If Potomac Edison is your electric utility in western Maryland, rooftop solar can pay you in two ways at once, and the local details are different from the Baltimore or Eastern Shore parts of the state. Potomac Edison is the FirstEnergy company that delivers power across western and north-central Maryland, and it runs the interconnection that lets a home system switch on. Maryland gives you full retail net metering on your Potomac Edison bill, and your system also earns Solar Renewable Energy Certificates you can sell for separate income. This page covers Potomac Edison’s own 2026 rate, how the net-metering credits and the SRECs work, the difference between rooftop solar and the community-solar offers that dominate search results, how you connect, and how to tell whether your roof is a good fit.
Potomac Edison solar in 2026, at a glance
- Potomac Edison’s Standard Offer Service “Price to Compare” is 12.936 cents per kWh through September 30, 2026, then 10.605 cents per kWh from October 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027 (FirstEnergy Maryland customer choice, as of 2026), so the supply portion of your bill is what your solar offsets first.
- On top of supply, Potomac Edison delivery runs about 2.287 cents per kWh plus a $6.00 monthly customer charge and a 1.376 cents per kWh EmPOWER surcharge (Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, as of January 2026).
- Maryland gives Potomac Edison customers full 1-for-1 retail net metering, with monthly credits that roll over and an annual true-up paid at the lower wholesale rate (Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, as of June 2026).
- Your system also earns one Maryland SREC per megawatt-hour, which traded around $40 in mid-2026 and which you can sell for income (Flett Exchange Maryland SREC prices, as of June 2026).
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025 (IRS, as of 2026), so most 2026 buyers cannot claim it, and Maryland’s own stack now carries the payback.
Potomac Edison in Maryland at a glance
Potomac Edison is a FirstEnergy operating company and the regulated electric utility for much of western and north-central Maryland. It is also the interconnection authority for rooftop solar in that territory, which means it reviews your application and grants the approval to operate.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Service territory | Western and north-central Maryland: all or parts of Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick, Carroll, Howard, and Montgomery counties, serving more than 247,000 Maryland residential customers (FirstEnergy) |
| Main areas | Frederick, Cumberland, Frostburg, and the area around Hagerstown. Note: the city of Hagerstown runs its own municipal electric utility, while surrounding Washington County is Potomac Edison |
| Distinct from | BG&E (Baltimore), Pepco (the DC suburbs), and Delmarva Power (the Eastern Shore), each of which has its own rate |
| 2026 supply rate | Standard Offer Service Price to Compare of 12.936 cents per kWh through September 30, 2026, then 10.605 cents per kWh through May 2027 (FirstEnergy) |
| Net metering | Full retail 1-for-1 credit, monthly rollover, annual true-up at the lower wholesale rate |
| SRECs | One Maryland SREC per MWh produced, sold separately for income |
| Before you switch on | Potomac Edison must grant Permission to Operate first |
Why solar pays on a Potomac Edison bill
Solar offsets the power you would otherwise buy from Potomac Edison, and that price has two moving parts. The supply portion, what Potomac Edison calls the Standard Offer Service Price to Compare, is 12.936 cents per kWh through September 30, 2026, then it steps down to 10.605 cents per kWh from October 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027 (FirstEnergy Maryland customer choice, as of 2026). On top of that you pay delivery: about 2.287 cents per kWh, a fixed $6.00 monthly customer charge, and a 1.376 cents per kWh EmPOWER surcharge (Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, as of January 2026). Add transmission and taxes and the all-in figure lands in roughly the high teens in cents per kWh, so the simplest way to see your own number is to divide the total on your Potomac Edison bill by the kWh you used.
Your production drives both the savings and the SREC income, so estimate it before you commit. A rooftop system in western Maryland produces less in the short days of December than in June, and the exact yearly figure depends on your roof’s pitch, orientation, and shade. We do not publish a fabricated production number here. Instead, estimate your roof’s likely annual output with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator, then have your installer confirm it with a site-specific model. That production figure feeds your net-metering credits and the number of SRECs you earn.
