Do I need utility permission in Maryland?

It depends on your state's rules and your utility. The safe path in Maryland is to use a UL-listed (UL 3700) microinverter and check your utility's interconnection policy (major utilities here include Pepco, BGE) before you install; see the status for Maryland above for specifics.

Is Plug-In Solar Legal in Maryland?

Legal — signed Avg rate ~17¢/kWh

Last verified: August 1, 2026 · source data

Quick answer: Plug-in / balcony solar is legal in Maryland under HB 1532, signed on May 12, 2026. Systems up to 1,200W of power output back to the building's electric system are allowed without utility approval, interconnection paperwork, or fees, provided the equipment is certified by an accredited testing laboratory (UL or equivalent), effective May 12, 2026. Average residential rate is around 17¢/kWh.

Maryland law names the certification. Md. Public Utilities §7-321(A)(4) requires equipment certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory — and most plug-in kits sold today do not state one. What counts, what does not, and what each popular product actually declares →

Legal — but will it actually pay off in Maryland? Run your numbers →

📬 One email if Maryland’s rules change — plus the free 50-state cheat sheet now.

What Maryland law requires of the equipment

Maryland is one of eight states that write certification into the statute. This section is about what satisfies it, not about what we can earn from.

Md. Public Utilities §7-321(A)(4) — “CERTIFIED BY UNDERWRITERS LABORATORY OR AN EQUIVALENT NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TESTING LABORATORY” in force since 12 May 2026

What meets it today

Hoymiles HiFlow Pro — certified to UL 3700 and UL 1741. $152.78 from NAZ Solar Electric. Pre-order — Expected arrival at our warehouse is early September. (manufacturer page for the certification; seller product page for price and availability, read 4 August 2026.)
APsystems EZ1 Microinverter — certified to UL 3700. $325 from APsystems USA direct. We have not checked stock or lead time. (product page, read 2 August 2026.)

What does not

AUECOOR 600W Complete Grid-Tie Kit — its listing says “Certification: CE”: no NRTL listing stated.
Y&H 600W Grid-Tie Microinverter — its listing says “The inverter is not UL1741 certified.”: the seller states it does not have it.

What that means in practice. This applies today. Until the Hoymiles unit reaches its US warehouse in early September, the choice in Maryland is narrow: the APsystems EZ1 at $325, sold direct by the manufacturer, and the Hoymiles unit, which can be ordered but not yet delivered. We have not checked APsystems’ stock or lead time, so confirm that before you rely on it. We would rather say all of that than point you at something cheaper that does not meet your own state’s wording.

We earn nothing from either of these. Neither manufacturer runs a programme that pays publishers, so there are no tracking links here. What UL listing means, which eight states require it, and what eight popular products actually declare. Prices and availability read 4 August 2026.

Two systems, one job. For plug-in solar that feeds your home and lowers the bill, the head-to-head worth reading is EcoFlow Stream vs Anker SOLIX — two balcony systems doing that same job.

A different job: a portable power station is backup power for an outage. It is not a substitute for a grid-tie kit and it does not lower your bill. If that is what you are after: Anker C1000 vs EcoFlow DELTA 3 · C1000 vs C2000 · Anker vs EcoFlow at brand level

Thinking about installing? See our best plug-in solar kits for 2026 and estimate your yearly savings.

Maryland now has a plug-in solar law. HB 1532, the Utility RELIEF Act, signed by Gov. Wes Moore on May 12, 2026, took effect immediately under an emergency clause. It allows plug-in systems up to 1,200W, permits one portable solar system per residential meter, for residential use only; the system is not eligible toward the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and may not generate renewable energy credits of any type, and requires UL certification or an equivalent safety standard. Residential power mostly comes from BGE and Pepco; before buying, confirm their interconnection or notification steps, stay within the wattage rules, and choose a UL-listed kit.

Before you buy in Maryland

Call your electric utility and ask: (1) do they allow small plug-in / behind-the-meter grid-tied solar, and (2) is any notification or interconnection form required? Stay within the wattage they specify, use a UL-listed microinverter, and keep written confirmation.

Then estimate your numbers with our savings calculator (pre-loaded with Maryland's rate).

Ready to start? If you want backup power for outages rather than a grid-tied kit, see our power stations guide →

Nearby states: Virginia · West Virginia · Pennsylvania · Delaware · see the full 50-state tracker.

Status last reviewed 2026-08-01. Plug-in solar law is evolving quickly — verify current Maryland rules and your utility's policy directly. Informational, not legal advice.