Use this guide
Choose the questions relevant to your situation. Expand each answer, save the checklist and request written clarification where evidence is missing.
Questions homeowners ask
What does Maryland net energy metering measure?
Section 7–306 defines it using electricity supplied and electricity fed back to the grid over the billing period.
Source: Maryland General Assembly: Public Utilities §7–306. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Does the meter need to measure both directions?
Yes. Section 7–306 requires a net-metering meter capable of measuring electricity flow in two directions.
Source: Maryland General Assembly: Public Utilities §7–306. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Does excess generation eliminate every monthly charge?
No. Section 7–306 retains customer charges when generation exceeds grid supply for the month.
Source: Maryland General Assembly: Public Utilities §7–306. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Is indefinite credit banking available to every Maryland customer?
No. Section 7–306 excludes municipal-utility and cooperative customers from its indefinite accrual option. Confirm your account’s applicable election.
Source: Maryland General Assembly: Public Utilities §7–306. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Can I freely reverse an indefinite banking election?
Section 7–306 requires electric-company approval to switch from indefinite accrual to the annual option. Ask before electing.
Source: Maryland General Assembly: Public Utilities §7–306. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Is annual settlement valued at the entire retail bill rate?
Section 7–306 bases annual settlement on generation or commodity rates, with distinct supplier provisions. Request your account’s calculation.
Source: Maryland General Assembly: Public Utilities §7–306. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Who owns renewable energy credits?
Section 7–306 assigns renewable attributes to the customer-generator or assignee. Check any assignment in your agreement.
Source: Maryland General Assembly: Public Utilities §7–306. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Is a community solar subscription the same as rooftop ownership?
No. The PSC describes rooftop systems on customer property and community solar owned by subscriber organizations. Each may be eligible for net metering and solar renewable energy credits; that does not establish a particular household’s terms.
Source: Maryland PSC: solar in Maryland. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
How should I compare banking choices before signing?
Ask the utility for the current election form, effective date, settlement method and treatment when the account closes. Keep separate scenarios for energy used later and energy paid out. Use the actual account’s terms and unresolved assumptions; a neighbor’s bill or generic sales estimate does not establish the better choice for your household.
What should I record before moving or changing suppliers?
Retain the dated credit balance, account holder, supplier, election and written explanation of the change. Ask which credits and settlement provisions apply to the closing account and which terms apply to the new one. Do not assume that a dashboard balance automatically transfers to another address, customer or supplier.
Your decision checklist
- Identify the electric company, supplier and account category.
- Keep imports, exports and total production separately labeled.
- Request the current tariff and credit election form.
- Confirm whether indefinite banking is available.
- Ask about restrictions on changing an election.
- Separate energy banking from dollar settlement.
- Read REC assignment and solar ownership terms.
- Obtain written treatment of account closure or supplier changes.
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Continue your research
Compare the election, settlement and ownership records
| Decision | Evidence to request |
|---|---|
| Account category | Utility, supplier, municipal or cooperative status |
| Credit election | Accepted form, effective date and restrictions on changing it |
| Annual settlement | Commodity calculation, period and actual statement |
| Indefinite accrual | Applicable terms and account-closure valuation |
| Ownership rights | Equipment owner and any REC assignment |
| Household scenario | Matched bill periods and separately labeled future loads |
Example: a proposal multiplies leftover energy by the full price on a household bill and calls it an annual payout. Request the utility’s actual settlement calculation before accepting that estimate. Keep customer charges and other bill components separate from the assumed commodity value; this example supplies no current rate.
Example: an installer recommends indefinite banking using another customer’s account. First verify whether your utility category permits that option and what changing the election would require. Ask for two clearly labeled scenarios using your own consumption assumptions. No forecast can guarantee which option will have greater value.
Example: a contract lists potential REC proceeds while assigning those rights to another party. Identify the recipient and the agreement provision before counting the proceeds in the homeowner comparison. A production forecast is not evidence that the household retains the associated rights.
These questions refer to the official statutory text reviewed October 6, 2026. Confirm current utility implementation, effective dates and any subsequent changes before making an election. Our comparison worksheet is editorial guidance, not a prescribed legal form. Continue with bill reconciliation, subscription charges and credits and solar-home ownership records. Explore Solar Survey AI’s evidence methodology and confirm available survey scope. Site evidence can clarify proposal inputs; it does not select your tariff or determine a settlement. Connected homeowner monitoring and free remote diagnosis remain coming soon.
About these guides
Published by Solar Survey AI, a commercial survey-services company. Our original decision checklists are recommendations; linked authorities support the referenced facts. We may benefit if you purchase our services. This is not independent certification of our company, a project-specific engineering decision or personal tax/legal advice. Local rules, contracts and site evidence control individual decisions. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
For available survey or inspection services, confirm your project scope and availability with our team. Our planned free homeowner remote diagnosis remains coming soon.
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