Eastern Shore, MD Energy Guide: Solar, Batteries, Backup, EV

In short: On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, homes on Delmarva Power paid about 20.22¢ per kWh in 2024, the highest of the state’s big utilities, but had short outages, about 79 minutes. Choptank Electric Cooperative members paid less, about 16.46¢, and lost about 144 minutes. High prices and strong sun make the solar math here the strongest in Maryland.

This page covers Salisbury and the rest of the Shore. Statewide rules (net metering until July 1, 2027 and its successor, the plug-in solar law, state rebates for solar and EV chargers, contractor licensing) are on our Maryland energy guide.

Eastern Shore at a glance

• Delmarva Power (parts of every Eastern Shore county, including Wicomico): 20.22¢/kWh average for homes on Delmarva supply in 2024; outages 79 minutes per customer with major events, 56 without; about 0.7 interruptions a year (EIA-861).
• Choptank Electric Cooperative (member-owned; also in every Shore county): 16.46¢/kWh; 144 minutes with major events, 120 without; about 1.3 interruptions a year.
• Easton Utilities (town-owned, Talbot County): 13.06¢/kWh; about 10 outage minutes per customer. The Town of Berlin (Worcester County) also runs its own utility (EIA).
• Sun: about 4.20 kWh per square meter per day at Salisbury (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,230 kWh a year per kW of panels.
• Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index): Wicomico County’s overall risk is “Relatively Low”, with hurricanes its top hazard (“Relatively Moderate”). Coastal flooding is “Relatively High” in Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester counties.
• Public charging: 94 ports at 21 locations in Salisbury (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). Delmarva’s own posted flat rate from October 1, 2026 is $0.20 per kWh.

Your utility and what it means

Delmarva and Choptank lines run side by side across the Shore, so neighbors can be on different utilities. Check your bill. Delmarva customers may buy supply from a licensed retail supplier; about 8% did in 2024 (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.

• Delmarva Time-of-Use: from October 1, 2026 Delmarva lists two time-of-use options against a flat $0.20 per kWh. R-TOU-P charges $0.35 on-peak and $0.15 off-peak in summer ($0.35 and $0.16 in winter); R-TOU-ND has a smaller spread. Peak is 2 to 7 p.m. on summer weekdays and 6 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. on winter weekdays; weekends and holidays are off-peak. Customers with a retail supplier can join (Delmarva Time-of-Use).
• Delmarva solar credits: Delmarva posts a Maryland Excess Generation Accrual Election Form, under the state’s Net Metering Flexibility Act, to choose how extra solar credits carry over (Delmarva solar page).
• Choptank and Easton Utilities: both have net-metered home solar customers (EIA), under the state rules on our state page. Choptank’s program pages did not load when we checked, so ask Choptank directly about interconnection and any EV offers.

Backup power on the Eastern Shore

Day-to-day outages are short on Delmarva (about 1.3 hours a year) and longer on Choptank’s lines (about 2.4 hours). The Shore’s real risk is water: hurricanes top Wicomico’s FEMA list, and low-lying Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester rate “Relatively High” for coastal flooding. Wicomico County applies floodplain rules to building in flood hazard areas, which matters for where a generator or battery goes.

• In Salisbury and town: a portable power station or a home battery covers the typical outage.
• Rural and waterfront homes: for well pumps and multi-day storms, a standby generator on propane or natural gas, mounted above expected flood levels, is worth pricing.
• 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; see our backup power guide and generator installation.

Solar on the Eastern Shore

A rough estimate: a 7 kW system at about 1,230 kWh per kW makes roughly 8,590 kWh a year. At Delmarva’s 2024 average of 20.22¢ that is worth about $1,740 a year; on Choptank about $1,410 and on Easton Utilities about $1,120. Full retail net metering runs until July 1, 2027, and the successor program after that pays less (see our state page).

Try the solar potential calculator, then read solar panel cost and solar installation.

Batteries

With retail net metering a battery saves little today; it is mostly storm backup, which on the Shore means hurricanes and nor’easters. On Delmarva’s time-of-use rate, a battery could also carry the house through the 2 to 7 p.m. summer peak, when power costs $0.35 per kWh. See home battery installation and home battery cost.

EV charging

A labelled estimate at 30 kWh per 100 miles: about $6.07 per 100 miles at Delmarva’s 2024 average (roughly $730 a year for 12,000 miles) and $4.94 on Choptank. Charging off-peak on Delmarva’s R-TOU-P rate, at $0.15 to $0.16 per kWh, works out to about $4.50 to $4.80 per 100 miles. Salisbury has 94 public ports.

Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Salisbury: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.

A Level 2 charger needs an electrical permit and a licensed electrician. The state charger rebate is on our Maryland page. See EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.

Permits and inspections

• Electrical permits (Wicomico County and its towns): Wicomico County’s Permits and Inspections office issues electrical permits for all electrical work in the county and its municipalities, Salisbury included, to licensed electricians, or to homeowners doing their own work in their own residence. The county has its own Board of Electrical Examiners.
• Building permits in Salisbury: the City’s Department of Infrastructure and Development, Room 202 of the Government Office Building, 125 N. Division St.; call ahead for an appointment (Salisbury building permits).
• Other Shore counties: permits come from your county, or your town where it runs its own office; ask about floodplain rules if you are near the water.
• Who does the work: an MHIC-licensed contractor, a licensed electrician (lookups on our state page), a licensed gas fitter for generator gas or propane lines, and HOA approval where needed.

Cities we cover

• Salisbury

Get help

Tell us about your project and we will connect you with a licensed, independent installer who serves the Eastern Shore area. It is free, there is no obligation, and only the installer you choose gets your details. See how it works.

Eastern Shore energy FAQ

Am I on Delmarva Power or Choptank?

Both serve every Eastern Shore county, including Wicomico, so it depends on your street; your bill says which. In 2024 Delmarva homes paid about 20.22¢ per kWh and Choptank members about 16.46¢ (EIA). Easton and Berlin have town-owned utilities.

Is solar worth more on the Eastern Shore?

On Delmarva, yes: strong sun and the highest 2024 prices of Maryland’s big utilities give our rough estimate of about $1,740 a year for a 7 kW system. On Choptank it is about $1,410. Full retail net metering runs until July 1, 2027.

Does Delmarva have a cheaper overnight rate?

Delmarva’s R-TOU-P time-of-use rate lists $0.15 to $0.16 per kWh off-peak from October 1, 2026, against a flat $0.20, with weekends off-peak. Peak hours cost $0.35, so it suits homes that can charge an EV overnight and shift other use.

Can I pull my own electrical permit in Salisbury?

Wicomico County issues electrical permits to licensed electricians and to homeowners working on their own residence. For a charger, transfer switch or solar tie-in, a licensed electrician is the safer choice.

Sources

Utility areas, prices, supply shopping, outages and home solar counts: EIA-861, 2024 data. Delmarva Maryland Time-of-Use and solar pages. Supplier choice: Maryland Public Service Commission and MD Energy Choice. Permits: Wicomico County Permits and Inspections (archived 2026) and City of Salisbury. 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.