Home solar in Maryland: prices, net metering, what is left in 2026
What Maryland homeowners pay for solar in 2026, how the state's export rules work, and which incentives survived - verified against state sources, town by town.
Installed home solar in Maryland compares against the U.S. marketplace average of about $2.58 a watt - roughly $30,960 for 12 kW.
The 30% federal solar credit ended December 31, 2025 - Maryland installations completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
A home battery in Maryland runs about $12,000-$16,000 installed, before any state storage incentive.
Beware of any 2026 payback estimate that looks as good as the 2025 ones: with the federal credit gone, a third of the old subsidy math vanished. If a sales projection has not gotten noticeably worse since 2025, it is hiding something - usually an inflated utility-rate escalation assumption.
Maryland rules that decide your payback
| Rule | Maryland status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | Full retail net energy metering: systems up to 2 MW are eligible and the program stays open until statewide net-metered capacity reaches 3,000 MW; monthly excess means the customer "is billed only customer charges for that month," and accrued net excess generation is cashed out within 30 days after the billing cycle ending before the end of April each year at the generation/commodity portion of the rate averaged over the prior 12 months (Md. Code, Pub. Util. § 7-306). |
| State incentive | Maryland Solar Access Program (Maryland Energy Administration) — an income-eligible upfront rebate for residential solar PV; the FY27 round opened July 29, 2026 with applications due May 31, 2027 and up to $10 million available from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund. Maryland SRECs, earned under the state RPS solar carve-out, remain saleable by the homeowner. |
| Sales tax on the system | Exempt |
| Property tax on added home value | Excluded |
The old flat $1,000 Residential Clean Energy Rebate is no longer available for solar PV — MEA's current incentives page lists only the income-capped Maryland Solar Access Program for residential solar, so a household above the income limits (e.g. roughly $195,375 for a family of four in FY27) now gets no upfront state cash, only SRECs. Net metering also runs against a hard 3,000 MW statewide cap.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
What installed solar costs in 2026
| System size | Installed price (marketplace avg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,480 | Small roof / low usage |
| 8 kW | $20,640 | Typical starter system |
| 10 kW | $25,800 | Family home with AC |
| 12 kW | $30,960 | Large home / EV charging |
| Home battery (optional) | $12,000-$16,000 | Backup power + self-consumption |
Compare solar quotes for Maryland
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
The 30% federal tax credit is gone for 2026 installations
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (30%) was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025. Per the IRS, the credit is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025 - and the IRS counts the installation completion date, not the contract date.
Common questions
How much does home solar cost in 2026?
The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed - roughly $15,500 for a 6 kW system and $31,000 for 12 kW, before any state incentives. Quotes meaningfully above that level deserve a written explanation of what justifies the premium.
Should I lease, get a PPA, or buy?
Buying keeps all savings and any incentives with you. Leases and PPAs put a company's equipment on your roof for 20-25 years, complicate a home sale, and in 2026 any tax benefits they advertise belong to the company under commercial rules - not to you. Read escalator clauses carefully.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
No. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit was repealed effective for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, per the IRS. Only systems finished by the end of 2025 qualified. State-level incentives are separate and some survive - check the state page in this guide.
What happens if my installer goes out of business?
Panel and inverter warranties come from the manufacturers and survive, but the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. That is a real risk in the post-credit shakeout - prefer installers with years of local history, and get manufacturer-backed workmanship coverage where offered.
How do I check if a solar quote is fair?
Divide the total price by the system's wattage. The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed; $2.30-3.00 covers most fair quotes depending on roof complexity. Above that, ask exactly what you are paying extra for - in writing.
Is solar still worth it without the federal credit?
It depends mostly on your state's export rules and your daytime usage. Paybacks lengthened by roughly a third when the credit ended, but rising electricity rates and record-cheap hardware keep the math workable in states with decent export compensation - and marginal where exports pay avoided cost only.
Compare solar quotes for Maryland
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
Prices by city
Aberdeen · Accident · Annapolis · Baltimore · Barclay · Barnesville · Barton · Bel Air · Berlin · Berwyn Heights · Betterton · Bladensburg · Boonsboro · Bowie · Brentwood · Brookeville · Brookview · Brunswick · Burkittsville · Cambridge · Capitol Heights · Cecilton · Centreville · Charlestown · Chesapeake Beach · Chesapeake City · Chestertown · Cheverly · Chevy Chase · Chevy Chase Section Five · Chevy Chase Section Three · Chevy Chase View · Chevy Chase Village · Church Creek · Church Hill · Clear Spring · College Park · Colmar Manor · Cottage City · Crisfield · Cumberland · Deer Park · Delmar · Denton · District Heights · Eagle Harbor · East New Market · Easton · Edmonston · Eldorado · Elkton · Emmitsburg · Fairmount Heights · Federalsburg · Forest Heights · Frederick · Friendsville · Frostburg · Fruitland · Funkstown · Gaithersburg · Galena · Galestown · Garrett Park · Glen Echo · Glenarden · Goldsboro · Grantsville · Greenbelt · Greensboro · Hagerstown · Hampstead · Hancock · Havre de Grace · Hebron · Henderson · Highland Beach · Hillsboro · Hurlock · Hyattsville · Indian Head · Keedysville · Kensington · Kitzmiller · La Plata · Landover Hills · Laurel · Laytonsville · Leonardtown · Loch Lynn Heights · Lonaconing · Luke · Manchester · Mardela Springs · Martin's Additions · Marydel · Middletown · Midland · Millington · Morningside · Mount Airy · Mount Rainier · Mountain Lake Park · Myersville · New Carrollton · New Market · New Windsor · North Beach · North Brentwood · North Chevy Chase · North East · Oakland · Ocean City · Oxford · Perryville · Pittsville · Pocomoke City · Poolesville · Port Deposit · Port Tobacco Village · Preston · Princess Anne · Queen Anne · Queenstown · Ridgely · Rising Sun · Riverdale Park · Rock Hall · Rockville · Rosemont · Salisbury · Seat Pleasant · Secretary · Sharpsburg · Sharptown · Smithsburg · Snow Hill · Somerset · St. Michaels · Sudlersville · Sykesville · Takoma Park · Taneytown · Templeville · Thurmont · Trappe · Union Bridge · University Park · Upper Marlboro · Vienna · Walkersville · Washington Grove · Westernport · Westminster · Willards · Williamsport · Woodsboro