Plug-In Solar in Maryland
Yes. In Maryland, you may run one plug-in solar system rated up to 1,200 watts for each meter at home. No utility approval or fee applies, but you must let your utility know first.
- Legal in Maryland todayHB 1532 (Utility RELIEF Act)
- The cap for each home is 1,200 W.
- 21.3 centsFor Jan to Aug 2026, the EIA average home price per kWh.
- Each year, $242.Before any utility solar fee, an 800 W kit in Baltimore.
In Maryland, connect only a kit of 1,200 W or less, and make sure its inverter shuts off power when the grid goes down.
What the Law in Maryland Says
Signed on May 12, 2026, HB 1532 (Utility RELIEF Act) takes effect on Jul 1, 2026. That law is Chapter 353, Laws of Maryland 2026.
The size limit is 1,200 W, and a simpler tier tops out at 391 W.
Safety listing: Certification by Underwriters Laboratory, or by an equivalent testing laboratory recognized nationwide, is required. Systems with 391 W or less of output at the outlet fall outside UL or NRTL product listing provisions demanding changes to premises, wiring or electrical panels.
Utility approval: None needed. Approval isn't something the electric company can require before you install or use the system.
Required: telling the utility. Before installation, the customer has to notify the electric company and give it a certification covering the system's safety features and its maximum generating capacity.
Fees: The electric company can't charge for the system's ability to send power back into the grid, nor (apart from a disconnect switch) require added controls or equipment. The customer pays for installation if the system requires an automatic locking disconnect switch.
Net metering rules: no renewable energy credits apply, and neither section 7-306 on net energy metering nor section 7-306.1 on interconnection agreements covers the system.
- Use it at home only, with a limit of one system for each electric meter.
- Plug the system into a standard outlet, and its main purpose must be to offset part of what the building uses.
- The electric company isn't liable for damage the system causes.
Bigger Systems and the Rules Set Before This Law
Hooking up: With the utility, regular solar systems sign an interconnection agreement under Public Utilities Article 7-306.1. According to the state fiscal note, those agreements may carry fees and take time. The new law excuses plug-in systems from this.
Net metering: The program exists, but the same 2026 act closes it to new entrants at whichever comes first: 3,000 MW or July 1, 2027. That act also orders a successor program.
Savings from a Kit in Maryland
According to PVWatts, 1 kW of panels in Baltimore makes 1,419 kWh a year; Maryland homes pay 21.3 cents for every kWh in 2026 so far used. For an 800 W kit, results change with where you put it:
| Where the panels go | kWh a year | Saved a year |
|---|---|---|
| Tilted south on a stand | 1,135 | $242 |
| Upright on a railing | 715 | $152 |
| Facing east or west | 908 | $194 |
Each Month in Baltimore
- Jan80
- Feb85
- Mar101
- Apr104
- May109
- Jun106
- Jul114
- Aug107
- Sep95
- Oct90
- Nov75
- Dec69
kWh produced by an 800 W kit, tilted south.
Kits That Fit Under the 1,200 W Cap
| Kit | kWh a year | Saved a year | Pays back in | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Solar Supplier 1180 W EZ1 Kit | 1,675 | $357 | 2.5 years | $899 |
| Bright Saver 360 W Balcony Kit | 511 | $109 | 3.8 years | $414 |
| EcoFlow STREAM 800 W Kit | 1,135 | $242 | 4.5 years | $1,099 |
All tilted south, with every bit used at home. Compare all kits
Maryland Facts Worth Knowing
- Retail choice is real in Maryland: of the five biggest electricity sellers, two are retail power marketers rather than utilities.
- Maryland homes paid 17.86 cents/kWh on average in 2024, a rate that is fairly high and helps a kit pay back.
- Notify your utility before plugging in, and give it a certification covering the system's safety features and its size.
Balcony setup or renting a place?
Ask your landlord or HOA first, since Maryland law covers the hookup and not the mount. Read about balcony solar and solar for apartments.
The Main Utilities
- Baltimore Gas & Electric Company (BGE)
- Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco)
- The Potomac Edison Company
Next Steps for You in Maryland
- Pick a kit rated at 1,200 W or less. We compared 7 kits, and all 7 of them fit that cap; the kit must also carry the listing named in the law. Compare kit options.
- Read the notice rule above first. If it applies to you, let your electric utility know. File the kit's spec sheet alongside your other documents.
- Never use a power strip; it belongs in a grounded outlet on a circuit that has little else on it.
Sources
- Legislation - HB1532 (Maryland General Assembly, 2026RS)
- 2026 Regular Session - House Bill 1532 Chapter
- 2026 Regular Session - Fiscal and Policy Note for House Bill 1532
- EIA State Electricity Profile tables, Maryland 2024
- EIA Table 5.6.B, 2026 prices and NREL PVWatts, Baltimore
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