California Legislature passes string of pro-solar bills

California lawmakers moved on several fronts this month to make it easier and more rewarding to add solar and battery storage at home. The state Assembly passed Senate Bill 905, which directs utilities to find grid circuits that could use more power and prioritize adding local sources like rooftop solar there, aiming to ease congestion and hold down electricity costs. The Senate also passed SB 913, which would set a payment rate for when a utility draws stored energy from a home battery during peak demand hours, when electricity is most expensive. A third bill, AB 1813, would create a long-sought community solar and storage program, letting people who cannot install their own system buy into a shared one.

Governor Gavin Newsom has already signed two related bills into law. AB 1738 allows remote inspections statewide for home energy upgrades, including solar and battery installs, which could speed up the permitting process. SB 868 legalizes small, plug-in "balcony" solar systems, opening the door to simple setups for renters or homeowners without room for a full rooftop system.

None of these bills change rebates or require homeowners to do anything right now, but together they signal California is trying to make solar and battery storage cheaper to install, faster to inspect, and more rewarding to own, especially for people who send power back to the grid during high-demand periods. If you're in California and considering solar or a home battery, it's worth watching how these programs roll out, since payment rates, community solar options, and inspection rules could shift in the coming months.