Pepco solar interconnection and permission to operate

Pepco solar interconnection is the utility review that lets a system connect to its grid. Permission to operate (PTO) is Pepco’s final approval to switch it on. Maryland’s Level 1 rule gives Pepco 20 business days from acceptable documents to issue PTO, subject to four conditions and a safety exception. Panels on the roof aren’t permission.^1,2

The details below cover Maryland applications only. Pepco’s District of Columbia paperwork and timelines come from a different jurisdiction.

How does the Maryland application work?

Your solar contractor files the application online. Have your latest Pepco bill, the equipment specification sheet, a single-line electrical drawing and a site plan on hand before that happens. Pepco reviews the application before construction, and it does a final review after the system is built and inspected.³

Pepco’s application page lays out the sequence this way:³

1. The contractor opens the application in Pepco’s online interconnection portal, where every project and its progress show up.
2. The contractor submits the forms. That means the interconnection form and agreement, the supporting technical documents and the signatures.
3. Pepco invoices the fees that apply. The system calculates them and sends the invoice to the contractor.
4. Pepco reviews. You and the contractor can follow progress on a dashboard.
5. The contractor installs the system. Permits and inspections run on their own track, set by your county or municipality.¹
6. The contractor completes Application Part 2, the completion step.
7. Pepco does a final review and emails PTO to you and the contractor.

Your address decides which office issues the building and electrical permits. Soleil Energy has guides for two of them, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. For the whole project from contract to switch-on, see how the solar installation process works in Maryland.

What does Pepco charge?

Pepco charges no Level 1 application fee, but a separate cost-sharing rider, Rider MCAM-S (Maryland Cost Allocation Method, Secondary), adds $231 per residential interconnection plus $6.86 per application.⁴ The tariff says the interconnection customer pays both. Pepco’s Maryland forms page says the invoice goes to the contractor or customer, so ask who will pay it and whether your contract price includes it.⁵

Pepco’s Maryland tariff, issued May 1, 2026, lists the Level 1 application fee as “No charge.”⁴ Its forms page adds that the system works out any fee from the jurisdiction, system size and application level, that the invoice goes to “the contractor or customer,” and that MCAM fees come on top.⁵

The tariff recalculates both MCAM-S figures each program year, so check the amounts on your invoice. The tariff doesn’t say who ends up paying when a contractor receives the bill. Get the answer in your contract, and ask whether the two charges are in your price or listed apart.⁴

What does permission to operate cover?

PTO is the utility’s authorization to run an interconnected system. Pepco’s Maryland brochure, a 2019 document, ties it to two things: confirmation that your net meter was installed or reprogrammed, and the PTO email itself.¹ A passed local inspection is necessary, but it covers neither of those.

The inspector and Pepco do different jobs. The inspector approves the electrical work within the local authority’s jurisdiction. Pepco confirms the utility connection. Its Level 1 form, dated December 2018 and still the one posted on Pepco’s Maryland forms page, keeps the inspection signature separate from the utility’s final acceptance.^6,5

The rule adds its own conditions. For a Level 1 system, Pepco’s duty to issue PTO applies once local or municipal electric code officials have approved the system, a certificate of completion has been returned, the witness test is done or waived, and the interconnection agreement is signed.²

A mistake worth avoiding: flipping the system on the day the inspector signs off. Pepco’s brochure says not to operate the system without approval from Pepco and your municipality.¹ Wait for the PTO email, then have your contractor walk you through activation.

How long does Pepco have to approve a Level 1 system?

For inverter-based systems of 20 kilowatts or less, Maryland’s small-generator rules give Pepco 10 business days to set the review level, 5 business days to call the application complete or list what’s missing, and 15 more to confirm a safe connection.^7,2 PTO follows within 20 business days of acceptable documents.²

Level 1 is the fast track. The regulation tells the utility to use the Level 1 procedure for an inverter-based small generator facility with a nameplate capacity of 20 kilowatts or less, which covers a typical rooftop home system.⁷

1. 1Pepco sets the review level10 business days
2. 2Pepco says the application is complete, or lists what's missing5 business days after receiving the request
3. 3Pepco verifies the system can connect safely and reliably15 business days after it calls the application complete
4. 4Pepco approves and issues PTO20 business days after acceptable documents, subject to the four conditions, unless Pepco demonstrates it can't connect safely or reliably
5. 5You sign the interconnection agreement30 calendar days after receiving it, or the request is treated as withdrawn unless you ask for more time

Side paths have their own clocks. Pepco can choose to witness the commissioning test. You give at least 5 business days’ notice, and if Pepco wants to attend it must schedule within 10 business days of the test date. Miss that window and the witness test is treated as waived, unless both sides agree to extend.⁸ If Pepco finds the results unacceptable, you get 30 calendar days to fix the problems, with more time available on request.⁸

A minor system modification works differently. If Pepco says your connection needs one, you have 10 business days to say whether you’re continuing. Pepco then has 30 calendar days to send an agreement with a non-binding cost estimate and schedule, and you have 30 calendar days to sign.² A failed Level 1 review ends in a letter explaining Pepco’s reasons, and you can reapply under Level 2, 3 or 4.²

Is the interconnection rule changing?

