California lawmakers pass plug-in solar bill

California lawmakers late Wednesday approved a bill that would allow residents to install solar panels that plug into standard electrical outlets in an effort to lower their electricity costs and reduce their contribution to climate change.

The bill passed with broad bipartisan support in both chambers of the Legislature despite opposition from state-owned utility investors, underscoring the growing political importance of energy affordability. California has the highest residential electricity rates of the 48 contiguous states, and those prices have risen sharply in recent years.

If Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signs the measure into law, California will become one of nearly a dozen states to legalize plug-in solar systems, often referred to as balcony solar systems. These systems, usually made up of a handful of panels, first became popular in Germany, where the panels are sold online and in stores. Last year, Utah became the first state to legalize the use of solar panels. Other states that have passed similar laws include Colorado, Maryland and Virginia.

Mr. Newsom did not say whether he would sign the bill. Before Wednesday’s passage of the bill, his office said it typically does not comment on pending legislation. Plug-in solar bills are also pending approval from governors in New Jersey and New York.

The cost of electricity has become one of the biggest issues in this year’s midterm elections, along with a spike in gasoline prices caused by the war with Iran. Electricity prices became a major issue in the gubernatorial campaigns last year in New Jersey and Virginia.

Electric rates have been steadily rising nationwide in recent years, thanks in part to the growth of energy-intensive data centers and increasing spending by utility companies on power lines and other equipment. The average price of electricity nationwide rose 5 percent in June from a year earlier, reaching $183 a month for a typical household that uses 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Plug-in solar systems are usually much smaller than conventional rooftop installations, but can be built much more quickly and, where legal, can be installed without approval from local building authorities and utilities. But due to their small size, plug-in systems can usually cover only a small portion of most people’s electricity costs. Savings tend to be greater for people who live in energy-efficient apartments or houses that use relatively little electricity.