Citing Safety Concerns, CSAEW Opposes Portable Solar Generation

Statement from CSAEW on Opposition to SB 868

CSAEW and its 83,000 members are raising the alarm over safety and fire concerns for a portable solar generation bill being floated by state Sen. Scott Wiener (SB 868). While CSAEW shares the goal of most Californians to expand access to clean energy and reduce Californians’ electricity costs, this is not the way to do it. The organization and its members oppose SB 868 because it is a wrongheaded approach that raises significant electrical safety, consumer protection, and regulatory process concerns.

Here are the details: SB 868 would allow the use of small Plug-In Photovoltaic (PIPV) solar generation devices such that they would be considered more like household appliances, which would exempt them from traditional interconnection rules. These devices would be plugged into a standard indoor/outdoor wall outlet, backfeeding power into the electrical system. 

This is a dangerous precedent, because adding additional current from a PIPV system that is not protected by an upstream panelboard branch circuit overcurrent protective device – rather than hard-wiring into a home’s main electrical panel – could overload conductors, increasing the risk of electric shock and fire.

SB 868 also does not ensure the safe installation, maintenance, or inspection standards of these PIPV systems, which can include stringing together multiple generation units and plugging them into an inappropriate outlet, as well as an inability to “shut off” adjoining systems in the event of a fire. California’s existing housing stock has been built out over the last 150 years. Building and Electrical standards have gone through many changes over that time but have never considered the use of PIPV to provide power backfeeding through the residence’s electrical system. It is a near certainty that, if PIPV solar generation is approved, an unsuspecting homeowner or renter will unknowingly create a hazardous situation putting their home and/or loved ones at risk.

Another significant safety risk not addressed in SB 868 is that a PIPV system may stay “on” even during a dangerous electrical surge, exposing users to a risk of electric shock. Standard GFCI outlets are designed for one-way power flow, but when a PIPV system backfeeds power in the opposite direction, it can damage the GFCI’s internal circuitry, causing it to fail. This is particularly dangerous in older buildings and homes with aging wiring systems. Because PIPV systems are sold directly to consumers, there is no check to ensure they aren’t being plugged into an overloaded or damaged circuit.

SB 868 also ignores the fact that established testing and certification processes for these devices just began in January 2026. Although SB 868 requires certification by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or a nationally recognized testing laboratory, UL Standards & Engagement has not yet developed a final UL standard for PIPV systems. In fact, UL’s own 2025 report raised multiple red flags about PIPV systems, including presenting, “significant hazards when connected with traditional wiring systems used in the United States” and “PIPV can present electric shock hazards and fire hazards to consumers.” 

Finally, SB 868 bypasses California’s existing regulatory and safety framework, which requires a multi-agency, expert-driven process to ensure grid reliability and safety. It also circumvents the National Electrical Code and the California Building Standards. Electrical professionals, fire safety experts, contractors, and code officials have all raised significant concerns about the potential for heightened fire risk, shock hazards, breaker masking, anti-islanding reliability, and the lack of clear installation and inspection standards.

For these reasons, CSAEW opposes SB 868.

To sign the opposition letter, click here.