In short: Maryland homes paid 21.41¢ per kWh in July 2026, up nearly 14% in a year and above the U.S. average of 18.31¢ (EIA). The grid is among the more reliable in the country, so the urgent question here is solar: full retail net metering continues only until July 1, 2027, when a lower-paying successor program begins.
Maryland also has a plug-in solar law in force, a state rebate for home EV chargers, tax exemptions for solar equipment and more than 120,000 battery-electric cars. Here’s what the numbers and deadlines mean for a home in Baltimore, the Washington suburbs or the Eastern Shore.
Maryland at a glance
- Home electricity price: 21.41¢/kWh in July 2026, up from 18.83¢ in July 2025; 21.3¢ average for January to July 2026. U.S. average 18.31¢ (EIA, preliminary).
- Outages (2024): about 118 minutes per customer with major events, 75 without; about 0.8 interruptions a year, 0.7 without major events (EIA-861).
- Sun: about 4.04 kWh/m² per day in Baltimore (NASA POWER, 2001–2020); rough estimate about 1,180 kWh per kW of panels per year.
- Net metering: full retail net metering (3,000 MW cap) until July 1, 2027. The Utility RELIEF Act (HB 1532, signed May 12, 2026) has the Public Service Commission set a lower-compensation successor program starting July 1, 2027.
- Plug-in solar law: yes, in force since May 12, 2026 (HB 1532, Chapter 353): one system per meter, up to 1,200 W, residential only; notify your utility before installing; no net metering.
- EVs and charging: 120,500 battery-electric and 41,500 plug-in hybrids registered through 2025; 5,600 public ports at 1,683 locations, 1,556 of them DC fast (AFDC, October 2026).
- Main utilities: BGE (about 1.34 million customers, 49% of the state), Pepco (about 603,000), Potomac Edison (about 291,000) and Delmarva Power (about 215,000) (EIA-861, 2024).
- Weather risk (FEMA National Risk Index, Dec 2025): winter weather relatively high; hurricane, cold wave, heat wave, tornado and strong wind relatively moderate; ice storm relatively low; wildfire very low.
- Public Safety Power Shutoffs: no program found at BGE, Pepco, Delmarva or Potomac Edison.
Backup power in Maryland
Maryland’s grid did well in 2024: 118 outage minutes per customer, among the lowest totals of the 50 states and D.C., and fewer than one interruption per customer in the year. Major events added only about 43 minutes. For many Maryland homes, then, backup is about the occasional bad storm rather than a yearly ordeal.
That changes the math. A whole-house standby generator is hard to justify on outage numbers alone unless someone in the home depends on powered medical equipment, you work from home, or you have a basement that floods without a sump pump. For most households a lighter plan fits:
- A portable power station for phones, Wi-Fi, lights, a CPAP and the fridge through a few hours. Size it with the battery backup calculator.
- A home battery with solar if you’re adding solar anyway; it doubles as backup and may matter more for savings after 2027 (see below).
- A generator if your home is exposed to hurricanes and tropical storms (FEMA rates that risk relatively moderate statewide) or to winter storms on long rural lines. Size it with the generator sizing tool.
If you use a generator, follow CPSC: outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors, windows and vents, never in a garage, and battery-backed CO alarms on every level. Townhouse and rowhouse owners should take special care, because neighbors’ windows are close. A transfer switch or interlock must be installed by a licensed electrician.
Solar in Maryland
Maryland gets moderate sun, about 1,180 kWh per kW of panels a year by our rough estimate for Baltimore, and pays above-average prices. With full retail net metering, each kW of panels could offset roughly $250 a year at the July 2026 rate. That’s a labelled estimate; shade from mature trees, which is common in older neighborhoods, can cut it a lot.
The date that matters is July 1, 2027. Until then, net metering credits exports at the full retail rate. Under the Utility RELIEF Act, the PSC will set a successor program with lower compensation from that date, covering up to 6 GW. The details aren’t set yet, so ask any installer what happens to a system that’s interconnected after the cutoff, and whether your system would keep current terms. Get the answer in writing.
Confirmed state help, from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) and the Comptroller:
- Maryland Solar Access Program (FY27): a rebate for income-eligible households; the portal opened July 29, 2026 and runs until May 31, 2027 or until funds run out. See the MEA program page.
- Property tax exemption: residential solar equipment is excluded from property assessment.
- Sales tax exemption: solar energy equipment is exempt from Maryland’s 6% sales tax.
Check each program page before you count on it; amounts and rules change. The federal residential solar credit ended for systems completed after December 31, 2025.
Plug-in solar is legal in Maryland since May 12, 2026: one portable system per meter, residential only, up to 1,200 W and certified by UL or an equivalent lab. You must notify your electric company before you install, and plug-in systems don’t get net metering. It suits renters and townhouse owners who can’t put panels on the roof. Read where plug-in solar is legal, plus our solar guide, solar costs, net metering explained and the solar potential calculator.