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How Potomac Edison credits your rooftop solar
Net metering is the first of your two earnings, and Maryland keeps it at the full retail rate. When your panels make more power than your home is using, the surplus flows back to the grid and Potomac Edison credits it on your bill at the full retail rate, then rolls that credit forward to the next month (Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, as of June 2026). Your credits build through the long days of summer 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 net credit you have not used is cashed out at the utility’s lower wholesale-style generation rate, well below the retail rate you pay (Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, as of June 2026). The practical lesson is the usual one: size the system close to your own yearly usage so most of your production offsets retail-priced power rather than being trued up cheaply. You also keep paying the fixed $6.00 monthly customer charge, so a solar bill is rarely exactly zero.
Note: Maryland’s net-metering rules are being adjusted in 2026, so confirm the current terms. Maryland sets a statewide cap on how much net-metered solar can enroll. That cap sits at 3 gigawatts in existing law, and the 2026 Utility RELIEF Act expands the program toward 6 gigawatts (SEIA, as of June 2026), while a separate 2026 law, the SUNRISE Act, revises how net-metering capacity is counted and reserved (Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, as of June 2026). A system you interconnect now is credited under the rules in force when it is approved, but because the mechanics are in flux, ask your installer to model your specific payback against the current tariff rather than an old rule of thumb.
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 the 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 a standard Maryland SREC traded around $40 per certificate, but the market floats and the value is capped by the state’s Solar Alternative Compliance Payment, which steps down over time (DSIRE Maryland, as of June 2026). Because the trend is downward, the SREC income in a 2026 quote should be modeled conservatively rather than stretched out at today’s price for fifteen years. Your installer or an SREC aggregator usually handles the registration and the sales for you. SRECs go to whoever owns the system, which matters if you lease or sign a PPA.
Rooftop solar versus Potomac Edison community solar
Search for “Potomac Edison solar” and most results are about community solar, which is a different product, so it is worth being clear. Community solar lets you subscribe to a share of a large shared array that someone else owns and operates, and you receive a credit on your Potomac Edison bill for your share of its output (FirstEnergy Maryland community solar, as of 2026). There are no panels on your roof and nothing to buy. As of January 1, 2026, Potomac Edison moved community-solar credits to a consolidated dollar-credit method on the bill. It is a reasonable option for renters or shaded roofs, but it is not the same as owning a system.
| Question | Rooftop solar you own | Potomac Edison community solar |
|---|---|---|
| Panels on your roof | Yes, your system | No, a shared off-site array |
| Up-front cost | Cash, a loan, or a $0-up-front lease/PPA where you qualify | Usually none, you subscribe |
| Net metering | Yes, full retail 1-for-1 on your bill | No, you get a community-solar bill credit instead |
| SREC income | Yes, the owner earns and sells the SRECs | No, the array owner keeps them |
| Typical savings | Larger over the system’s life if you own it | Often around 10%, more for income-eligible subscribers (FirstEnergy) |
| Best for | A sunny, structurally sound roof you plan to keep | Renters, shaded roofs, or anyone who does not want equipment |
This page is about rooftop solar you own, because that is the path that captures both net metering and the SREC income. If a sunny roof is not an option, community solar is a fair alternative to compare.
Maryland incentives a Potomac Edison 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 wholesale rate (Maryland OPC) | Being expanded and revised in 2026 under the Utility RELIEF Act and the SUNRISE Act, so confirm current terms |
| Maryland SRECs | One certificate per MWh, sold for income (around $40 in mid-2026) (Flett Exchange) | Price floats and the cap steps down over time, 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 (Maryland Comptroller) | 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 June 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, the SRECs, the exemptions, and the grant if you qualify.
How to connect solar to Potomac Edison in western Maryland
Connecting a home system follows Maryland’s interconnection rules, administered by Potomac Edison, and the rule that matters most is that you cannot turn the system on until Potomac Edison grants Permission to Operate. Since June 2025, Potomac Edison requires interconnection applications to be filed through its online portal (FirstEnergy Maryland interconnection, as of 2026). The general path is:
- Interconnection and net-metering application. You or your installer file with Potomac Edison through the online portal before installation, with the system design, a one-line diagram, the inverter data, and a separate Net Energy Metering Rider application. Most home systems are 20 kW or smaller and qualify for the simplest review level.
- Utility review and conditional approval. Potomac Edison reviews the package and issues conditional approval to build. Standard residential systems generally move faster than large or grid-constrained projects.
