Fans listening to NPR’s “Science Friday” on April 17 might have been intrigued by the discussion of “balcony” or “plug-in” solar. Nevada condo, townhome, and apartment dwellers have mostly been shut out of the opportunity to take advantage of the approximately 300 sunny and partly sunny days the state enjoys to supplement their energy needs. But daylight could be emerging.
The basics: Solar plug-in panels connect to a standard power outlet. The systems, which currently cost from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, can have outputs ranging from 200 to 1,200 watts, or enough to power a refrigerator or small air conditioner.
These systems were approved for statewide use in Utah in early 2025, and more than a million of them are in use in Germany. As for Nevada, Benjamin Leffel, UNLV assistant professor of public policy and leadership, says, “Supposing NV Energy does not obstruct deployment. I would expect (approval) quickly, in the same way as other novel solar strategies”; i.e., Orlando’s “floatovoltaics,” or floating solar panels.
In response to Desert Companion’s inquiry, the utility wrote: “NV Energy continually evaluates emerging technologies and customer-driven energy solutions, including options like balcony plug-in solar. While these systems are still evolving in the U.S. market, we are monitoring developments to understand potential benefits, safety considerations, and impacts to the electric grid. Our focus remains on ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable energy for our customers.”
NV Energy filed its 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada in early May. This is seen by solar advocates, such as nonprofit Solar United Neighbors (SUN), as a chance to push for investment in programs to help Nevadans cut energy use and power their homes.
Ben Delman, SUN’s editorial director, emphasized that the demand for energy is rapidly increasing, especially in light of proposed data centers. “The next step in Nevada is changing state law to allow the installation of balcony solar,” he says. In Utah, he notes, it was a Republican legislator, Raymond Ward, who pushed for HB 340’s passage — but even there, obstacles remain.
SUN’s website notes that installation generally doesn’t require a contractor. But this, and how to ensure the systems are safe, are under scrutiny. A May 2026 MIT Technology Review article noted that the national testing and certification lab UL Solutions had released a “testing protocol” to certify the safety of balcony solar systems.
The article listed three safety concerns: possibility of overloading a circuit; outdoor installation interfering with ground fault circuit interruption, which prevents shock under wet conditions; and the possibility of the plug’s blades retaining residual electricity if disconnected. The protocol recommends the panels have an outlet designed for them, requiring an electrician to wire it.
Then there’s the return on investment. Recouping the costs of the system through electricity savings can take years. California nonprofit Bright Saver estimates that, based on current average costs and efficiency, an 800-watt balcony system could pay for itself in roughly seven years. That means most early adopters would likely be those concerned with climate change.
“Upfront costs, made worse by the Big ‘Beautiful’ Bill’s rescissions to energy-cost savings resources (incentives) nationwide … hurt red states just as much as blue states. Local utilities need to fill the gap with more financial incentives,” Leffel wrote in an email.
Kirsten Stasio, CEO of the nonprofit Nevada Clean Energy Fund, says that if the technology were approved for installation in Nevada, loans would likely be available through NCEF to help consumers cover upfront costs.
SUN and partner Bright Saver, which manufactures plug-in panels, will release a consumer guide this fall with updated information, Delman says. He advises interested Nevadans to keep an eye on his organization’s website for updates.
