Solar in your state
With so many solar companies to choose from, we know how daunting it can be to find an installer you can trust with your home’s solar system. To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the best solar companies in Maryland, as rated by our SolarReviews experts and Maryland residents who’ve already gone solar.
We look for solar companies with owners who understand that when they sell you a solar system, you expect them to be there for the next 25 years to fix any issues that may arise. Here are the top companies we recommend for solar in MD:
Company Description
Venture Solar is the highest quality residential installer in the Northeast servicing New York, Long Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. We take pride in the quality of our installations and ...
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Elite
Rating breakdown
Positives:
9 / 10
Time in business
10 / 10
Litigation and background
10 / 10
Profitability of installer
10 / 10
Quality of brands sold
5 / 5
Vertical integration
6 / 10
Competitiveness of loan options
10 / 10
Verification of licenses and insurance
5 / 5
Consumer reviews performance
5 / 5
Reliability of consumer reviews
4 / 5
Transparency of pricing and sales process
5 / 5
Transparency about reputation
3 / 5
Sustainable pricing of systems
5 / 5
Employee satisfaction and safety record
Negatives:
2 / 5
Company size and location
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
Latest Good Review
Latest Bad Review
Nww | 03-27-2025
Not very reliable
Has been trying to contact venture solar for explanations as to why there is nothing in my solar bank. I was told someone would call, but it has been a month and no call. Received my second light bill and there is no credit at all. Need some explanation.
See full reviewCompany Description
American Sentry Solar, a division of American Design and Build, has been helping Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Texas homeowners save with solar since 2009. Our team of solar experts are paired with the top roofing specialists in the business to offer ho...
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Elite
Rating breakdown
Positives:
10 / 10
Time in business
10 / 10
Litigation and background
10 / 10
Verification of licenses and insurance
8 / 10
Profitability of installer
3 / 5
Consumer reviews performance
4 / 5
Transparency of pricing and sales process
4 / 5
Company size and location
10 / 10
Quality of brands sold
5 / 5
Vertical integration
5 / 5
Transparency about reputation
10 / 10
Competitiveness of loan options
3 / 5
Employee satisfaction and safety record
5 / 5
Reliability of consumer reviews
Negatives:
2 / 5
Sustainable pricing of systems
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
Latest Good Review
Mark Kingsbury | Bel Air, MD | 03-20-2025
The installation looks great and was put in promptly. The price was reasonable after they finally offered the real deal.
See full reviewLatest Bad Review
H | Bel Air, MD | 08-13-2024
The phone scheduler was great and understood that as an EE, and someone that's done research on this, I had a goal in mind and just needed to chat about price and warranties offered. The sales rep, who is also their marketing manager, started our visit with a few sales faux pas: 1) He refused to take off his shoes when asked; 2) He used the bathroom. Setting those aside, his first business comment to me was, "Where's your husband?" I informed him I was the sole home owner. Then he commented, "Well....this is a mighty big house..." as if I couldn't handle my own home, alone, and/or without a man. Then he continued to insult my intelligence when I informed him I'm an electrical engineer, so I understand how solar works, and made me watch the videos on solar because I "couldn't possibly understand how solar works, it's so complicated." I tried to skip those, but he shooed my hand away from his screen. Then he dropped the bomb of DOUBLE the price for a system with less efficient panels and inverters than I was interested. I informed him that other companies were half that price, which he scoffed because of his 11 years in the business, he never heard of them. When I told him of the better panels I was interested in, he scoffed again because he also never heard of them (a leading solar panel company for the last 30 years). He eventually offered me $5k off his price, because the owner of the company is a nice guy and the chairman of the MHIC, if I put signs in my yard and told 4 friends who eventually get solar from them. Then dropped the price another $20k if I pay cash up front. He didn't even leave information with me except his price tag.<br />I sure will tell everyone I can about this company - and to stay away! If this is the person representing your company for sales and marketing in the age of cancellation, Mr. Chairman, I wish you luck, sir.