The Level 1 text above is what the Library of Maryland Regulations showed on October 25, 2026. A proposal to amend the chapter hasn’t been adopted as of that date, and it leaves those Level 1 clocks alone. It adds new pieces around them instead.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) published the proposal in the Maryland Register on September 18, 2026 (notice 26-143-P). It would add a temporary PTO that carries a sunset date, create an Interconnection Ombudsman to mediate informal disputes, and replace emergency regulations the notice said would expire on October 10, 2026, or sooner if permanent ones were adopted. Comments ran through October 19, and no hearing was scheduled.⁹ The October 16 issue of the Register, which covers documents filed through September 28, still lists the chapter among proposals, and its table states that none of the listed proposals has been adopted.¹⁰ The October 2 and October 16 issues carry no notice adopting the chapter.^10,11

So the table shows the Level 1 text as currently published. The emergency version’s scheduled expiry of October 10 has passed, and the published record doesn’t say which wording Pepco applies to a given file. If a Pepco letter cites a deadline, ask which version of COMAR 20.50.09 it rests on, and check the next Maryland Register issues for a final-action notice.

Why does a file stall, and how do you move it?

Every clock above starts only when Pepco has acceptable documents. An incomplete file, an unsigned agreement or a missing inspection record can stall a project before any deadline begins to run. A system that fails the Level 1 review, or needs a minor modification, moves onto longer paths with their own steps.²

Utility engineering can also hold things up. Pepco’s December 2018 Level 1 agreement warns that a connection can raise voltage across the line transformer and service line, and it puts the cost of fixing high voltage for neighbors on the newest generator.⁶ A finished roof doesn’t settle that question. If Pepco names a grid constraint, get the specific issue and the proposed fix in writing.

Take a hypothetical homeowner with a passed inspection certificate and a contractor’s note that the completion documents went in. Pepco hasn’t replied, and nobody has confirmed meter work. The homeowner asks the contractor for the upload receipt, then asks Pepco whether it accepted the documents and whether meter work remains. Those two answers show which clock, if any, has started.

Use this table to find your next move:

When you write to Pepco, keep it short. Give the application reference, your service account, the contractor’s contact and the last milestone you can document, and attach the approval or upload receipt. Then ask three things: whether Pepco accepted your final documents, which item is missing and who must supply it if not, and what the meter-work status and applicable deadline are. Keep every reply, and keep account details out of public posts.

If you and Pepco can’t settle a dispute, Maryland’s rule lets either side seek resolution through the PSC under COMAR 20.32.01, and technical disputes go to the PSC’s Engineering Division. Any deadline directly affected by the issue in dispute is suspended until it’s resolved, and pursuing the dispute doesn’t change your queue position.¹²

PTO is not a credit or an incentive

PTO answers one question: is the system authorized to run on Pepco’s grid? Billing credits and incentives are separate checks. Pepco’s Maryland form asks whether the facility is eligible for net metering, so keep the PTO email and find out from Pepco which billing arrangement applies to your account.⁶

A signed contract, installed panels or a PTO email doesn’t prove eligibility for any incentive. Each program has its own administrator and its own requirements. Standard net metering, for one, closes to new customers by July 1, 2027, or sooner if the statewide cap is reached.¹³ For net-metering rules and what replaces them, see Maryland net metering after the deadline and Maryland solar incentives.

Which dates and receipts should you keep?

Keep a receipt for each point where a clock can start: the filing, Pepco’s completeness response and the inspection certificate. Without them, you can’t tell which deadline applies. For other project questions, see Soleil Energy’s frequently asked questions. If you already have a system and need service information, see monitoring and maintenance.

Planning a Maryland home solar project? Bring your bill and your utility questions to a consultation. 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.

Sources (13)

1. Pepco, “Connecting Solar Energy Systems” (Maryland brochure), copyright 2019; PDF read October 25, 2026. https://azure-na-assets.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltbb7c204688a1a6a8/bltf4dfd05ea464b5fe/64e85682b5c7fa000d42aa35/Pepco_Interconnection_Brochure_MD_FINAL-HiRes.pdf ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

2. 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 ↩⁷

3. 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

4. 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 ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

5. 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 ↩⁴

6. Pepco, “Maryland Level 1 Interconnection Application/Agreement,” form dated December 2018 (final electrical inspection, final acceptance, net-metering eligibility question, voltage note); 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 ↩ ↩² ↩³

7. 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 ↩ ↩²

8. Code of Maryland Regulations 20.50.09.06L, “Witness Test of Small Generator Facility,” Library of Maryland Regulations, current text read October 25, 2026. https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/20.50.09.06 ↩ ↩²

9. Maryland Register, Volume 53, Issue 19, September 18, 2026, Notice of Proposed Action 26-143-P (proposed amendments to COMAR 20.50.09, including Regulations .09 and .13; comments accepted through October 19, 2026); page read October 25, 2026. https://dsd.maryland.gov/mdrissues/5319/assembled.aspx ↩

10. Maryland Register, Volume 53, Issue 21, October 16, 2026, Table of Pending Proposals (lists COMAR 20.50.09 as proposed at 53:19 Md. R. 953; states none of the listed proposals has been adopted); page read October 25, 2026. https://dsd.maryland.gov/mdrissues/5321/assembled.aspx ↩ ↩²

11. Maryland Register, Volume 53, Issue 20, October 2, 2026, Table of Pending Proposals and full issue text searched for COMAR 20.50.09 (only the pending-proposal entry appears; no adoption notice); page read October 25, 2026. https://dsd.maryland.gov/mdrissues/5320/assembled.aspx ↩

12. Code of Maryland Regulations 20.50.09.13, “Dispute Resolution,” Library of Maryland Regulations, current text read October 25, 2026. https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/20.50.09.13 ↩

13. Maryland General Assembly, Utility RELIEF Act, HB 1532 (enrolled; approved by the Governor May 12, 2026 as Chapter 353), Public Utilities Article 7-306(d)(1), https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb1532E.pdf ; read October 25, 2026. ↩