Montgomery County solar permits: who files, which office, what Pepco needs

Montgomery County solar permits come in two parts, a building permit and an electrical permit. Homeowners can’t apply themselves, and the contractor who does must hold a valid Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license. Rockville and some other cities run their own permit offices. Pepco serves most of the county. The county’s solar tax credit is suspended.^1,2,3,4,5

Who files for a solar permit in Montgomery County?

Your contractor does. Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services (DPS) requires a building permit for the panels and an electrical permit for the connection to the home. Homeowners may not apply in their own name, and the contractor must hold a valid MHIC license. Rooftop solar applications go in electronically.¹

The county issues the electrical permit after the related building permit. DPS says adequately prepared applications are usually issued within 5 to 7 days. Properties with a well and septic system face extra requirements.¹

DPS also runs eSolar, a faster route for rooftop systems on the main structure of a house. It relies on SolarAPP+, an automated permit review service. An eSolar building permit issues electronically as soon as the fee is paid online, but you still need the separate electrical permit.²

The fee schedules are public. For July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, DPS lists $261.18 for rooftop solar panels on the residential building schedule.⁶ The electrical schedule shows a $111.94 minimum for one- and two-family homes, on top of equipment fees, with no solar-specific line.⁶ DPS calls both schedules estimates and sets the final fee when it issues the permit.⁶

Check any installer you’re considering on the state’s MHIC license lookup.⁷ The eSolar route also requires approved third-party training, so ask each contractor which route it uses and why.²

Which office covers your address?

Not every Montgomery County address uses the county’s permit office. Rockville runs its own SolarAPP+ pilot and a separate standard route, and DPS tells contractors to confirm an address isn’t in a municipality, and to check historic status, before using eSolar.^2,3

Rockville’s automated route is open to projects that aren’t under historic property alteration review and aren’t in a Special Flood Hazard Area. The city calls it a pilot. Standard applications still go through its online portal, MGO Connect, on standard review times.³

Code editions differ by office. The county’s residential PV guideline, updated December 9, 2025, is written around 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) Article 690.¹⁰ Rockville’s automated review checks the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2023 NEC, with local amendments.³ Gaithersburg’s SolarAPP+ page names the 2021 code and the 2020 NEC.⁸ That’s three offices and three NEC editions. Have your installer name the edition on your plan set and confirm it with the office that issues your permit.

State law is pushing every county and city toward automated permits. Chapter 353 of 2026 (House Bill 1532) says each county and municipality shall implement solar permitting software on or before August 1, 2027. A county or city that doesn’t require a residential solar permit is exempt, and the Energy Administration must delay or suspend the requirement if state or federal funds fall short.¹¹

Two more rules come with it. A county or municipality must complete an inspection of a software-permitted project within an average of 5 business days after a properly completed request. And beginning August 1, 2027, it may not set a permitting fee above $500 for permits issued by the software for residential rooftop systems, not counting a third-party payment-processing charge.¹¹ The enrolled bill prints the size limit for that cap two ways, under 20 kilowatts (kW) of inverter AC capacity in one section and under 30 kW in another, so ask your permit office which applies to your system.¹¹

What does Pepco do between application and switch-on?

Pepco serves most of Montgomery County; Potomac Edison and BGE serve smaller parts, so check your bill.⁴ Your contractor files an interconnection application with the utility before installation. After the county inspection, the system can’t run until the utility issues permission to operate (PTO).¹²

On Pepco’s side, the contractor files through an online portal, completes a second part after installation, and waits for a final review. Pepco then emails PTO to the customer and contractor.¹² Its Level 1 form, still dated December 2018 on Pepco’s Maryland forms page, covers inverter-based systems of 20 kW or less.^13,14,15 Pepco’s tariff, effective May 1, 2026, sets no application fee for a Level 1 system. Its Rider MCAM-S, though, charges each residential interconnection a $231 fee plus a $6.86 administrative charge per application.¹⁶ Pepco’s Maryland forms page says the invoice goes to the contractor or customer, and MCAM fees are additional.¹⁵ Ask who will receive and pay that invoice, and whether the contract price includes the charges.

