Balcony Solar

Portable Solar Energy Generating Systems, or balcony solar, are photovoltaic devices that can be plugged in through a standard outlet and are primarily intended to partially offset electricity consumption in a home.

During the 2026 Legislative Session, the Maryland General Assembly passed House Bill 1532, which was subsequently signed into law. Section 7–321 of this statute allows customers to purchase and install not more than one Portable Solar Energy Generating System per electric meter for residential use only, provided the device does not supply more than 1,200 watts and is certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL). If the device has a maximum power output of not more than 391 watts, it is exempt from product listing provisions that would require alterations to the building’s wiring or electrical panels.

Electric companies cannot require customers using a Portable Solar Energy Generating System to obtain approval before installation or pay a fee or charge. Customers must by law, however, notify their electric company before installation and provide the utility a certification describing the safety features and maximum generating capacity of the device. If the device requires an automatic locking disconnect switch, the customer must pay for the switch to be installed. Please see below for relevant utility notification forms and contact information.

Safety concerns that customers should be aware of include the risk of electric shock and fire if circuits become overloaded and breakers fail to sense the overload. The output cord and attachment plug also pose shock risks when the Portable Solar Energy Generating System is exposed to sunlight and energized. UL Solutions has more information available from the following link. Certification by UL or an equivalent entity is important for safe operation of Portable Solar Energy Generating Systems.

Under certain scenarios, electric power generated by a Portable Solar Generating System could exceed the electric power consumed in a home resulting in power being fed from the home back into the electric grid. If an electric meter cannot track power fed back into the electric grid, this excess power may be treated as zero consumption or erroneously added to electric consumption depending on the meter type. If you have questions about how your electric meter treats excess electric power fed back into the grid, please check with your electric company.