SolarEdge Nexis Device Simplifies California Installations

Solar installers can now bypass main electrical panel rewiring when adding battery systems in PG&E and SDG&E service territories.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Utilities

Isometric editorial illustration showing a residential electric meter interface on a stucco wall, representing solar battery installation technology.
Pacific Gas and Electric and San Diego Gas and Electric have approved the SolarEdge Nexis meter collar, allowing installers to bypass electrical panel rewiring. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Pacific Gas and Electric and San Diego Gas and Electric have approved the SolarEdge Nexis IslandDER meter collar for use in California. The device simplifies installation for installers by enabling a direct electrical connection to home energy systems without requiring a main panel rewire.

Why it matters

This approval removes a significant barrier for residential solar installers by eliminating the need for complex rewiring of existing main electrical panels. For California operators, it provides a streamlined path to integrate high-capacity home energy storage and solar inverter systems.

The Nexis IslandDER is now among four approved meter socket adapter solutions for PG&E and five for SDG&E. These utilities serve a combined 5.38 million residential customers, while nationally 86 utilities across 33 states have authorized the use of such meter socket adapter hardware.

The players

SolarEdge

A provider of smart energy technology that manufactures solar inverters and battery storage systems for residential and commercial markets.

Pacific Gas and Electric

A major California investor-owned utility responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity to millions of customers.

San Diego Gas and Electric

An investor-owned utility providing regulated electricity and natural gas services throughout the San Diego region.

The details

The Nexis IslandDER installs directly between the utility meter and the meter socket, creating a two-way electrical bridge to the residence. It connects digitally via ethernet to SolarEdge Nexis inverters, which offer 13 kW of on-grid power and 14.5 kW off-grid. Homeowners can scale their storage capacity using modular 5 kWh battery blocks, which support configurations up to 80 kWh total.

Timeline

  1. Late 2025: Nexis products were first unveiled at the RE+ trade show.

  2. June 2026: Nexis system components became available nationwide.

  3. October 21, 2026: PG&E and SDG&E issued formal approval for the IslandDER collar.

Market Landscape

The approval of the IslandDER reflects a documented trend where utilities are increasingly adopting meter socket adapters to expedite grid interconnection. This move follows a growing industry movement toward standardizing equipment interfaces, with 86 utilities across 33 states now permitting such hardware.

Installers operating in the PG&E and SDG&E service territories should factor this new equipment into upcoming project bids as an alternative to traditional panel rewiring. Confirm current utility requirements before ordering components for SCE service areas while testing remains in progress.

The takeaway

The Nexis approval signals that major California utilities are prioritizing faster, less invasive interconnection methods for high-capacity home battery systems. Operators should monitor future witness testing outcomes to see if utility-wide compatibility expands beyond the current regional approvals.

What happens next

The Nexis IslandDER is currently pending the completion of witness testing for Southern California Edison.

Further reading

For broader trends in infrastructure, see our Utilities coverage.

Source note: This article includes information reported by pv magazine USA.

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