Maryland’s rules put the clocks below on the utility. Each starts at a different event: receipt of the request, the completeness notice, or acceptable documents.

1. 1County permit (standard route)Usually 5 to 7 days
2. 2County inspection requestAt least 24 hours ahead
3. 3Completeness answer on the interconnection request5 business days
4. 4Safe-connection check15 business days after it calls the file complete
5. 5Permission to operate20 business days after acceptable documents
6. 6Meter disconnect and reconnect, if needed5 business days after a properly completed request

Each clock starts at its own trigger. They are not added together.

The rule makes PTO subject to four conditions: local electric code officials have approved the work, a certificate of completion is back with the utility, the witness test is done or waived, and the interconnection agreement is signed. The rule says the utility shall approve the request and send the PTO notice unless it determines and demonstrates that the system can’t be connected safely or reliably.¹⁸ The meter-work deadline took effect July 1, 2026, and it doesn’t apply to municipal electric utilities.¹¹

Two caveats on the rule itself. The Public Service Commission (PSC) proposed amendments to this chapter of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) in the Maryland Register on September 18, 2026. They keep the 20-business-day clock and add a temporary PTO. The notice said the permanent rules would replace emergency regulations set to expire on October 10, 2026.¹⁹ That date has passed. The Register’s table of pending proposals, current through its October 16 issue, still lists the permanent rules as not adopted and shows no new emergency notice for this chapter.²⁰ The PSC’s RM 94 docket lists a notice of a final rulemaking session dated October 5, 2026, comments filed through October 19, and no final order.²¹ If a letter from Pepco cites a deadline, ask which version of COMAR 20.50.09 it applies.

A typical home job runs in this order.

1. The installer reviews the roof, the electrical panel and your bill, then prepares the plan set.
2. The installer applies for the building permit (eSolar or standard) and the electrical permit.^1,2
3. The installer files the utility interconnection application before installation starts.¹²
4. The crew builds the system under the permits.
5. The installer gives the DPS inspector photos and a completed installation certification at the final inspection.¹⁷
6. The certificate of completion goes to the utility, and the witness test is done or waived.¹⁸
7. The utility issues PTO. Only then does the system run.¹⁸

For the utility side in more depth, see Pepco solar interconnection and permission to operate, and for the whole project, the solar installation process in Maryland.

Does Montgomery County still offer a solar tax credit?

Not for a new application. Montgomery County’s Department of Finance says the property tax credit for solar and geothermal energy devices was suspended effective November 8, 2011, and that no credits will be granted for any application received after November 8, 2012.⁵

Maryland law separately says solar energy property is not subject to real property tax, with exceptions in section 8-240 on how some solar heating and cooling systems are assessed, and that the sales and use tax does not apply to a sale of solar energy equipment.^22,23 On the federal side, section 25D of the tax code says its residential clean energy credit does not apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2025. The IRS says an expenditure counts as made when the original installation is completed.²⁴

Some websites still list a county credit with a dollar cap. The county’s own finance page still prints the old credit terms, but a suspension notice sits above them, and the county’s application form repeats it.⁵ Don’t count on a county credit.

State programs still exist, with strict rules.

• Maryland Solar Access Program (MSAP). The fiscal year 2027 rebate pays $750 per kilowatt of direct-current (DC) system size, up to $7,500, to income-eligible households.²⁵ The income cap starts at $136,785 for a one-person household.²⁵ MEA’s budget tracker showed 22.58 percent of the $10 million anticipated budget requested and 12.78 percent reserved on October 19, 2026, so more than three-quarters of the budget had not yet been requested.²⁵
• A contractor from the list. MSAP requires a household to contract with a participating contractor from MEA’s list, which MEA finalized on September 30, 2026. MEA must approve the reservation before installation, and applications run until 3:00 PM Eastern on May 31, 2027, unless the portal closes sooner. Ask any installer whether it is on the program’s contractor list.²⁵ More detail is in the Maryland Solar Access Program guide.
• Battery rebate (RCES). The Residential and Commercial Energy Storage rebate also needs an approved reservation before installation, with the same May 31, 2027 deadline.²⁶ See Maryland battery rebate (RCES).

