In short: Almost every home in the Baltimore area buys power from BGE. In 2024 BGE homes paid about 17.91¢ per kWh on BGE supply and lost about 133 minutes to outages, half of that on major storm days. Baltimore City’s FEMA risk rating is “Relatively High”, led by winter weather, and three counties offer solar property tax credits.
This page covers Baltimore, Towson, Columbia, Ellicott City and Annapolis. Statewide rules (net metering until July 1, 2027 and what replaces it, the plug-in solar law, state rebates for solar and EV chargers, contractor licensing) are on our Maryland energy guide.
Baltimore at a glance
- BGE (Baltimore Gas and Electric; all of Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County, Howard County, which it shares with Potomac Edison): 17.91¢/kWh average for homes on BGE supply in 2024; outages 133 minutes per customer with major events, 67 without.
- Potomac Edison (part of Howard County): 13.83¢/kWh; 168 minutes with major events, 159 without.
- Sun: about 4.04 kWh per square meter per day in Baltimore and 4.24 in Annapolis (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: 1,180 to 1,240 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index): Baltimore City’s overall risk is “Relatively High”, with winter weather “Very High” and heat waves, cold waves, strong wind, tornadoes, inland flooding and lightning “Relatively High”. Baltimore County: winter weather and lightning “Very High”. Anne Arundel and Howard: lightning, strong wind and winter weather “Relatively High”.
- Public charging: 788 ports in Baltimore, 265 in Columbia, 229 in Annapolis, 59 in Ellicott City and 37 in Towson, about 1,380 in all (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Prices are 2024 EIA-861 averages including delivery and fixed charges; the statewide price has since risen (21.41¢ in July 2026), so use them to compare.
Your utility and what it means
In the Baltimore area the utility question is simple: it is BGE, except in the part of Howard County served by Potomac Edison. What you can choose is your supply. In 2024 about 15.5% of BGE homes bought it from a retail supplier rather than BGE (EIA). You can also buy your electricity supply from a licensed retail supplier instead of your utility; compare offers on the Public Service Commission’s MD Energy Choice site, and check your utility’s “price to compare” first. The PSC notes that since 2024 reforms some suppliers have stopped offering residential plans, so you may see fewer offers.
- Solar credits: BGE net-metering customers choose how extra solar credits are paid. The default is an annual payout: each year BGE sends a check for credits built up before the end of your April billing cycle. Or you can let credits carry over indefinitely to cover future bills. After switching to carry-over you must wait 12 months to switch back, and the choice in effect on March 1 sets that year’s April payout (BGE payout options).
- EV Smart Charge Management: BGE pays bill credits of up to $120 a year if you let it schedule your car’s charging: $10 a month per enrolled car on a Level 2 charger, $5 on a Level 1 outlet, or $10 a month per enrolled Level 2 charger. Enrollment runs through WeaveGrid.
- EV Time-of-Use (Rider 6): only the car’s or smart charger’s usage moves to time-of-use supply prices (peak 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on summer weekdays, 7 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. on other weekdays). It requires BGE supply, not a retail supplier. BGE says combining both programs can save up to $240 a year; check its pages for current prices.
Backup power in Baltimore
A typical BGE customer lost a little over two hours of power in 2024, about half of it on major storm days: mostly short outages, with the occasional long one. FEMA rates winter weather “Very High” in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, and heat waves are “Relatively High” in both, so the risky outages come at the times a home most needs heat or cooling.
- Rowhouses, condos and apartments: a portable power station keeps phones, Wi-Fi, a CPAP and the fridge going; neighbors’ windows close by make a fuel generator a poor fit.
- Detached homes in Baltimore County, Howard and Anne Arundel: a home battery handles the typical short outage silently; a standby generator on natural gas suits homes that need a sump pump, well pump or medical equipment through a multi-day storm.
- Safety: portable generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors, windows and vents, never in a garage (CPSC); carbon monoxide alarms on every level; a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician under a permit.
Size it with the battery backup calculator or the generator sizing calculator, and read our backup power guide and generator installation guide.