- Install and inspect. A licensed contractor installs the system and it passes your local electrical inspection.
- Final review and Permission to Operate. You send proof of inspection, Potomac Edison does its final review, sets a bidirectional meter, and issues Permission to Operate. Your system only starts banking net-metering 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.
Heads up on why Maryland bills are moving: Potomac Edison applied a one-time Legislative Energy Relief Refund credit to Maryland residential bills in February 2026, a second round after the first in September 2025, funded through Maryland’s 2025 Next Generation Energy Act (PR Newswire, as of February 2026). That is a temporary state bill credit, not a solar incentive, and it does not change your net metering or SRECs. It is worth knowing only because supply prices have been rising, which is part of why owning your own generation looks more attractive.
What changed federally, and what it means in western Maryland
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 Potomac Edison 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.
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, because 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 Potomac Edison territory
Western Maryland 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 Potomac Edison 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 other parts of the state, see how the credits work under BG&E Maryland net metering in the Baltimore area and Delmarva Power solar on the Eastern Shore. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Check which solar programs are available at your address →
Frequently asked questions
How does Potomac Edison net metering work in Maryland in 2026? Potomac Edison credits the power your panels export to the grid at the full retail rate and rolls that credit forward month to month (Maryland OPC, as of June 2026). At the annual true-up, any leftover credit is cashed out at the utility’s lower wholesale rate, so it pays to size the system to your own yearly use. You also keep paying the fixed $6.00 monthly customer charge, so a solar bill is rarely exactly zero. One thing to know: Maryland’s net-metering rules are being expanded and revised in 2026 under the Utility RELIEF Act and the SUNRISE Act, so confirm the current terms, though a system you interconnect now is credited under the rules in force when it is approved.
What is Potomac Edison’s electricity rate in 2026? Potomac Edison’s Standard Offer Service Price to Compare, the supply portion of your bill, is 12.936 cents per kWh through September 30, 2026, then 10.605 cents per kWh from October 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027 (FirstEnergy, as of 2026). On top of that, delivery is about 2.287 cents per kWh plus a $6.00 monthly customer charge and a 1.376 cents per kWh EmPOWER surcharge (Maryland OPC, as of January 2026). Add transmission and taxes and the all-in figure lands in roughly the high teens in cents per kWh, so the simplest check is to divide your total bill by the kWh you used.
What is the difference between rooftop solar and Potomac Edison community solar? Rooftop solar is a system you own on your own roof, so you get full retail net metering and you earn and sell the SRECs. Community solar is a subscription to a share of a large shared array that someone else owns, and you get a credit on your Potomac Edison bill instead of panels of your own (FirstEnergy, as of 2026). Community solar usually has no up-front cost and saves around 10%, more for income-eligible subscribers, which makes it a fair option for renters or shaded roofs. Owning a rooftop system generally captures more value over time because you keep both the net-metering credits and the SREC income.
What Maryland solar incentives can a Potomac Edison customer get 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 (Maryland Energy Administration, as of June 2026). The property tax exemption may require a filing with your county or the state assessment office. Maryland has no separate state income tax credit for residential solar, and the old $1,000 rebate has ended.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit for Potomac Edison customers? The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a Potomac Edison customer 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, the SRECs, and the tax exemptions were not affected and still carry the payback in 2026. MySolarFY does not provide tax advice, so confirm your situation with a tax professional.
How do I connect rooftop solar to Potomac Edison? You or your installer file an interconnection application through Potomac Edison’s online portal before installation, along with a separate Net Energy Metering Rider application (FirstEnergy, as of 2026). Potomac Edison reviews the package and issues conditional approval to build, then a licensed contractor installs the system and it passes a local electrical inspection. After you send proof of inspection, Potomac Edison does a final review, sets a bidirectional meter, and issues Permission to Operate. Your system can only start banking net-metering credits and earning SRECs once it is approved to run, and a licensed installer normally manages the whole process for you.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked FirstEnergy/Potomac Edison, Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, Maryland Energy Administration, DSIRE, Flett Exchange, SEIA, Maryland Comptroller, and IRS sources as of June 2026; net-metering terms, the Price to Compare, SREC prices, the Solar Access Program, and electricity rates reset over time, so confirm current terms with Potomac Edison 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.