Net metering: will it still be open when your system is ready?

Maybe not. Maryland law offers the standard net metering contract first come, first served until the earlier of 3,000 megawatts of capacity or July 1, 2027.²⁷ Which step you must finish by then, whether application, permission to operate or signed agreement, is still being settled in PSC regulations.^28,29

Net metering credits the power your system sends to the grid against the power you use. The PSC’s June 2026 proposed regulations offered three versions of the cutoff step.²⁸

For a Pepco customer, the difference matters. Under version 1, a filed application is enough. Under version 2 as drafted, a system still waiting on PTO on July 1, 2027 would not meet the step. The PSC’s RM 56 docket shows comments filed from October 1 to October 13, 2026 on this rulemaking, and no final rule on the cutoff step appears in it.³⁰

Other dates are coming. A working group the PSC convened is scheduled to file a draft successor-program report and framework by October 27, 2026 (the PC 78 docket will show whether it did). The PSC must submit its report to the Governor and General Assembly by December 15, 2026, and must approve a successor framework by February 1, 2027, to start July 1, 2027.^31,32 The statute states the General Assembly’s intent to move to a program that provides incentives that are less than those of the existing program.³¹

The statewide capacity limit is a second limit to watch. A state fiscal note on the bill says the PSC expects the current limit to be reached within approximately two years.³³

If you’re already in the existing program on July 1, 2027, the statute says you remain eligible until the earliest of four events: the system is decommissioned; it’s modified to increase net power flow injection by adding more panels than it had when first placed in service, or to increase its AC output capacity; it enters a new interconnection agreement; or it is repowered. The law defines repowered as having more than 80 percent of the panels’ DC nameplate capacity replaced, and carves out routine repair and maintenance, roof replacement, and repairs after storm or other casualty damage.³⁴ So check with your utility before you add panels or capacity later. If you plan to add battery storage, ask your utility whether it would require a new interconnection agreement. For the full picture, see what replaces Maryland net metering and the Maryland net metering deadline.

What if your home is historic or in an HOA?

Historic sites and districts need a Historic Area Work Permit (HAWP) for rooftop solar, and eSolar excludes them.^9,2 A homeowners association can also restrict a rooftop system, but Maryland law limits how far its rules can go, as long as you own the roof or have exclusive use of it.³⁵

Maryland’s solar access statute (Real Property section 2-119) says a restriction on use may not impose unreasonable limitations on a rooftop system.³⁵ It treats a restriction as unreasonable if applying it to a particular proposal raises the installation cost by at least 5 percent over the projected cost of the initially proposed installation, or cuts the system’s output by at least 10 percent below the projected generation of that installation.³⁵ The statute doesn’t apply to a restriction on historic property listed in, or eligible for, the Maryland Register of Historic Properties.³⁵

The county’s Historic Preservation Commission issued solar policy guidance (number 20-01) in summer 2021. It says solar installations on historic sites and in historic districts need a HAWP and are judged case by case. It prefers locations that hide the panels: secondary roof sides, accessory buildings and ground mounts.⁹ Confirm the current guidance with the Commission before you design around it.

The association gets proof, though. The statute says the owner must provide documentation satisfactory to the community association showing the restriction is unreasonable, prepared by an independent solar panel design specialist who meets the statute’s qualifications.³⁵

Illustrative example: a rooftop system near Silver Spring

A modeled rooftop system of 18 panels, 7.38 kW of DC capacity, near Silver Spring makes about 10,169 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in year one. This is an illustrative estimate, not a quote and not a Soleil Energy project. Shading, roof direction, equipment and weather change the real number, and only a site review sizes a real roof.

Your own bill, roof and price change every number here. A real price moves with system size, roof condition, whether the main panel and service need work (eSolar’s limits start at 400 amps of main service²), whether you add a battery, and permit and utility fees. Soleil Energy doesn’t publish prices, and a quote follows a site review.

Questions to put to every installer

Get these answers in writing and compare each against what the county, the city or the utility publishes. Vague answers are a reason to keep looking.

For more on vetting a contractor, see how to check a solar contractor’s license in Maryland and solar scams and red flags.

