Overview
- A law change gives households the legal right to use plug‑in 'balcony' solar panels from 27 August and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero says verification and registration systems are in place.
- Government product rules cap output at 800 watts per household circuit and require panels to use microinverters that feed power through standard three‑pin sockets.
- Devices must be verified and listed with the Energy Networks Association before sale, and some specialist suppliers say they expect to begin online sales on 27 August while major retailers have expressed interest but not announced launch dates.
- Electrical safety bodies including the ECA and IET warn that panels can overload older circuits and may not work with some residual current devices, so they advise homeowners to have electricians check wiring and RCDs; the government cites an independent study saying products are safe if standards are met.
- Estimated kit cost is about £350–£400 with projected annual savings of £70–£110 and a roughly four‑year payback, though generation falls in autumn and renters may need landlord permission to install panels.