Maryland Solar Access Program FY27: Reserve the Rebate Before Installation

Maryland's Fiscal Year 2027 Solar Access Program can provide a meaningful residential solar rebate, but the order of events controls eligibility. The Maryland Energy Administration requires an approved upfront reservation before the system is installed. A proposal that subtracts an expected rebate from the price does not prove that the homeowner qualifies or that funds have been reserved.

Do not authorize installation based only on a promised MSAP amount. Confirm that the Step 1 application status is Approved in the My MEA portal and preserve the approval notice, reserved amount, expiration date, approved contractor, system size, and property information.

Current FY27 program status as of September 10, 2026

The FY27 program opened July 29, 2026. MEA's official page lists the application portal as open to new applications. The stated deadline is 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 31, 2027, but the portal may close earlier if requested funding reaches the available budget.

MEA anticipates up to $10 million for FY27, subject to agency discretion. The program page reports that 2.21% of the budget had been requested and 0.29% had been reserved as of its September 1, 2026 update. Those percentages are a dated snapshot, not a promise that money will remain available when a later application is submitted.

Step 1 must be approved before installation

The FY27 program uses two distinct steps. In Step 1, the homeowner or an authorized participating contractor requests an upfront rebate reservation. Only after MEA changes that application to Step 1 Approved may the installation proceed for program purposes. Starting an application, saving a draft, submitting it, or seeing it under review is not the same as approval.

After installation and utility interconnection, the applicant uses Step 2 to request payment. MEA verifies the installed system and supporting documents. The final payment can be lower than the reserved amount but cannot be higher, so changes in installed capacity or eligible costs can affect the result.

What the FY27 rebate pays

The FY27 Funding Opportunity Announcement sets the rebate at $750 per kilowatt of DC nameplate capacity, with a maximum rebate of $7,500. The online portal calculates the requested reservation from the system size entered at Step 1. The final payment is recalculated from the installed capacity verified during Step 2.

The program amount should be shown separately from any federal tax credit, renewable-energy credit value, utility bill estimate, dealer discount, or financing incentive. Solar Exit does not provide tax advice. Ask a qualified tax professional how any rebate or project structure affects federal or state tax reporting and eligibility.

Income, homeowner, and property requirements

FY27 rebates must benefit income-eligible Maryland homeowners. The program uses household-size limits equal to 150% of state median income based on the cited Maryland limits. The official FY27 table ranges from $136,785 for a one-person household to $257,910 for an eight-person household. The homeowner must attest to eligibility, and MEA may request verification.

• The project must be at a residential property owned by the income-eligible household benefiting from the installation.
• Portable, mobile, quick-disconnect, or plug-in balcony systems do not satisfy the FY27 permanence requirement.
• A property that already secured or reserved specified MEA solar funding for the same residence may be ineligible for another MSAP award.
• A system on a feeder tied to the District of Columbia grid and eligible for the District's SREC program is ineligible for MSAP under the FY27 announcement.

The contractor must be on the FY27 participating list

The prime contractor must be approved by MEA and listed as an FY27 MSAP Participating Contractor when the Step 1 reservation request is submitted. If an authorized installation subcontractor, third-party seller, lease provider, or power-purchase-agreement provider participates in the project, the FY27 rules may require that party to be disclosed and approved through the participating contractor.

MEA states that inclusion on the list is not an endorsement or preference. List status confirms a program prerequisite. It does not guarantee workmanship, contract terms, savings, financing, schedule, or a rebate payment. Verify the contractor again on the submission date because MEA updates the list on a rolling basis.

What a solar sales quote does not prove

• A quoted $7,500 amount does not prove the installed system qualifies for the maximum.
• A submitted application does not prove MEA approved the Step 1 reservation.
• A contractor's appearance on the list does not reserve funds for a specific home.
• An approved reservation does not guarantee that unchanged funding, design, documentation, installation, and interconnection requirements will all be satisfied at Step 2.
• The rebate does not guarantee that a financed project will produce net savings after interest, fees, escalators, fixed utility charges, or roof work.

Documents to keep with the solar agreement

Preserve the full executed solar agreement, MSAP disclosure form, Step 1 application, approval notice, reserved amount and expiration, contractor-list evidence, system design, income attestation, property documentation, change requests, installation records, permission to operate, and Step 2 submission. Compare the promised rebate with Solar Exit's payment and financing review and keep the complete file in the document checklist.

Maryland Solar Access Program FAQs

Can installation start after Step 1 is submitted?

Not for FY27 eligibility. The Funding Opportunity Announcement says the reservation must be approved before installation. Wait for Step 1 Approved status.

Is every eligible project entitled to $7,500?

No. The formula is $750 per kW DC up to $7,500, and the final amount depends on the verified installed system and program compliance.

Is funding guaranteed while the portal is open?

No. MEA may close the portal early if requests reach the available budget, and funding remains subject to the FY27 terms and agency discretion.