Next step: have your address and roof reviewed

Soleil Energy serves Montgomery County, including Silver Spring, Rockville, Bethesda and Gaithersburg. See which counties we serve or read how Soleil’s residential solar process works. The assessment is free and carries no obligation. If your household may qualify for MSAP, ask any installer whether it is on the program’s contractor list. Book a free consultation or call (301) 953-4140.

Solar savings and incentive eligibility depend on your roof, your usage, your utility, and your tax situation. Incentive programs change and some have limited funding. We are not tax advisors — we will review your bill with you and tell you what you may qualify for. Confirm any tax credit with a qualified tax professional.

Program rules decide who qualifies. Ask any installer whether it is on the program’s contractor list.

Sources (42)

1. Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, “Residential Solar Permit Process,” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-permitting-services/all-permits/residential-permits/residential-solar-permit-process ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸

2. Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, “eSolar Residential Rooftop Solar Panels,” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-permitting-services/all-permits/residential-permits/esolar-residential-rooftop-solar-panels ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴

3. City of Rockville, “Apply for an Automated Residential Solar Permit,” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://www.rockvillemd.gov/services/apply-for-an-automated-residential-solar-permit/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

4. Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, “Your Local Electricity Companies,” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://opc.maryland.gov/Consumer-Learning/Electricity/Your-Local-Electricity-Companies ↩ ↩²

5. Montgomery County Department of Finance, “Property Tax Credit and Exemption Information,” current page (undated), and the Division of Treasury’s Renewable Energy Tax Credit application form (file posted in the county’s April 2026 upload folder), both read October 25, 2026. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-finance/taxes/county-taxes-tax-information/property-tax-credit-exemption-information and https://assets.montgomerycountymd.gov/files/2026-04/Renewable_Energy_Tax_Credit_Application.pdf ↩ ↩² ↩³

6. Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, “Residential Building Fees” and “Electrical and Mechanical Fees,” schedules effective July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027; current pages read October 25, 2026. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-permitting-services/fees/residential-building-fees and https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-permitting-services/fees/electrical-mechanical-fees ↩ ↩² ↩³

7. Maryland Department of Labor, MHIC license lookup, current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://labor.maryland.gov/license/mhic/ ↩

8. City of Gaithersburg, “Solar Permits,” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026; it describes an optional SolarAPP+ route for standard residential rooftop solar and storage, names the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2020 National Electrical Code, and says standard applications still go through the city’s online permitting portal. https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/services/permitting-inspections/residential-permits/solar-permits ↩ ↩² ↩³

9. Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission, “Policy Guidance #20-01: Solar Technology,” issued summer 2021; PDF read October 25, 2026. https://montgomeryplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Solar-Panel-Interactive.pdf ↩ ↩² ↩³

10. Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, “Permit Guidelines for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems 2017 NEC Article 690,” PDF marked “Updated 12/09/2025,” read October 25, 2026. https://assets.montgomerycountymd.gov/files/2026-04/ResidentialPermitGuidelinesPhotovoltaicSystems.pdf ↩ ↩²

11. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Acts of 2026 (House Bill 1532), approved by the Governor May 12, 2026: Local Government Article section 1-1320(c) through (f) (permitting software, inspection average, fee limit, exceptions, meter work). Section 22 of the Act sets July 1, 2026 as the effective date of the Section 4 provisions; PDF read October 25, 2026. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

12. Pepco, “Interconnection Application Process,” current page (undated; it loads its content with JavaScript), read October 25, 2026. https://www.pepco.com/SmartEnergy/MyGreenPowerConnection/Pages/HowtoApply.aspx ↩ ↩² ↩³

13. Pepco, “Maryland Level 1 Interconnection Application/Agreement,” form dated December 2018, PDF read October 25, 2026. https://azure-na-assets.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltbb7c204688a1a6a8/blt6b4916e3e90affe1/691e7c467d45f8cd359c6c0b/Pepco_MD_Level_1_-_Interconnection_Application-Agreement_blank_2018Dec.pdf ↩

