Americans are turning to DIY solar panels to tackle rising electricity prices in a legal gray area

People across the US are installing solar panels on their homes in a bid to cut electricity bills, but many of them are operating in a ‘legal grey area’, according to one expert.

In recent years, there’s been a big move towards green energy. 

Not only are renewable sources, like solar or wind power, better for the planet, but they can also save you money on your bills. 

So it’s hardly surprising that many Americans are choosing to fit plug-in solar panels, also known as ‘balcony solar’, onto their homes, but not all of them are following the rules.

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Many American households are opting for plug-in solar panels

Amid rising energy costs, the appeal of solar panels is obvious.

Those who want to give it a try can invest in a professional solar panel installation, but many Americans are keeping costs low by buying and fitting their own DIY solar panels. 

These panels are often referred to as ‘balcony solar’ as many of the panels end up strewn across balconies. 

One woman who has set up solar panels at her home in Berkeley, California, told CNN that her setup cost around $2,000 and cuts her electricity bill by about $50 a month, meaning it’ll have paid for itself in a little over three years. 

Now, this might all sound straightforward enough, but one expert explained to the news outlet that putting up your own balcony or backyard solar power system is a ‘legal grey area’. 

Cora Stryker is the co-founder of the Bright Saver non-profit group, which supports balcony solar setups. 

She told CNN that in most states, it’s a legal requirement to make an agreement with a local utility company after installing the solar panels. 

But, as this can take a long time, and lead to additional costs, many people aren’t telling utility companies and are fitting ‘guerilla solar systems’ in their homes.

One state is bucking the trend when it comes to DIY solar setups

As Stryker pointed out, most US residents will need to make an agreement with a local electricity company before using solar panels. 

However, in Utah, they’re doing things a little differently. 

Utah Republican State Representative Ray Ward said he first became aware of balcony solar after reading about the 1.23 million systems currently set up in Germany. 

“You’re like, oh my gosh, this is so simple compared to what we’re doing, and then it makes you wonder why you can’t have that here,” he told CNN.

So, he introduced a new law that means residents can fit their own solar panels without having to make an agreement with utility companies. 

The bill passed unanimously last year and appears to have inspired others, with around 28 states working on similar draft bills, which would make solar rollout a lot simpler across the US.

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