Plug-in Solar Panels: DIY Savings on Electric Bills with Balcony Solar

Plug-in solar panels are gaining momentum in the U.S., offering a simple, cost-effective way to reduce electric bills. Designed for do-it-yourself installation, these panels can be hung outside a window or placed on a deck and plugged into a standard outlet to feed power back into a home.

A new online calculator helps users estimate potential savings by factoring in their zip code, local sunshine levels, and current electricity rates. The technology is particularly appealing in high-cost cities like New York, where renters often face steep energy bills and lack access to traditional rooftop solar systems.

“A huge percent of this country is composed of renters,” says Cora Stryker, cofounder of Bright Saver, a nonprofit advocating for plug-in solar and creator of the savings calculator. “What are you supposed to do? I mean, it’s really a powerless feeling—pun intended—to see your energy bills just spike and not be able to do anything about it.”

Homeowners can also benefit from plug-in panels as an alternative to full rooftop systems. Since they require no permitting, inspections, electrician fees, or solar company marketing costs—which can account for nearly half the price of traditional systems—they offer a more affordable entry point to clean energy.

The reason this is a game changer is we’re taking all those extra costs out, and we’re delivering the dirt-cheap cost of the technology to consumers so they can install it themselves. It’s pushing us toward a tipping point. For years now, clean energy has been cheaper to produce than fossil fuel alternatives. However, for the consumer that is not true. This is the beginning of that.

Plug-in solar panels, often called balcony solar, became widely adopted in Germany after electricity prices surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Their popularity has since spread across Europe, with products even available at retailers like Ikea in Germany.

In the U.S., regulatory barriers are slowly lifting. While plug-in panels are not illegal, they currently require cumbersome utility approval processes. However, states are beginning to simplify these rules:

• Utah became the first state to pass a law supporting the technology in 2023, exempting consumers from utility approval requirements.
• Maine followed in early 2024 with similar legislation.
• Bills have also passed in Colorado, Maryland, and Virginia, awaiting gubernatorial signatures.
• More than 20 additional states are now considering similar bills, with bipartisan support from lawmakers.

Some utilities have raised safety concerns about plug-in panels, but advocates point to years of safe use in Germany as evidence of their reliability. UL Solutions, a standards organization, is developing a new safety certification for these devices, though Stryker notes that panels currently available in Utah already meet existing safety standards.

Plug-in solar panels come in various sizes, ranging from approximately 400 watts to 1.2 kilowatts, making them adaptable for different living spaces and energy needs.