See full reviewBest solar installers in Maryland
| Company | SolarReviews expert rating | Consumer rating | City | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venture Home Solar, LLC | Elite | - | Get Quote | |
| American Sentry Solar | Elite | Bel Air | Get Quote | |
| Entropy Solar Integrators | Unrated | - | Get Quote | |
| Direct Energy Solar (formerly Astrum) | Unrated | Columbia | Get Quote | |
| Aurora Energy | Unrated | Columbia | Get Quote | |
| Big D Electric | Unrated | Cumberland | Get Quote |
Best solar companies for home battery installations in Maryland
Batteries have become increasingly popular because they take an intermittent energy source like solar and turn it into a reliable and consistent supply of electricity. We recommend getting a solar battery quote if you want a backup power source or if your utility company doesn’t have a net metering program that buys excess solar energy at the full price of power, as you could save a little extra on your electric bill.
For now, getting a battery in Maryland can be a good idea for people who value the peace of mind of having a source of backup power. In the very near future, however, Maryland homeowners will have ways to profit from battery storage, thanks to the passage of the DRIVE Act that created a requirement for state agencies to develop vehicle-to-grid and virtual power plant programs in the coming years.
Once these plans are fully online, battery owners can sell excess electricity back to the grid at a high value during times of high electricity demand.
Here are some MD companies that install panels and solar battery storage systems:
| Company | SolarReviews expert rating | Consumer rating | City | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entropy Solar Integrators | Unrated | - | Get Quote | |
| Direct Energy Solar (formerly Astrum) | Unrated | Columbia | Get Quote | |
| Aurora Energy | Unrated | Columbia | Get Quote | |
| Big D Electric | Unrated | Cumberland | Get Quote | |
| Earth Sun Energy Systems | Unrated | Hyattsville | Get Quote |
How to find the best solar panel company near you
Picking a solar company is the most important decision you make when going solar. You need to trust them to drill holes in your roof, help you navigate financing and incentives and provide you with 25+ years of customer service.
Check out this video where our founder, who also founded a successful solar installation company, explains what to look for when choosing the best solar company near you.
Top things to consider when choosing a solar company in Maryland:
Years in business
One of the first things to look at when finding a company is how long they have been in business. We suggest looking for companies that have been around for at least five years, as the longer it has been in business, the more likely it is you’ll have a positive installation experience.
Companies with five or more years of experience will probably have established after-sales service and warranty support. It signals that they aren’t a company in it to make a quick buck; they’re in it for the long haul.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, which is why you should also keep a few other factors in mind.
Licenses, insurance and certifications
Solar companies that are licensed, insured and hold certifications take their business seriously. Look for companies that have NABCEP Certified professionals or certified electricians on staff and are properly insured, so their workers, and you, are protected.
Electrical work in Maryland must be carried out under the supervision of a master electrician, although not all workers providing electrical services must hold state certifications. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements for solar installers.
Financing options
Not everyone has thousands of dollars to spend on a solar panel installation. So, you’ll want to find a company with solar financing options that work for you. Ask for quotes for various types of financing plans to see which one will work best for your budget. Solar loans are often your next best choice if you can’t pay in cash. But, if you don’t pay federal income taxes or can’t qualify for a loan, finding a company that offers solar leases or power purchase agreements might be the right move.
Services and products offered
Don’t choose a company that can’t complete the job that you want to be done. If you need an energy storage system, get quotes from companies that install batteries! Maybe you want a particular brand of panels or an electric vehicle charger installation. Ask the company if they provide those services or carry those brands so you don’t have to settle for less.
Customer review scores
Customer ratings give valuable insight into how a solar company actually operates and treats its customers. Read SolarReviews, Google and Yelp reviews to understand the company’s installation process, sales practices and overall customer service. But remember that some companies incentivize customers to leave positive reviews, so make sure you read reviews with some scrutiny.
Warranty
Any reputable solar installation company will offer a workmanship or labor warranty that covers any damages that may occur during the installation process. We recommend using an installer with at least a ten-year labor warranty.
Some installation companies, like SunPower, include a system performance guarantee. This promises you’ll get a certain amount of electricity from your solar panels and is an excellent added protection.
Maryland incentives and rebates
Solar incentives and rebates can cut the cost of installing solar in Maryland by thousands of dollars. The most significant incentive is the 30% federal solar tax credit, available to any taxpayer in the country when they purchase solar panels or battery storage.
