Story perspectives

Newsom Signs Three Energy Bills Expanding Solar, Storage

By Drooid · Oct 2, 2026, 3:30 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Governor Gavin Newsom signed three energy bills on September 30, adding balcony solar and grid reforms.
SB 868 permits plug-in balcony solar systems up to 1,200 watts AC per household.
SB 913 directs regulators to coordinate home batteries, EVs and smart thermostats as virtual power plants.
SB 905 requires large utilities to publish grid usage data and evaluate battery or demand-shift solutions versus upgrades.

History

Historical Context

In 2006 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 1, creating the California Solar Initiative with a $2.167 billion budget and a 3,000 MW solar goal by 2016. The program installed over 1.4 million residential panels by 2015 and raised solar capacity above 46,000 MW by 2023. On September 30 2024 Governor Gavin Newsom passed SB 868, 913 and 905 to expand balcony solar and data transparency, reducing peaker-plant reliance.

1 of 2

Story summary

Governor Gavin Newsom signed three energy bills on September 30, adding balcony solar and grid reforms.
SB 868 permits plug-in balcony solar systems up to 1,200 watts AC per household.
SB 913 directs regulators to coordinate home batteries, EVs and smart thermostats as virtual power plants.
SB 905 requires large utilities to publish grid usage data and evaluate battery or demand-shift solutions versus upgrades.

1 / 2