Californians have embraced rooftop solar panels more than anyone in the U.S., but many are learning the hard way the systems won’t keep the lights on during blackouts.
That’s because most panels are designed to supply power to the grid — not directly to houses. During the heat of the day, solar systems can crank out more juice than a home can handle. Conversely, they don’t produce power at all at night. So systems are tied into the grid, and the vast majority aren’t working this week as PG&E Corp. cuts power to much of Northern California to prevent wildfires.
The only way for most solar panels to work during a blackout is pairing them with batteries. That market is just starting to take off. Sunrun Inc., the largest U.S. rooftop solar company, said some of its customers are making it through the blackouts with batteries, but it’s a tiny group — countable in the hundreds.
Alito rips Jackson’s ‘utterly irresponsible’ solo dissent as Supreme Court fight shakes up 2026 map
California gubernatorial hopefuls contend with back-to-back debates with finish line in sight
Climate seminars for judges face funding trail probe amid fears of outside influence on courts
Caine likens ‘kamikaze dolphin’ question to ‘sharks with laser beams’ in nod to Austin Powers movies
Florida shooting spree kills 4-month-old baby, toddler, their mother and grandmother across two scenes
Nancy Mace Names 6 Lawmakers in Bombshell Comments on Congressional Sex Scandal ‘Slush Fund’
Under-the-radar race will decide Michigan Senate control in Whitmer’s final year
Dem Chicago Alderman Wants Walgreens Charged with Crime After Store Closes Amid Rampant Theft, Violence
Oklahoma park shooting that injured nearly two dozen started over argument at unsanctioned party, police say
Trump turns Obama-era youth health policy on its head as school fitness benchmark returns
Massie ally sparks backlash after accusing Trump-backed challenger of abusing VA benefits
GOP builds huge cash edge as 2026 midterm outlook darkens
At least five killed and dozens injured in Ukraine in ‘vile’ Russian strike amid ceasefire talk
Border Patrol arrests two illegal aliens convicted of child sex offenses near San Diego in back-to-back busts
Trump opens Hormuz under fire with ‘Project Freedom’ as Iran warns of attacks
“It’s the perfect combination for getting through these shutdowns,” Sunrun Chairman Ed Fenster said in an interview. He expects battery sales to boom in the wake of the outages.
And no, trying to run appliances off the power in a Tesla Inc. electric car won’t work, at least without special equipment.
Story cited here.