Some states and utility companies offer additional solar incentives, saving homeowners even more money. Here are the solar incentives available in Maryland:
| Incentive | Eligibility | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit | Federal | Personal Tax Credit |
| Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) | State | Solar Renewable Energy Credit Program |
| Property Tax Exemption for Clean Energy Systems | State | Property Tax Incentive |
| Residential Clean Energy Grant Program | State | Rebate Program |
| Net Metering | State | Net Metering |
| Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Solar Energy Equipment | State | Sales Tax Incentive |
How much can you save with solar incentives?
What to look for in solar quotes in Maryland
Once you’ve found a few companies you like, you can start getting solar quotes. You can get a better deal when you get quotes from multiple solar installers; we suggest getting at least three quotes. Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks for comparing quotes and what questions you should ask installers.
System size and energy production
All solar quotes should include the size of the system and how much energy it is projected to produce. Most of the quotes you get will probably be in the same ballpark. But, if one is drastically larger or smaller than the others — ask about it! Maybe one installer included shading from a tree, while another based its estimates on having that tree removed.
As an eastern seaboard state, Maryland gets a relatively low number of peak daily sun hours. That means a home will need an extra solar panel or two to get the same amount of energy as a solar home out west. A solar installer can help estimate the number of solar panels you need.
If you choose reliable installers, you can trust that these estimates will be as accurate as possible. But you can always double-check using the SolarReviews solar calculator and enter the information received in your quotes.
Pricing
You should know as much as possible about how much the solar panels cost. Make sure you know both the total cost of the system and the price per watt of solar installed. The cost per watt makes it easier to compare prices between quotes and gives you a better idea of how fairly the system is priced. The average price of solar is about $2.19 to $3.29 per watt in Maryland, so anything in that range is a fair price.
Financing
Financing is one of the most important things to look for in your solar quote. There are a few different things to keep an eye out for, depending on what type of solar financing you’re using.
If you’re looking to use a solar loan, you should ask the company for both a cash quote and the financed quote. Solar loans include something called dealer fees, which can sometimes add 20% or more to the total cost of your system in exchange for a lower interest rate. It’s worth comparing what dealer fees and interest rates you’re quoted from different companies to get the best deal possible.
If you want a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), you’ll want to look for an escalator clause in the contract. The escalator clause outlines how much your payments will go up every year. Ideally, this should be lower than the rate at which electric prices increase in your area, typically about 3% annually. If the escalator rate is higher than this, you could end up paying more than if you hadn’t gone solar at all!
Payback period
Some quotes may include when you’ll break even, meaning when your panels have saved as much as you spent on them.
If it’s not explicitly listed on the quote, you can compare any savings estimates they provide to the system’s total price and get a rough estimate of when your panels will pay themselves off. The shorter the payback period, the better.
Equipment
Good quality solar installers will carry good quality equipment. So if you pick an installer you trust, you can expect reliable products. But, it can’t hurt to research and ask the installer questions about what would be going on your roof.
Most solar panels installed today are about 400 watts in size and have efficiency ratings above 19%. Higher wattage and efficiency panels can produce slightly more electricity but may add a price premium. You’ll want to make sure the solar panels have the industry standard 25-year product and performance warranties.
Frequently asked questions about solar in Maryland
How much do solar panels cost in Maryland?
How much can solar panels save in Maryland?
Do I need a solar battery in Maryland?
How can you pay for solar panels in Maryland?
What are the best solar companies for a solar lease in Maryland?
What are the best solar companies for zero-down solar loans in Maryland?
How SolarReviews rates installers
SolarReviews developed our Expert Rating criteria to make it easier for homeowners to find solar companies they can trust. It’s not just about the consumer reviews or the products they sell — it’s about how they treat their employees, how they support their customers and whether they run an honest business.
We used our team’s extensive knowledge of the solar industry to create a data-based scoring system for rating solar companies that encompasses all of the most important things to consider when picking the best solar company, including:
- Background checks
- Licenses and insurance
- Profitability
- Consumer reviews
- Local service
- Brand quality
- Vertical integration
- Transparency
- Loan options
- Responsible pricing
Learn more about the SolarReviews Expert Rating System
Andy is arguably the most qualified rooftop solar expert in America. He is in a unique position, having founded a large solar company but now being independent of any particular company. He has appeared on CNBC, has been referenced in public hearings concerning the rooftop solar industry ( such as the recent CPUC NEM 3 decision) and has been referenced by many major publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and many others.