Compare the highest-rated home solar professionals in Highland, Maryland. All contractors are licensed, insured, and verified through our rigorous screening process.
A highly-rated, regional installer with a strong focus on the Maryland market. They are known for their comprehensive in-house services, from initial consultation and system design to installation and maintenance. They are well-versed in Maryland-specific incentives and offer a wide range of financing options.
A premium, employee-owned solar company known for high-quality installations and exceptional customer service. They have a significant presence in Maryland and Virginia and specialize in custom-designed systems, including complex roof designs and integrated battery storage like Tesla Powerwall.
A fast-growing, Baltimore-based solar installer that has quickly built a strong reputation throughout Central Maryland. They focus on making the solar process streamlined and affordable, offering price-matching and robust financing options. They are particularly skilled at handling the entire project lifecycle efficiently.
** The home solar market in Highland, Maryland, is robust and competitive, characterized by high-quality service providers. As an affluent community with a high degree of environmental awareness, Highland presents a strong market for solar adoption. The competition level is high, but this benefits the consumer through competitive pricing, advanced technology offerings, and strong customer service. The average quality of installers serving the area is very good, with several companies holding top-tier certifications from manufacturers like SunPower and Tesla. Typical pricing for a residential system in Maryland ranges from **$15,000 to $35,000** before incentives, heavily dependent on system size (typically 6kW to 12kW for homes in this area). The federal investment tax credit (ITC) and Maryland's state-specific incentives, such as the Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program, significantly reduce the net cost for homeowners. Most leading providers offer a variety of financing options, including loans, leases, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), to accommodate different financial situations.
4.7+ star average from verified customer reviews
All contractors are properly licensed and insured
10+ years average experience in the industry
Familiar with Highland regulations and climate
Get answers to common questions about home solar services in Highland, Maryland.
For a typical 6-8 kW system in Highland, the average gross cost before incentives is between $18,000 and $28,000. Critically, Maryland homeowners benefit from the 30% federal tax credit, and the state's unique Residential Clean Energy Grant Program, which offers a one-time grant of $1,000 per kilowatt of installed capacity. Combined, these can reduce your net cost by 40-50%. Additionally, you can earn Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) for the power you generate, providing ongoing income.
Highland's four-season climate provides ample sunny days for solar production, with summer months being particularly productive. However, the area's mature tree canopy is a primary consideration; a professional site assessment is essential to identify shading issues that could significantly impact output. Proper placement on a south-facing roof section, cleared of shade, is key. Snow in winter will temporarily reduce output, but panels are angled to shed snow relatively quickly, and the cold weather actually improves panel efficiency.
Installing solar in Highland requires navigating Howard County's building and electrical permit process, which includes structural and electrical reviews. Your chosen installer should manage this entire process. Simultaneously, they will submit an interconnection application to Baltimore Gas and Electric (BG&E) to connect your system to the grid under a net metering agreement. This BG&E process ensures your system meets safety standards and that you receive credit for excess energy sent back to the grid.
Prioritize local or regional installers with extensive experience in Howard County, as they will be most familiar with specific permitting officials and BG&E interconnection procedures. Verify they are licensed, insured, and certified by organizations like NABCEP. Always request multiple quotes, check reviews on independent sites, and ask for references from recent installations in nearby communities like Ellicott City or Clarksville to assess their work quality and customer service.
Standard grid-tied systems automatically shut off during an outage for safety. To have power during an outage, you must invest in a solar-plus-battery storage system. Regarding net metering, Maryland has a robust policy: BG&E will credit you at the full retail rate for every kilowatt-hour you send to the grid. These credits roll over month-to-month, allowing you to build up a bank in sunny months to offset usage during less productive seasons, like cloudy winter days, maximizing your financial return.