Plug-in solar
Balcony Solar in Maryland: HB 1532 Rules, 1,200 W and Utility Notice
Balcony solar is legal in Maryland under HB 1532: one certified system per meter, up to 1,200 W, with notice to your utility before you plug in.
Key facts
- Maryland's plug-in solar rules are in HB 1532, the Utility RELIEF Act (Chapter 353), signed by Governor Wes Moore on May 12, 2026.
- One portable solar system per electric meter, residential use only, supplying at most 1,200 W and certified by UL or an equivalent laboratory.
- You must notify your electric company before installing and give it a certification of the system's safety features and maximum output.
- Utilities may not require approval or charge a fee; if an automatic locking disconnect switch is needed, the customer pays for it.
- Maryland's average residential rate was 21.40 cents per kWh in August 2026, according to the EIA.
Balcony solar, also called plug-in solar, is legal in Maryland. House Bill 1532, the Utility RELIEF Act signed on May 12, 2026, allows one certified portable solar system per electric meter, for residential use, with up to 1,200 W of output. You must notify your electric company before installing and give it a certification of the system’s safety features, but it may not require approval or charge a fee.
Is balcony solar legal in Maryland?
Yes. The plug-in rules sit in a new section, § 7-321 of the Public Utilities Article, inside a much larger energy affordability bill, the Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act. The General Assembly lists it as Chapter 353, approved by the governor on May 12, 2026.
Chapter 353 is an emergency bill, most of which took effect on signing, but it lists several sections that take effect on July 1, 2026, and § 7-321 falls in one of those. Potomac Edison’s customer notice gives the same effective date, as does the Bright Saver tracker. Earlier press coverage that mentioned October 1 predates the final text. The law is in force as of November 2026.
Maryland was one of the first states to act after Utah. For the full list, see plug-in solar laws by state.
What Maryland’s law says
| Rule | What § 7-321 says |
|---|---|
| Device | A movable photovoltaic device connected through a standard electrical outlet |
| Purpose | Primarily to offset part of the building’s electricity consumption |
| Maximum output | 1,200 W back to the building’s electric system |
| Certification | Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory |
| Number | One system per electric meter, residential use only |
| Utility approval | Not required; no fee for the system’s ability to feed electricity back |
| Notification | Required before installation, with a certification of safety features and maximum capacity |
| Disconnect switch | If one is required, the customer pays for its installation |
| 391 W tier | Exempt from listing provisions that would require changes to wiring or panels |
| Net metering and credits | Not covered by net metering; no renewable energy credits of any type |
| Utility liability | The electric company is not liable for damage caused by the system |
An earlier version of the bill capped the device at 391 W, according to Bright Saver; the final text raised the cap to 1,200 W and kept 391 W as the threshold for the wiring exemption. Our explainer on the 1,200 W limit covers why so many states use the same two numbers.
How to notify your utility
Notification is mandatory in Maryland, and it comes before you plug in. The law asks for two things: notice to the electric company serving your address, and a certification of the system’s safety features and maximum generating capacity. In practice, that means the testing laboratory certificate and the inverter’s datasheet.
The Public Service Commission’s balcony solar page lists how each utility takes notices as of November 2026:
| Utility | How to notify, per the PSC |
|---|---|
| BGE | Customer Call Center, 1-800-685-0123 |
| Pepco | Balcony Solar page on pepco.com |
| Delmarva Power | Balcony Solar page on delmarva.com |
| Potomac Edison | Notification form under “Important Notices” on FirstEnergy’s Maryland page |
| SMECO | Email or self-registration page |
| Choptank Electric | Solar interconnection application or email |
| Municipal utilities | Forms or contacts for Easton, Hagerstown, Berlin, Thurmont and Williamsport |
Keep a copy of what you send and any confirmation. Our guide on telling your utility about plug-in solar has a checklist.
Your meter and exported electricity
Maryland’s law excludes portable systems from net metering, so surplus electricity earns no credit. The Public Service Commission adds a warning worth taking seriously: depending on your meter, exported power may be treated as zero consumption, or it may be erroneously added to your consumption. Ask your utility how your meter records reverse flow before you install, and check your first bills.
If your meter does count exports as consumption, a kit that exports a lot at midday would cost you money. Sizing the system to your daytime use avoids most of the problem.
Disconnect switches and electricians
The law lets a customer be required to install an automatic locking disconnect switch, and says the customer pays for it. The PSC repeats that point. It does not say when a utility may require one, so ask in your notification whether your utility expects a switch for your system.
