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Maryland Passes Utility RELIEF Act, Solar Bills Drop 88%

6/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

Maryland General Assembly passed the Utility RELIEF Act on April 13, 2026, mandating counties to use automated permitting for residential solar projects.
The law caps fees at $500, forces in-person inspections to finish within five business days on average, and requires counties to publish annual timeline reports.
Clean-energy advocates estimate households could lower electricity bills by about 88%, saving roughly $2,300 per year and $76,000 over a system’s lifetime.

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Story summary

Maryland General Assembly passed the Utility RELIEF Act on April 13, 2026, mandating counties to use automated permitting for residential solar projects.
The law caps fees at $500, forces in-person inspections to finish within five business days on average, and requires counties to publish annual timeline reports.
Clean-energy advocates estimate households could lower electricity bills by about 88%, saving roughly $2,300 per year and $76,000 over a system’s lifetime.