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States OK solar panels for balconies. Safety guidelines haven't caught up.
Backers say the devices could cut utility bills by 10% and expand access for renters, but certification rules and electrical standards are still developing.
Over the past year and a half, a dozen states have embraced a new vision for solar power: small, cheap panels that can be hung from a balcony or porch, be plugged into a standard wall outlet and take a dent out of residents’ utility bills. These systems, known as balcony solar or plug-in solar, are attractive because they can be installed without permits, contractors or large investments.