14. Code of Maryland Regulations 20.50.09.08, “Determination of Interconnection Jurisdiction and Level of Utility Review of Interconnection Request,” Library of Maryland Regulations, current text read October 25, 2026. https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/20.50.09.08 ↩

15. Pepco, “Maryland Applications and Forms,” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://www.pepco.com/smart-energy/my-green-power-connection/developers-contractors/applying-for-interconnection/maryland-applications-and-forms ↩ ↩² ↩³

16. Pepco, Maryland Electric Tariff, Rider MCAM-S (pages 64 to 64.2) and Small Generator Interconnection Standard (page 65), issued and effective May 1, 2026; PDF read October 25, 2026. https://www.pepco.com/cdn/assets/v3/assets/bltbb7c204688a1a6a8/blte8a580e4cc79e2c4/6abad89015d5b7d18eb100f3/9232_AND_9761_Pepco_MD_CURRENT_CLEAN_Admin_Ch_.pdf?branch=prod_alias ↩ ↩²

17. Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, “Permit Guidelines for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems,” item 12 (inspections), PDF marked “Updated 12/09/2025”; and the DPS residential solar permit process page (24-hour inspection request rule), current page, both read October 25, 2026. https://assets.montgomerycountymd.gov/files/2026-04/ResidentialPermitGuidelinesPhotovoltaicSystems.pdf and https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/department-permitting-services/all-permits/residential-permits/residential-solar-permit-process ↩ ↩²

18. Code of Maryland Regulations 20.50.09.09, “Level 1 Review,” Library of Maryland Regulations, current text read October 25, 2026. https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/20.50.09.09 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

19. Maryland Register, Volume 53, Issue 19, September 18, 2026, Notice of Proposed Action 26-143-P (proposed amendments to COMAR 20.50.09, including Regulation .09C); page read October 25, 2026. https://dsd.maryland.gov/mdrissues/5319/assembled.aspx ↩

20. Maryland Register, Volume 53, Issue 21, October 16, 2026, Table of Pending Proposals; page read October 25, 2026. https://dsd.maryland.gov/mdrissues/5321/assembled.aspx ↩

21. Maryland Public Service Commission, RM 94 docket index (Revisions to COMAR 20.50.09; entries through October 19, 2026, including the Notice of Final Rulemaking Session dated October 5, 2026), read October 25, 2026. https://webpscxb.pscmaryland.com/DMS/rm/rm94 ↩

22. Maryland Tax-Property Article sections 7-242 and 8-240, current online text read October 25, 2026. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gtp&section=7-242&enactments=false and https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gtp&section=8-240&enactments=false ↩

23. Maryland Tax-General Article 11-230, current online text read October 25, 2026. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gtg&section=11-230&enactments=false ↩

24. 26 U.S.C. section 25D(h), as amended by Public Law 119-21 section 70506(a), Cornell Legal Information Institute, current text read October 25, 2026, https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/25D; and Internal Revenue Service, FS-2025-05, “FAQs for modification of sections 25C, 25D, 25E, 30C, 30D, 45L, 45W, and 179D under Public Law 119-21,” August 21, 2025 (question 7, when an expenditure is treated as made); page read October 25, 2026. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/faqs-for-modification-of-sections-25c-25d-25e-30c-30d-45l-45w-and-179d-under-public-law-119-21-139-stat-72-july-4-2025-commonly-known-as-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-obbb ↩

25. Maryland Energy Administration, “Maryland Solar Access Program,” current page (budget table “Last Update to Total Budget Reserved: October 19, 2026”; contractor list “Final Update: September 30, 2026”), read October 25, 2026; and the FY27 MSAP Funding Opportunity Announcement, issued July 29, 2026 (rebate amount, cap and income limits), PDF read October 25, 2026. https://energy.maryland.gov/residential/Pages/incentives/Maryland-Solar-Access-Program.aspx and https://energy.maryland.gov/residential/SiteAssets/Pages/incentives/Maryland-Solar-Access-Program/FY27%20MSAP%20Funding%20Opportunity%20Announcement%20-%20Issued%207.29.26%20v2.pdf ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