Home batteries in Maryland
Maryland has lots of solar, 108,428 net-metered home systems (about 899 MW) in EIA’s 2024 count, but only 534 had a battery. Under full retail net metering, a battery adds little to savings. That may change: if the successor program after July 2027 pays less for exports, storing your own solar for the evening becomes more valuable.
Maryland ran a Residential Energy Storage Grant in fiscal 2026 (30% up to $5,000), but that round closed June 5, 2026, and a new round wasn’t confirmed when we checked. Watch the MEA storage grant page. The older storage income tax credit ended after 2024. Compare options in home batteries and battery costs.
EV charging in Maryland
Maryland had 120,500 battery-electric vehicles through 2025 plus 41,500 plug-in hybrids, and 5,600 public ports, 1,556 of them DC fast. That’s about 22 EVs per public port, so public charging is busy; a home charger is the convenient choice for most owners with a driveway or garage.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Maryland: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Using about 30 kWh per 100 miles (a typical fueleconomy.gov-style figure), home charging costs roughly $6.42 per 100 miles at the July 2026 rate, about $64 for 1,000 miles. That’s an estimate; your car and your utility’s rate plan change it. The state’s Residential EVSE Rebate covers 50% of the cost of a residential Level 2 charger, up to $700, with about $1.5 million budgeted for FY27 and a May 31, 2027 deadline. See the MEA EVSE rebate page. The federal charger credit ended for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026. Run the numbers with the EV charging cost calculator and see EV charging at home.
Off-grid, small wind and micro-hydro
Few Maryland homes are off the grid; for a remote cabin, solar with batteries and a generator is the practical setup. Small wind is “fair, very site-dependent”: NASA’s coarse average is about 5.9 m/s at 50 meters but about 4.0 m/s at 10 meters, just under the 4.5 m/s the U.S. Department of Energy’s small wind guidebook suggests for grid-tied turbines. An open, elevated rural site with a tall tower might work; suburban lots generally won’t. We haven’t checked a state source on micro-hydro. See off-grid power, wind energy and hydroelectric power.
Licensing and permits in Maryland
Electricians are licensed by the Maryland State Board of Electricians (Maryland Department of Labor); check a license with the state license search. Home improvement contractors also need a Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license, and some counties issue their own electrical licenses. Permits come from your county or city, and grid-tied solar and batteries need your utility’s interconnection approval. For plug-in solar, the notice to your utility comes before installation.
Local guides in Maryland
Utilities, rates, outage records, permit offices and local programs for each area:
Where we cover in Maryland
- Baltimore: Baltimore, Towson, Columbia, Ellicott City, Annapolis
- Washington suburbs: Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Bowie
- Frederick: Frederick
- Southern Maryland: Waldorf
- Eastern Shore: Salisbury
Local pages will follow as we verify local information and installers for each area.
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Maryland energy FAQ
Is Maryland ending net metering?
Full retail net metering continues until July 1, 2027. The Utility RELIEF Act, signed May 12, 2026, directs the Public Service Commission to set a successor program with lower compensation starting that day. The details aren’t final, so if you’re weighing solar, ask installers how timing affects your terms and get it in writing.
Is plug-in solar legal in Maryland?
Yes, since May 12, 2026. You may install one portable solar system per electric meter at a home, up to 1,200 W and certified by UL or an equivalent lab. You must notify your electric company before installation. Plug-in systems don’t receive net metering, so size them to what your home uses during the day.
Is there a Maryland rebate for home EV chargers?
Yes. The Maryland Energy Administration’s Residential EVSE Rebate covers 50% of the cost of a residential Level 2 charger, up to $700, for FY27, with a deadline of May 31, 2027 or until the roughly $1.5 million budget runs out. Check the MEA page for current terms before you buy.
Do I need a generator in Maryland?
Many homes don’t. Maryland customers averaged 118 outage minutes in 2024, one of the lower totals in the country. A portable power station or a battery covers most short outages. A generator makes more sense for medical needs, flood-prone basements, rural lines, or homes exposed to hurricanes and tropical storms.
What solar incentives does Maryland offer in 2026?
Confirmed: the Maryland Solar Access Program rebate for income-eligible households (FY27, until May 31, 2027 or funds run out), a property tax exemption for residential solar equipment, and an exemption from the 6% sales tax on solar equipment. The federal residential credit ended for systems completed after December 31, 2025. Check each program page first.
Sources
Electricity prices: EIA Electric Power Monthly Tables 5.6.A and 5.6.B, July 2026 (preliminary). Outages, utilities and solar counts: EIA-861, 2024. Sun and wind: NASA POWER climatology, 2001–2020; small wind threshold from the U.S. Department of Energy. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. EVs and charging: Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), registrations through 2025 and station counts read October 3, 2026. Net metering and plug-in solar: Maryland HB 1532 (Utility RELIEF Act, 2026) and the Maryland Public Service Commission. Incentives: Maryland Energy Administration and Comptroller of Maryland. Licensing: Maryland Department of Labor. Checked October 2026.