From today, households across Great Britain can plug solar panels into a standard socket

Households across Great Britain can now generate their own solar power using a standard three-pin wall socket, under new rules designed to cut energy bills and make clean electricity more accessible. The legal change, which came into force on 27 August 2026, allows people in England, Scotland and Wales to buy portable solar panel kits rated up to 800 watts and plug them directly into their home electricity supply without hiring an electrician. According to estimates from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the devices can provide up to 20 per cent of an average home's electricity use and save households up to £110 a year.The change comes as energy prices in Britain face fresh pressure. Energy regulator Ofgem has announced a 4 per cent rise in the domestic energy price cap from October, mainly because of higher wholesale fuel costs linked to continuing geopolitical tensions around Iran. Under the new rules, changes to the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 and the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 through Statutory Instrument 2026/848 mean households no longer need specialist wiring or professional installation for small solar sys...