Maryland Plug-In Solar Law (HB 1532): Limits, Utility Notice and the Disconnect Switch

Maryland legalized plug-in solar in the same spring as Virginia and Colorado, as part of a broader utility bill-relief package. The Maryland Public Service Commission has a dedicated “balcony solar” page with links to each utility’s process, which is the best place to start once you have chosen a kit.

What the law allows

Residential customers can use a plug-in solar device with a maximum output of 1,200 W, certified by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory. Very small devices, up to 391 W, are treated more lightly: according to the PSC, they are exempt from the product-listing provisions. We would still choose a certified product.

The notification step

This is the main difference from states like New Jersey or Connecticut. Before you plug in, you notify your electric utility and give it a certification describing the device’s safety features and maximum generating capacity. The utility cannot demand approval or charge fees for a standard installation. Each utility, including BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power and Potomac Edison, publishes its own form; the PSC page links to them.

What to have ready:

• Your account number and service address.
• Kit make, model and maximum AC output.
• Certification details (for example UL 3700 or a UL 1741 listing for the inverter).
• A description of the anti-islanding feature.

The disconnect switch

The PSC notes that customers must pay for an automatic locking disconnect switch if their device requires one. For most small, certified plug-in kits with built-in anti-islanding this should not apply, but read your utility’s instructions carefully. If a switch is needed, the cost of an electrician can change the payback calculation noticeably.

Effective date

HB 1532 was signed on May 12, 2026. The Department of Legislative Services fiscal note gives July 1, 2026 as the bill’s general effective date. Confirm current procedures on the PSC page before you install.

Renters in Maryland

The law does not give tenants a specific right to install, so your lease applies. Many Maryland apartment complexes have rules about balcony items; a no-drill, lightweight kit and a polite written request are your best tools. See our landlord guide.

Expected savings

Our PVGIS runs for Baltimore give about 1,370 kWh per kW of panels per year for a tilted system. An 800 W kit mounted vertically on a south-facing balcony produces about 740 kWh without shade. At residential prices around 22 cents per kWh (EIA, mid-2026) and 75% self-consumption, that is about $120 a year; a tilted ground setup might reach about $180. Use the calculator for your exact numbers.

Our PVGIS runs with NSRDB satellite data (2005-2015 average), 14% system losses, no shade. Savings assume 75% of the output is used at home at the state’s June 2026 average residential price (EIA): about 21.8 cents per kWh. Method and all 30 cities: plug-in solar in 30 US cities.

Checklist

1. Pick a certified kit of 1,200 W or less (a 391 W kit is the simplest).
2. Find your utility’s notification form on the PSC balcony solar page.
3. Submit it before connecting and keep the confirmation.
4. Plug into a GFCI-protected outlet, without extension cords.

A worked example for Baltimore

A 391 W kit, vertical on a south-facing balcony in Baltimore: our Baltimore figure for 800 W on a south railing (about 740 kWh) scaled to 391 W gives roughly 360 kWh a year. Almost all of it is used at home because the kit is small. At 22 cents per kWh, that is roughly $80 a year, so a $450 kit pays back in about five to six years, with minimal paperwork.

Frequently asked questions

General information, not legal advice. Check the Maryland PSC balcony solar page and your utility’s current instructions.

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