- Maryland residential power averages about 35.85 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), among the highest in the country, so the bill your solar offsets is a large one.
- Delmarva Power offers full 1-for-1 retail net metering in Maryland, with monthly credits that roll over and an annual true-up paid at the lower commodity rate (DSIRE Maryland net metering, as of 2026).
- Your system also earns one Maryland SREC per megawatt-hour, which traded around $40 to $45 in mid-2026 and which you can sell for income (Flett Exchange, as of June 2026).
- The old $1,000 state rebate has ended. Maryland’s current grant is the income-eligible Solar Access Program at $750 per kW up to $7,500 (Maryland Energy Administration, as of 2026).
- A 2027 change is coming: Maryland’s 2026 Utility RELIEF Act schedules today’s net-metering program to end by July 1, 2027, or sooner at a 3,000 MW statewide cap.
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025 (IRS), so most 2026 buyers cannot claim it.
If Delmarva Power is your electric utility on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, solar pays in two ways at once, and that is the part most guides blur because Delmarva also serves Delaware. This page is about the Maryland side. Maryland gives you full retail net metering on your Delmarva Power bill, and on top of that your system earns Solar Renewable Energy Certificates you can sell for extra income. This page explains how the credits and the SRECs work, the grant that replaced the old $1,000 rebate, a change to net metering coming in 2027, how you connect, and how to tell whether your roof is a good fit.
Delmarva Power in Maryland at a glance
Delmarva Power is the regulated electric utility for most of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and it is the interconnection authority for solar in that territory. Delmarva also serves Delaware, so make sure any advice you read is for the Maryland side, because the programs are different.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Service territory | Most of Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester counties (Maryland Office of People’s Counsel) |
| Rate context | Maryland residential power averages about 35.85 cents per kWh (EIA, March 2026), among the highest in the country |
| Net metering | Full retail 1-for-1 credit, monthly rollover, annual true-up at the lower commodity rate |
| SRECs | One Maryland SREC per MWh produced, sold separately for income |
| State grant | The income-eligible Maryland Solar Access Program, which replaced the old $1,000 rebate |
| Before you switch on | Delmarva Power must grant Permission to Operate (PTO) first |
How Delmarva Power credits your solar in Maryland
Net metering is the first of your two earnings, and Maryland keeps it at the full retail rate. When your panels make more than your home uses, the extra power flows to the grid and Delmarva Power credits it at the full retail rate, then rolls that credit forward to your next bill (DSIRE Maryland net metering, as of 2026). Your credits build through the sunny months and draw down in winter. For a plain-English primer on how export credits work in general, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
The wrinkle comes once a year. At the annual true-up, any credit you have not used is cashed out at the utility’s average commodity rate, which is the wholesale-style generation price and is well below the retail rate you pay (DSIRE Maryland net metering, as of 2026). The practical lesson is the usual one: size the system to your own yearly usage so most of your production offsets retail-priced power rather than being trued up cheaply.
Maryland’s current net-metering rules are scheduled to change in 2027. Under Maryland’s 2026 Utility RELIEF Act, the existing net-metering program is set to end on July 1, 2027, or sooner if the state hits a 3,000 megawatt cap (Maryland net metering background, as of 2026). A system you interconnect now is credited under today’s rules, but it is one more reason to ask your installer to model your specific payback rather than rely on a generic estimate.
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Maryland SRECs: your second stream of solar income
This is the part that sets Maryland apart from a plain net-metering state. On top of bill credits, your system earns one Solar Renewable Energy Certificate, or SREC, for every megawatt-hour it produces, and you can sell those certificates into Maryland’s market for cash (Flett Exchange Maryland SREC prices, as of June 2026). It is a separate income stream from the power savings, so a typical home earns several SRECs a year on top of a lower bill.
The price moves, so treat any SREC figure as a snapshot. In mid-2026 Maryland SRECs traded in roughly the $40 to $45 range per certificate, but the market floats and the value is capped by the state’s Solar Alternative Compliance Payment, which steps down over time from $55 in 2025 to about $45 in 2026 and toward $22.50 by 2030 (SRECTrade Maryland, as of June 2026). Because the trend is downward, the SREC income in a 2026 quote should be modeled conservatively, not stretched out at today’s price for 15 years. Your installer or an SREC aggregator usually handles the registration and sales for you.
Maryland incentives a Delmarva Power customer can stack
Beyond net metering and SRECs, Maryland adds a grant and two tax breaks. One correction worth making up front: the old $1,000 state solar rebate has ended, so do not count on it. For the statewide picture, see our Maryland solar incentives hub, and our guide to solar incentives for how these fit together.
| Incentive | What it gives you | The Maryland detail |
|---|---|---|
| Net metering | Full retail 1-for-1 credit, with an annual true-up at the lower commodity rate (DSIRE) | Scheduled to change after July 1, 2027 under the 2026 Utility RELIEF Act |
| Maryland SRECs | One certificate per MWh, sold for income (about $40 to $45 in mid-2026) (Flett Exchange) | Price floats and the cap steps down to about $22.50 by 2030, so model it conservatively |
| Maryland Solar Access Program | An income-eligible grant of $750 per kW, up to $7,500 (Maryland Energy Administration) | Replaced the old $1,000 rebate; first-come funding that can close mid-year, so confirm the window is open |
| Sales and use tax exemption | 100% exemption from Maryland’s 6% sales tax on solar equipment (DSIRE) | Applied at purchase; your installer normally handles it |
| Property tax exemption | The added home value from the system is exempt from property tax (DSIRE) | May require a filing with the state assessment office or your county, so confirm it locally |
The state grant is income-eligible and can close mid-year, so read the fine print. Maryland replaced its flat $1,000 rebate with the Maryland Solar Access Program, which pays $750 per kilowatt up to $7,500 but is limited to income-eligible households and runs on first-come funding that has sold out before the fiscal year ended (Maryland Energy Administration, as of 2026). Do not assume a state grant is in your numbers until you confirm you qualify and the application window is open. Maryland does not offer a separate state income tax credit for residential solar, so the value comes from net metering, SRECs, the exemptions, and the grant if you qualify.