Solar in Baltimore
A rough estimate: a 7 kW system at about 1,180 kWh per kW makes roughly 8,270 kWh a year in Baltimore, worth about $1,480 at BGE’s 2024 average price, and a little more around Annapolis, where the sun is stronger. That holds while full retail net metering lasts; for systems connected after July 1, 2027 the successor program pays less, as our state page explains.
Three counties add a property tax credit on top of the state exemptions, each with its own deadline:
- Howard County: 50% of eligible costs, up to $5,000 for a system that generates electricity; apply by June 30 before the tax year; unused credit carries over two more years. The Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits certifies the installation (Howard County application).
- Anne Arundel County: a one-time credit of up to $2,500 against county property tax on the building; the application, with paid receipts and the final inspection sticker, must arrive by June 1. Leased systems need a project cost statement from the installer (Anne Arundel tax credits).
- Baltimore County: its credit has been 50% of eligible cost up to $5,000, but a $1.5 million yearly budget created a waiting list of several years (county page as archived in 2025). Check the current wait first.
Mature street trees often shade older neighborhoods, so get a shade check. Try the solar potential calculator, then read solar panel cost and solar installation.
Batteries
Under full retail net metering a battery saves little; here it is mainly backup for the occasional long storm outage. That may change after July 2027 if the successor program pays less for exported solar. See home battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging
The Baltimore area has about 1,380 public ports, most of them in the city, Columbia and Annapolis. At home, a labelled estimate at 30 kWh per 100 miles and BGE’s 2024 average: about $5.37 per 100 miles, roughly $645 a year for 12,000 miles. BGE’s smart-charging credits and EV time-of-use rate can lower that, and the state’s charger rebate is on our Maryland page.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Baltimore: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
A Level 2 charger needs an electrical permit and a licensed electrician; rowhouse and condo owners should check parking and HOA or condo rules first. See EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.
Permits and inspections
- Baltimore City: the Department of Housing and Community Development issues building and electrical permits online through E-Permits (DHCD permits). The zoning code asks for an electrical line drawing with a solar application and limits roof panels to 42 inches above the roof, set 3 feet back from the front facade on flat roofs (Zoning Code §15-517).
- Baltimore County (Towson): county building and electrical permits; the county tax credit asks for the permit number of the electrical inspection.
- Howard County (Columbia, Ellicott City): the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.
- Anne Arundel County: the Department of Inspections and Permits, online through the Land Use Navigator (Inspections and Permits). In Annapolis, ask the City whether it handles your permit.
- Who does the work: an MHIC-licensed contractor, a licensed electrician (lookups on our state page), a licensed gas fitter for generator gas lines, and HOA approval first where you have one.
Cities we cover
- Baltimore
- Towson
- Columbia
- Ellicott City
- Annapolis
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Baltimore energy FAQ
Do I have to buy my electricity from BGE?
Delivery always comes from BGE, but you can buy supply from a licensed retail supplier; about 15.5% of BGE homes did in 2024 (EIA). Compare offers on MD Energy Choice against BGE’s price to compare. Note that BGE’s EV time-of-use rate requires BGE supply.
What happens to my extra solar credits with BGE?
By default BGE pays them out once a year by check, for credits built up before the end of your April billing cycle. You can instead carry them forward indefinitely. Once you choose carry-over, you must wait 12 months to switch back.
Is there a county tax credit for solar near Baltimore?
Howard County offers up to $5,000 and Anne Arundel County a one-time credit up to $2,500, each with a deadline before the tax year. Baltimore County’s credit (up to $5,000) has had a waiting list of several years. Baltimore City: none found. Check each county page first.
How often does BGE lose power?
In 2024 the average BGE customer had about 0.8 interruptions and 133 outage minutes, 67 of them outside major storm days (EIA). Winter storms and summer thunderstorms still cause occasional long outages.
Sources
Utility areas, prices, supply shopping, outages and home solar counts: EIA-861, 2024 data. BGE programs: BGE payout options, Smart Charge Management and EV Time-of-Use pages. Supplier choice: Maryland Public Service Commission and MD Energy Choice. Tax credits: Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County (archived 2025). Permits: Baltimore City DHCD and Zoning Code, Anne Arundel County. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Charging ports: AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026. Generator safety: CPSC. Checked October 3, 2026.