Have you wondered about solar?

Interested in generating renewable energy but concerned about the upfront costs? If so, balcony solar might be just the answer!

A balcony solar system offers a cost-effective alternative to rooftop solar with compact panels that can be easily placed in yards, on balconies, patios, or even windowsills. Users simply mount the panel, plug it into a wall socket, and begin generating electricity that feeds directly into their home’s electrical system. Now, people living in apartments as well as homeowners can generate their own renewable electricity.

A quick search on Amazon shows me an 800W system for $1,395 with an estimated payback of 3 to 6 years.

But can we use balcony solar in Idaho? Is it safe? Here are some things to keep in mind.

• Idaho House Bill 612 was just introduced in the Idaho House, following in the footsteps of a similar Utah bill. This bill would exempt balcony solar devices from interconnection and net metering requirements. It would also say that electric companies cannot require customers to obtain permission from the electric company, pay any fee or charge related to the device, or install any additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the device.

• Supporters of the bill say that safety standards in the bill (UL 3700) and recent UL testing/certification will produce listed products that utilities and electricians can accept. What that tells me is that any product you buy had better be UL 3700 listed!

In my own home, I have an automatic transfer switch along with my standby generator that protects utility workers from the power my generator creates during a power outage. So if you’re considering balcony solar and do not have an automatic transfer switch at your home, you’ll have to unplug your balcony solar during a power outage!

More to come as House Bill 612 is debated in Idaho.