26. Maryland Energy Administration, “Residential and Commercial Energy Storage Program,” current page (undated), read October 25, 2026. https://energy.maryland.gov/Pages/Energy-Storage-Grant-Program.aspx ↩

27. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Acts of 2026 (House Bill 1532), Public Utilities Article section 7-306(d)(1), as amended (standard net metering contract or tariff available first come, first served until the earlier of 3,000 megawatts or July 1, 2027), approved May 12, 2026; PDF read October 25, 2026. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf ↩ ↩²

28. Maryland Public Service Commission, Proposed Regulations RM 56, COMAR 20.50.10.01, posted June 2026 (a proposal, not a final rule); PDF read October 25, 2026. https://psc.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Proposed-Regulations-RM-56.pdf ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

29. Maryland Public Service Commission, Notice of Opportunity to Comment and Rulemaking Session, RM 56, June 25, 2026; read October 25, 2026. https://psc.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Notice_CommentOpp-RM-Session-RM56.pdf ↩

30. Maryland Public Service Commission, RM 56 docket index (latest entries are comments dated October 1 to October 13, 2026), read October 25, 2026. https://webpscxb.pscmaryland.com/DMS/rm/rm56 ↩

31. Maryland Public Service Commission, Notice convening PC 78, May 14, 2026 (working group draft report and framework due October 27, 2026); and Chapter 353, Acts of 2026, Public Utilities Article section 7-306.4(b) and (c) (statement of intent; framework approved on or before February 1, 2027 to begin July 1, 2027); both read October 25, 2026. https://psc.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Notice_Convening-a-PC-PC-78.pdf and https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf ↩ ↩²

32. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Acts of 2026 (House Bill 1532), Section 9(c) (report due on or before December 15, 2026) and Public Utilities Article section 7-306.4(c) (successor framework by February 1, 2027); PDF read October 25, 2026. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf ↩

33. Maryland Department of Legislative Services, Fiscal and Policy Note, HB 1532 (2026), page 75, Enrolled - Revised, May 21, 2026 (summarizing the PSC’s November 2025 net metering report); PDF read October 25, 2026. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/fnotes/bil_0002/hb1532.pdf ↩

34. Maryland General Assembly, Chapter 353, Acts of 2026 (House Bill 1532), Public Utilities Article section 7-306(a) (definition of “repowered”) and (d)(5) (customer-generators under a net energy metering contract or tariff on July 1, 2027), approved May 12, 2026; PDF read October 25, 2026. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/chapters_noln/Ch_353_hb1532E.pdf ↩

35. Maryland Real Property Article 2-119, current online text read October 25, 2026. https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp&section=2-119&enactments=false ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

36. National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL), PVWatts v8.5.0 run for Silver Spring, MD (38.9907, -77.0261), run October 16, 2026. https://pvwatts.nlr.gov/ ↩ ↩²

37. U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B, Maryland residential average price, year to date. The calculation used the figure through July 2026 (21.3 cents per kilowatt-hour), read October 16, 2026; the release of October 23, 2026 shows 21.31 through August 2026 (page read October 25, 2026). https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_b ↩ ↩²

38. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, “Documenting 15 Years of Reductions in U.S. Solar PV System Costs,” TP-7A40-92536, January 2025; PDF read October 24, 2026. https://docs.nlr.gov/docs/fy25osti/92536.pdf ↩ ↩²

39. Jordan and Kurtz, NREL/JA-5200-51664, June 2012; PDF read October 24, 2026. https://docs.nlr.gov/docs/fy12osti/51664.pdf ↩ ↩²

40. Jordan et al., “Photovoltaic fleet degradation insights,” Progress in Photovoltaics 30(10), 2022; PDF read October 24, 2026. https://docs.nlr.gov/docs/fy22osti/81314.pdf ↩ ↩²

41. National Laboratory of the Rockies, Annual Technology Baseline 2024, residential PV; current page read October 24, 2026. https://atb.nlr.gov/electricity/2024/residential_pv ↩ ↩²

42. Illustrative calculation, run October 16, 2026 (output saved with this article as calc-output.txt), with the inputs sourced at ³⁷, ³⁸, ³⁶, ³⁹, ⁴⁰ and ⁴¹. ↩