Utilities in our area have solar size limits to how large your solar energy system should be. These limits are to presumably protect the utility from having customers that oversize their solar to an inappropriate degree trying to collect too much credit for their surplus power from the utility.
A solar PV energy system in Maryland can be sized up to 200% of the consumer’s annual electric consumption. In Virginia, it has to stay under 100% (with a few exceptions) and receive the utility’s approval, and in Washington, D.C. our current best understanding is 100% if you cannot prove you expect to use additional electricity in the future, such as through the purchase of an electric vehicle, or expanding your family!
See additional detail on Maryland’s policy below. Interested in the intricacies of solar regulation? We explain more of the fine points of our region’s solar programs and incentives on our FAQ page.
For Maryland:
(b) The eligible customer-generator’s proposed electric generating system may not exceed 200 percent of the eligible customer-generator’s baseline annual usage.
.01 General.
A. Net Energy Metering. An electric company shall provide net metering of electric service to eligible customer-generators using a meter capable of net energy metering until the rated generating capacity of all eligible customer-generators in the State reaches 1,500 megawatts.
B. Maximum Size of Electric Generating System — Net Metering. An electric company may not provide net energy metering to an eligible customer-generator operating an electric generating system that has a rated capacity of more than 2 megawatts.
C. Micro Combined Heat and Power Electric Generating System. An electric company may not provide net energy metering to an eligible customer-generator operating a micro combined heat and power electric generating system that has a rated capacity of more than 30 kilowatts.
D. Qualifying for Net Energy Metering.
(1) In order to initially qualify for net energy metering:
(a) An eligible customer-generator shall comply with the provisions of COMAR 20.50.09; and
(b) The eligible customer-generator’s proposed electric generating system may not exceed 200 percent of the eligible customer-generator’s baseline annual usage.
(2) Upgraded Electric Generating Systems.
(a) When an eligible customer-generator receiving net energy metering proposes an upgrade to an existing electric generating system, an electric company shall re-evaluate the baseline annual usage to determine whether the electric generating system continues to meet the requirements of §D(1)(b) of this regulation.
(b) If the eligible customer-generator’s upgraded electric generating system does not meet the requirements of §D(1)(b) of this regulation, an electric company may discontinue net energy metering.
Source: http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/20/20.50.10.01.htm
