Wait – plug in/portable solar panels are illegal? What’s a renter to do?

Photo above - 2015 film "The Martian". Astronaut Matt Damon learns that he will need to pay a $199 connect fee and wait weeks for inspections and permits before using his portable solar panel.

Disclaimer – the legality of portable and plug-in solar panels varies state by state. The MSN link below warns us what we're up against in California.

How would you like to save $500 (or more) annually on your electric bill? And reduce the need to build more and more electric plants, which will probably only be used to power AI data centers anyway? Well, portable panels are illegal in California. San Francisco (unofficial slogan: “be sure to wear some flowers in your hair”) has a litany of fees, permits, and inspections before you can use that Flex Solar 100W panel you ordered from Amazon (just $75. Price drop from $89).

Pacific Gas and Electric – the state controlled power monopoly - lobbied to have all those fees and regulations in place for renters with plug in panels. Right now the police might be scanning for portable solar panels on renters’ balconies, and file criminal charges. It's easy for cops to catch solar panel scofflaws, unlike shoplifters who can just run away.

Evidently PG&E is worried that if enough people use plug-in panels to power their portable space heaters the company could lose big money. At least that’s what they convinced legislators and regulators.

San Francisco is now considering a bill to restore free access to the sun. If this new bill passes, you will no longer have to interconnect your dinky panel to PG and E's 10 gazillion watt grid, wait weeks for inspections and permits, and pay a connect fee. Hooray, right?

The real problem here is that California’s politicians think they can solve their budget fiascos by taxing anything and everything. They just put a new $15 battery tax in place on January 1st. It applies to things like (smart phones, laptops, tablets, etc).

So . . . i have to pay a fee to collect sunlight, and another tax just to own the battery? Only someone diabolically evil could come up with a scheme like this.

I’m just sayin’ . . .

California bill would help renters lower electricity bills by easing rules for plug-in solar panels

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beckyromero · 36-40, F

We should be giving tax credits to those who install solar panels and another tax credit if they purchase a battery system (for nighttime use). Property owners shouldn't have to be give back excess power only to have it shut off when the grid goes down.

Homeowners and businesses having their own independent power sources are insurance against terrorist attacks, natural disasters and grid failure during storms or ice events.

SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@beckyromero why should someone lucky enough to have a full-sun roof have their solar panels paid for by lower income taxpayers in apartment buildings?

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@SusanInFlorida

That depends on each individual rental agreement. Some tenants pay for utilities; others do not.

Landlords who do pay for electric bills could benefit. And those that don't could offer it as an incentive to their prospective tenants.

I look at it as both a national security issue and an environmental issue to limits the use of fossil fuels that power our electric plants. Nuclear power would be an alternative, but the term itself is, well, politically radioactive.

exchrist · 36-40

@SusanInFlorida why should some blessed enough to have millions of dollars be allowed to declare bankruptcy multiple times getting loans on foreclosed properties? If a person has millions of dollars why mortgage something.
Also the tax payer has subsidized that individuals poor financial choices for generations to reduce their suffering and liability

SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@exchrist i mostly agree. the bankruptcy laws are a morass of contradictions intended to be politically self serving:

1 - you can file an unlimited number of bankruptcies in your lifetime

2 - you can stay in the CEO chair after bankruptcy, in many situations

3 - government debt (like student loans) cannot be discharged via bankruptcy. if it could, lenders would have proceeded more cautiously