 (Sections 8530-8531), a codification change that does not alter the bill's policy content.

Additional coauthors were listed: Assembly Member Schultz as principal coauthor, Senator Becker, and Assembly Members Connolly and Ward as coauthors, reflecting broader legislative sponsorship.

Electricity: portable solar generation devices.

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