For the system itself, no electrician is needed if it plugs into an existing outlet. A system of 391 W or less is also exempt from listing provisions that would require changes to the building’s premises, wiring or panels. Above 391 W, use a dedicated outlet where you can, never an extension cord, and do not share the circuit with a space heater or another heavy load. The PSC warns that an overloaded circuit can cause fire and shock if the breaker does not trip.
Renters, condos and HOAs
Section 7-321 says nothing about landlords, condominium associations or homeowners associations. Unlike Virginia, Maryland gives tenants no right to install a device, and unlike Colorado, it does not stop an association from banning one. Your lease and your community’s rules decide. Get written permission that describes the mounting, the weight and how the cable reaches the outlet. Our guides for renters and for HOA rules cover the conversation.
Certification: what to ask for
The law requires certification by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory, without naming a standard. UL 3700 is the outline written for interactive plug-in photovoltaic systems; UL Solutions opened its certification program in January 2026. Ask the seller for the certificate of the complete system and the laboratory’s file number. An inverter listed to UL 1741 inside an unlisted kit is weaker evidence, and a European CE mark does not count. Our inverter guide explains the listings.
What balcony solar can save in Maryland
Maryland’s average residential rate was 21.40 cents per kWh in August 2026, according to the EIA, which makes the state’s economics better than the national average. Production estimates come from the PVWatts model (National Laboratory of the Rockies, formerly NREL) for Baltimore, panels facing due south. They assume you use every kilowatt-hour yourself.
| System size (panels) | Tilted 30°, kWh/year | Vertical railing, kWh/year | Value at 21.40 ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 W | about 570 | about 370 | $80 to $120 |
| 800 W | about 1,140 | about 740 | $160 to $245 |
| 1,200 W | about 1,700 | about 1,110 | $240 to $365 |
Our cost and savings guide shows how to estimate the share you will actually use.
How to install balcony solar in Maryland
- Choose one system of no more than 1,200 W of output, certified by UL or an equivalent laboratory, for your residential meter.
- Get permission from your landlord or check your HOA or condo rules, which the law does not override.
- Notify your electric company before installing, using the method the PSC lists for it, and send the certification of safety features and maximum output.
- Ask whether your meter records exported electricity correctly and whether a disconnect switch is required.
- Mount the panels securely; see our mounting bracket guide.
- Plug into one outlet with no extension cord or power strip, and watch your first two bills.
Common mistakes
- Plugging in before notifying. Maryland requires notice before installation, not after.
- A second kit on the same meter. The law allows one system per meter.
- Ignoring the meter question. The PSC’s warning about exports being added to consumption is specific to Maryland’s guidance; check it.
- Assuming the law covers your condo. It does not address associations at all.
Next steps
Frequently asked questions
Is balcony solar legal in Maryland?
Yes. HB 1532, signed on May 12, 2026, allows one certified portable solar system of up to 1,200 W per electric meter for residential use. You must notify your utility before installing, but it may not require approval or charge a fee.
When did Maryland's balcony solar law take effect?
On July 1, 2026. Chapter 353 is an emergency act that took effect on signing, except for listed sections, including the one that adds the plug-in solar rules, which took effect on July 1, 2026. Potomac Edison's customer notice and the Bright Saver tracker give the same date.
How do I notify BGE about balcony solar?
The Maryland Public Service Commission lists BGE's Customer Call Center at 1-800-685-0123 for questions and for giving notice. Pepco and Delmarva have balcony solar pages on their websites, Potomac Edison has a notification form, and SMECO offers email and self-registration.
Do I need an electrician for balcony solar in Maryland?
Not for a certified system that plugs into an existing outlet. Systems of 391 W or less are additionally exempt from listing provisions that would require changes to the building's wiring or panels. A dedicated circuit or a disconnect switch would involve an electrician or the utility.
Can I get net metering for a balcony solar system in Maryland?
No. The law exempts portable systems from Maryland's net metering sections and bars them from earning renewable energy credits. Exported electricity is not credited, and the PSC warns that some meters may even add it to your consumption, so ask your utility how your meter treats it.
Can I install two balcony solar kits in Maryland?
Not under the law. It allows one portable solar energy generating system per electric meter, and the 1,200 W cap applies to that system. A second kit on the same meter would fall outside the exemption.
Sources
- Chapter 353 (HB 1532), Utility RELIEF Act, 2026 Laws of Maryland, Public Utilities § 7-321
- HB 1532, 2026 Regular Session: bill status and governor action
- Balcony Solar
- Potomac Edison Maryland customer notices: notification of portable solar generators (effective July 1, 2026)
- Is plug-in solar legal in Maryland?
- Plug-in solar legislation tracker
- Bills containing plug-in solar provisions pass in Maryland and Colorado
- Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers by state
- PVWatts Calculator
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or electrical advice. Your utility, state and local code have the final say.