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Maryland · Updated September 2026
SMECO rates in 2026
What SMECO members are actually paying, where the number comes from, and what it means for your bill. Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative is a member-owned distribution co-op serving more than 150,000 services in Charles, St. Mary's and Calvert counties and southern Prince George's County.
Not publishedSMECO does not publish a single all-in residential rateRanked #1 by Solar Power World · Inc. 5000 · 20,000+ installations
Estimate what solar does against your SMECO bill
Enter your bill and we’ll size the array that would cover it, and show the gross value of that production at your rate. It does not net off the customer charge, taxes or what you would still draw at night — for that, use the bill savings calculator. Nothing is sent anywhere; this runs in your browser.
An estimate from your own numbers, not a quote, and not a savings figure. It assumes 400 W panels, an 80% system derate and no roof constraints. Your real number depends on orientation, roof area and your utility’s export credit. Savings are not guaranteed.
The numbers
Where SMECO stands right now
| Measure | Current | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| All-in residential rate | Not published | SMECO publishes components, not a combined figure. We do not substitute another utility's number |
| Standard Offer Service | Energy charge + PCA | The Power Cost Adjustment changes monthly and can be a credit or a charge |
| Delivery | Distribution charge | Regulated by the Maryland Public Service Commission, billed per kilowatt-hour |
| Fixed monthly | Facilities charge | Applies regardless of how much power you use |
| Maryland statewide all-in | ~19.0–22.0¢ | For comparison — your own bill is the only exact figure |
| Members served | 150,000+ | Charles, St. Mary's, Calvert and southern Prince George's counties |
| Structure | Member-owned cooperative | Not-for-profit; savings are returned rather than marked up |
| Market | Retail choice available | Supply can be shopped; delivery stays with SMECO |
SMECO publishes its Standard Offer Service components separately rather than as a single all-in figure. The Maryland statewide all-in residential range is about 19.0–22.0¢.
Why it moved
What is actually driving this
The bill has four moving parts
Energy charge, Power Cost Adjustment, distribution charge and facilities charge. Only when you add all four and divide by your kilowatt-hours do you get your actual rate. No single published number does that for you.
The PCA changes every month
SMECO's Power Cost Adjustment tracks what the cooperative paid for wholesale power. It has historically swung between a credit and a charge, which is why two bills with the same usage can differ.
PJM wholesale costs
SMECO buys power in PJM, the same wholesale market as Maryland, New Jersey and the rest of Maryland. Capacity prices across that market have risen sharply and flow through to what members pay.
A rural distribution network
Serving southern Maryland means miles of line per customer. Those fixed network costs sit in the distribution and facilities charges regardless of usage.
The honest cost picture
Two ways to pay for solar, and they are very different
If you buy the system
You own the equipment, you keep any renewable energy credits, and you carry the maintenance responsibility. Installed pricing varies by roof, shading and system size.
If you use a PPA
$0 upfront. We install and own the system; you buy the power it produces at a rate set in your agreement, and you only pay for what it actually generates. The system owner carries maintenance for the life of the agreement.
How $0-down solar works in Maryland → · What solar costs in Maryland →
The residential federal tax credit (25D) ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
You will still see ads promising a 30% credit that “ends December 31.” Read the date on them. If you buy a system today as a homeowner, you cannot claim that credit. What remains applies to the owner of the system — which, under a PPA, is us. SolarAmerica does not provide tax advice; talk to your tax professional about your situation.
Going solar with SMECO
SMECO net metering and solar programs
When your panels make more power than your home is using, the extra flows onto SMECO’s grid and is credited on your SMECO bill under Maryland’s net metering rules. How much each exported kilowatt-hour is worth is set by those rules, and it is one of the biggest factors in how your system should be sized. How net metering works in Maryland.
Does SMECO have a solar program?
SMECO connects home solar systems to its grid and credits the power you send back, but it does not install panels. State incentives are covered in our Maryland solar incentives guide, and SolarAmerica handles the SMECO interconnection application for you.
How do I sign up for net metering with SMECO?
There is no separate sign-up. It is set up as part of the interconnection application your installer files with SMECO before your system is turned on, and SolarAmerica files it for you.
$0-down solar in Maryland → · Solar panel installation cost in Maryland → · Net metering credit calculator →
Who you would be working with
SolarAmerica
We design your system and manage the project; installation is performed by vetted licensed partners in your area.
SMECO questions
The things people actually ask
What is SMECO's electric rate per kWh?
SMECO does not publish a single all-in residential rate. Its bill is assembled from a Standard Offer Service energy charge, a Power Cost Adjustment that changes monthly, a distribution charge and a fixed facilities charge. To find your actual rate, divide your total bill by the kilowatt-hours shown on it. Across Maryland the all-in residential rate runs roughly 19 to 22 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Why does my SMECO bill change when my usage did not?
The Power Cost Adjustment. It reflects what SMECO actually paid for wholesale power in that period and it is recalculated monthly, appearing as either a credit or an additional charge. Two months with identical usage can produce different bills purely because the PCA moved.
Where does SMECO provide service?
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative serves more than 150,000 services in Charles County, St. Mary's County, Calvert County and southern Prince George's County. It is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative regulated by the Maryland Public Service Commission.
Can I shop for a cheaper electricity supplier with SMECO?
Maryland offers retail electric supply choice, so you can buy the generation and transmission portion from a competitive supplier while SMECO continues to deliver the power. Shopping changes the supply portion only. The distribution charge and the facilities charge are regulated and stay the same whoever supplies you.
See what your roof and SMECO actually add up to
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