How to connect solar to Delmarva Power in Maryland
Connecting a home system follows Maryland’s interconnection rules, administered by Delmarva Power, and the rule that matters most is that you cannot turn the system on until Delmarva Power grants Permission to Operate. The general path is:
- Interconnection and net-metering application. You or your installer file with Delmarva Power before installation, with the system design, inverter data, and the net-metering request.
- Utility review. Delmarva Power reviews the package. Standard residential systems generally move faster than large or grid-constrained projects.
- Approval to install. You receive approval to build, but not yet to operate. Do not energize the system until the next steps are done.
- Install and inspect. The system is installed by a licensed contractor and passes your local electrical inspection.
- Meter and Permission to Operate. Delmarva Power sets the bidirectional meter and issues Permission to Operate. Your system only starts banking credits and earning SRECs once it is approved to run.
A licensed installer normally manages this whole process, including the interconnection paperwork and registering your system to earn SRECs.
What changed federally, and what it means for the Eastern Shore
The federal homeowner credit is gone, but Maryland’s programs are not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a Delmarva Power customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). For the full timeline, see what the end of the federal solar tax credit means in 2026. What carries the math now is Maryland’s own stack: full retail net metering, the SREC income, the tax exemptions, and the Solar Access grant if you qualify, all set against some of the highest power rates in the country.
One federal exception remains, and it is not yours to claim. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, is claimed by the business that owns a leased or PPA system, not by the homeowner. On a leased system you do not file for a federal credit yourself; the company that owns the panels does. The 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025, so do not let a sales pitch tell a 2026 cash or loan buyer otherwise.
How to choose a solar installer in Delmarva Power territory
The Eastern Shore is a smaller solar market than the Baltimore or Washington suburbs, so vetting your installer matters. Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria:
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- A valid Maryland Home Improvement Commission license for the contractor.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Real experience with Delmarva Power interconnection and Permission to Operate, plus SREC registration so your certificates start earning promptly.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote that models SREC income conservatively and shows your bill after solar.
For comparison with the other side of Maryland, see how the credits work under BGE Maryland net metering in the Baltimore area. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
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Frequently asked questions
How does Delmarva Power net metering work in Maryland in 2026?
Delmarva Power credits the power your panels export to the grid at the full retail rate and rolls that credit forward month to month (DSIRE, as of 2026). At the annual true-up, any leftover credit is cashed out at the utility’s average commodity rate, which is below retail, so it pays to size the system to your own yearly use. You also keep paying the fixed monthly customer charge, so a solar bill is rarely zero. One thing to know: Maryland’s current net-metering program is scheduled to end July 1, 2027 under the 2026 Utility RELIEF Act, though a system you interconnect now is credited under today’s rules.
What are Maryland SRECs and how much are they worth?
A Solar Renewable Energy Certificate, or SREC, is created for every megawatt-hour your system produces, and you can sell it into Maryland’s market for income that is separate from your bill savings (Flett Exchange, as of June 2026). In mid-2026 Maryland SRECs traded around $40 to $45 each, but the price floats and is capped by the state’s Solar Alternative Compliance Payment, which steps down from $55 in 2025 toward $22.50 by 2030. Because the trend is downward, a good quote models SREC income conservatively rather than locking in today’s price for years. Your installer or an SREC aggregator usually handles registration and sales.
Is there still a $1,000 Maryland solar rebate?
No. Maryland ended the old $1,000 Residential Clean Energy Rebate and replaced it with the Maryland Solar Access Program (Maryland Energy Administration, as of 2026). The new program pays $750 per kilowatt up to $7,500, but it is limited to income-eligible households and runs on first-come funding that has closed before the fiscal year ended. So do not count a state grant in your numbers until you confirm you qualify and the application window is open. Net metering, SRECs, and the tax exemptions apply regardless of the grant.
What solar incentives does Maryland offer in 2026?
Net metering and SRECs are the two biggest, and they stack. On top of those, solar equipment is 100% exempt from Maryland’s 6% sales tax, and the added home value from the system is exempt from property tax (DSIRE, as of 2026). The income-eligible Maryland Solar Access Program adds a grant of $750 per kW up to $7,500 if you qualify and funding is open. The property tax exemption may require a filing with your county or the state assessment office, so confirm it locally. Maryland has no separate state income tax credit for residential solar.
What happened to the federal solar credit for Delmarva Power customers?
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a homeowner buying with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. Maryland’s net metering, SRECs, and tax exemptions were not affected and still carry the payback in 2026, helped by some of the highest power rates in the country.
Do I qualify for net metering and SRECs if I lease or sign a PPA?
Net-metering credits follow your Delmarva Power account, so the customer of record earns them whether you own, lease, or sign a PPA. The SRECs and the state grant, though, generally go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the third-party company keeps the SREC income while your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. If you want the SREC income and any grant in your own name, owning the system through cash or a loan is the path that captures them.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked Delmarva Power, Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, Maryland Energy Administration, DSIRE, Flett Exchange, SRECTrade, EIA, and IRS sources as of June 2026; net-metering terms, SREC prices, the Solar Access Program, and electricity rates reset over time, so confirm current terms with Delmarva Power and the Maryland Energy Administration before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA the SREC income and any state grant go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
