Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative and solar
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 163,451 homes in Maryland. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 17.7¢16% below Maryland average
- Typical bill
- $2071,170 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 10.3 yrs10.3 kW, cash
Export rules for Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative customers
Full retail net metering (Maryland rule).
Maryland currently offers full retail net metering: exports earn a full kWh credit. However, the 2026 Utility RELIEF Act closes the existing program to new enrollees by July 1, 2027 (or when the 3 GW cap is hit) and directs a lower-compensation successor ('NEM 2.0') to start July 1, 2027.
Solar for a typical Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative home
| System | 10.3 kW (100% of 1,170 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $28,735 |
| First-year savings | $2,412 |
| Payback | 10.3 years |
| 25-year net | $55,215 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 9,514
- Share of customers
- 5.8%
- Residential solar capacity
- 89 MW
- Residential customers
- 163,451
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative follows Maryland's rules: Maryland currently offers full retail net metering: exports earn a full kWh credit. However, the 2026 Utility RELIEF Act closes the existing program to new enrollees by July 1, 2027 (or when the 3 GW cap is hit) and directs a lower-compensation successor ('NEM 2.0') to start July 1, 2027.
How much does electricity cost with Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 16.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 17.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,170 kWh a month, a bill of about $207.
Is solar worth it with Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 10.3 kW system costing about $28,735 pays back in about 10.3 years, with $55,215 net over 25 years.
How many Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 9,514 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 5.8% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc (EIA ID 17637). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.