Electricity: Status of Residential Deployment of Solar and Other Technologies and Potential Benefits and Challenges, GAO-17-142: Published: Feb 13, 2017. Publicly Released: Mar 15, 2017.

“Rooftop solar panels, batteries, and smart thermostats, installed in residences, can allow customers to generate and store electricity, as well as manage its use. These and other technologies can make electricity grids operate more efficiently and provide other benefits—such as cleaner generation of electricity. However, if deployed without regard to grid conditions, these technologies could present challenges—for example, too much customer-generated power could exceed local grid capacity and lead to higher infrastructure costs. State and federal policymakers are considering ways to mitigate these challenges and maximize benefits.”