<2>Are U.S. Utilities Trying to Delay Easy-to-Use Solar ‘Balcony’ Panels?
<3>Plug-in solar panels, also known as “balcony” panels, have gained popularity in recent years due to their ease of use and ability to generate electricity directly into a home’s electrical outlet. However, their adoption in the U.S. is being hindered by the pushback from electric utilities.
<3>The panels, which can be hung out a window or set up in a backyard, channel energy from the sun and generate enough electricity to power a refrigerator or microwave. They also displace electricity that would otherwise come from the grid, making them an attractive option for homeowners.
<3>However, state lawmakers are proposing bills that eliminate complicated utility connection agreements, which are required for larger rooftop solar installations and, most utilities say, should apply to plug-in solar too. Those agreements, along with permitting and other installation costs, can double the price of solar panels.
<3>Utah enacted the first law supporting plug-in solar last May, and now some 30 pieces of similar legislation have been introduced around the United States. Virginia seems poised to pass a similar law.
<3>But the drive toward plug-in solar is