HB0039 would amend Maryland’s net energy metering law to expressly allow “portable solar” electric generating facilities to qualify as eligible customer-generators. The bill defines portable solar as a movable photovoltaic system that connects through a standard 120-volt outlet, has an inverter-rated capacity of no more than 120 kilowatts, meets National Electrical Code standards, and is certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. By adding portable solar to the list of eligible technologies, the bill would let customers use these systems to offset their own electricity use and participate in net metering on the same general footing as rooftop solar and other qualifying generation types.
The bill also preserves and restates Maryland’s broader net metering framework. It requires utilities to provide standard net metering contracts or tariffs on a first-come, first-served basis until statewide eligible customer-generator capacity reaches 3,000 megawatts, prohibits certain extra charges such as new demand charges or standby charges, and sets rules for billing, crediting, and paying out net excess generation. It maintains existing capacity limits for most systems, while continuing special provisions for local governments, community solar, meter aggregation, and community choice aggregation. The bill would take effect October 1, 2026.
In practical terms, HB0039 would affect the Public Utilities Article, specifically § 7-306, by expanding the types of distributed generation that can participate in net energy metering. Utilities would need to recognize qualifying portable solar systems, ensure bidirectional metering where applicable, and apply the same net metering billing and credit rules to those systems as to other eligible customer-generators. The bill also preserves customer ownership of renewable energy attributes and continues Commission oversight, including annual reporting on the program’s status and whether the statewide cap should be adjusted.
The overall sentiment reflected in the available record is limited but appears generally supportive of renewable energy access and customer choice, consistent with the bill’s stated purpose of encouraging private investment in renewable resources and reducing interconnection costs. However, the bill was ultimately withdrawn by the sponsor in the House, so there is no recorded committee debate or vote history to indicate broader legislative support or opposition.
Because there are no transcripts or votes, no specific points of contention are documented in the available materials. Potential areas of policy interest inherent in the bill include whether portable solar systems should be treated like fixed solar installations, how utilities would verify safety and certification for plug-in systems, and whether expanding eligibility could affect rate design, grid management, or the statewide net metering cap.
HB0039 would amend Maryland Public Utilities Article § 7-306 to add portable solar electric generating facilities as a qualifying technology for net energy metering. This would expand eligibility for customer-owned distributed generation, while leaving the core net metering structure, utility billing rules, compensation for excess generation, and Commission reporting requirements in place. Utilities and the Public Service Commission would need to incorporate the new portable solar category into existing contracts, tariffs, and interconnection practices.
The bill’s stated policy direction is pro-renewable energy and pro-consumer, aiming to broaden access to net metering and encourage private investment in clean energy. No committee testimony or recorded votes are available, so there is no documented opposition or support from legislators or stakeholders. The sponsor’s withdrawal of the bill suggests it did not advance, but the available record does not explain why.
No formal contention is documented in the provided record because there are no committee transcripts or votes. The likely policy questions raised by the bill would center on whether portable, plug-in solar systems can be safely integrated into homes and the grid, whether they should receive the same net metering treatment as permanently installed systems, and whether expanding eligibility could affect utility administration, rate recovery, or the statewide 3,000-megawatt cap.