All states / Maryland
Solar in Maryland
At 21.84¢ per kWh and 1392 kWh of production per kW each year, a household paying $200 a month needs a 7.42 kW system. Paid in cash, it returns its $19,442 cost in 8.5 yr.
What we don't know yet
Two prices, two answers
Payback 8.5 yr — at competitive quoted prices ($2.62/W, EnergySage 2026): net cost $19,442, 25-year net $47,154.
Payback 13.9 yr — at typical reported prices ($4.30/W, LBNL 2023): net cost $31,909, 25-year net $34,687.
The gap is methodology, not staleness: the first what you get if you shop around for competitive quotes; the second what the average buyer actually paid, as recorded in permit and incentive data. Every table below uses quoted prices. Why we show both.
By monthly bill
| Your bill | Use / yr | System | Panels | Net cost | Payback | 25-yr net (cash) | Lease, year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100/mo | 4,835 kWh | 3.47 kW | 9 | $9,101 | 9.1 yr | $19,119 | $317 |
| $150/mo | 7,582 kWh | 5.45 kW | 14 | $14,272 | 8.7 yr | $33,136 | $497 |
| $200/mo | 10,330 kWh | 7.42 kW | 19 | $19,442 | 8.5 yr | $47,154 | $677 |
| $300/mo | 15,824 kWh | 11.37 kW | 29 | $29,784 | 8.3 yr | $75,186 | $1,037 |
Cash, loan or lease — at $200 a month
| How you pay | 25-year net | Upfront | Year 1 | Payback / cash flow | Federal credit to you |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $47,154 | $19,442 | $2,106 | 8.5 yr | $0 |
| Loan $151/mo · 6.99% APR · 20 yr | $30,447 | $0 | $299 | immediate (+$299 in year 1) | $0 |
| Lease / PPA | $18,996 | $0 | $677 | immediate (+$677 in year 1) | $0 |
The 30% federal credit goes to the system owner, not to you. It is reflected in the rate you are offered. The owner claims it at 30% under IRC 48E.
The inputs, and where they came from
| Input | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residential electricity rate | 21.84¢/kWh | U.S. EIA API v2, electricity/retail-sales, residential sector, 2026-06 |
| Specific yield | 1392 kWh/kW/yr | NLR (formerly NREL) PVWatts v8 API, 1 kW reference system (state:MD) |
| Installed cost | $2.62/W | EnergySage Marketplace real-quote average, as of Sep 2026; page updated 2026-08-28 · LBNL Tracking the Sun 2023 median: $4.3/W, reference only |
| Export compensation | full retail net metering · 100% | Full retail net metering — not yet verified against the tariff |
| Federal credit, purchase | 0% | IRC 25D (expired) |
| Federal credit, third-party owner | 30% | IRC 48E (Clean Electricity Investment Credit) |
| State incentives | $0 | No upfront statewide credit or rebate for a typical owner-occupier (verified) |