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Electric cooperative

SMECO interconnection application

SMECO is an electric cooperative serving 163,451 residential customers in Maryland (EIA-861, 2025). Gridpol files SMECO interconnection applications for licensed installers – solar, storage and EV chargers – with single-line diagram and site plan, unlimited for $500 a month.

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Partly researched from official sources. verify on first project: smeco.coop refused connections on 2026-11-13; SMECO portal, forms, fees, steps and whether COMAR 20.50.09 levels apply to the cooperative not retrieved. Archive.org is not reachable from our fetch tool and web search budget was exhausted on 2026-11-13.

SMECO at a glance

Utility

Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc

Type

Electric cooperative

EIA utility ID

17637

Residential customers

163,451 (EIA-861, 2025)

Net-metered residential customers

9,514 (EIA-861, 2025)

Service territory

4 counties in Maryland

Export compensation

NEM – Maryland net energy metering
not confirmed on SMECO site

Review time (official)

COMAR 20.50.09.09 Level 1: completeness notice within 5 business days; approval and permission to operate within 20 business days of acceptable documents (if COMAR applies).

Documents SMECO asks for

  • Interconnection application formFilled in by us from your project data in the utility’s portal or on its form. Gridpol prepares this.
  • Single-line diagram (one-line)Drawn by us from your equipment data: modules, strings, inverter, battery, disconnects, point of interconnection, meter. Gridpol prepares this.
  • Site plan / site layoutDrawn by us from your roof sketch or photos: array, inverter, battery, disconnect, meter and main panel locations. Gridpol prepares this.
  • PV module spec sheetManufacturer data sheet of the modules.
  • Inverter spec sheetManufacturer data sheet (string inverter, microinverter or hybrid inverter).
  • Customer signatureThe account holder signs the application or authorization. We send the signature link.
  • Recent electric billName, service address, account and meter number must match the application.
  • Final inspection sign-offApproved electrical inspection from the authority having jurisdiction after installation.

Typical documents for US utilities – not yet verified for SMECO. We confirm SMECO’s exact list on the first project.

Size levels and limits

LevelUp toNote
Level 120 kWinverter-based, COMAR 20.50.09.08B (applies to electric companies in Maryland)

Maryland COMAR 20.50.09 levels assumed applicable; not confirmed on SMECO site

Sources

Maryland interconnection rule

Commission

Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC)

Interconnection rule

COMAR 20.50.09 (.01-.14) – Small Generator Facility Interconnection Standards · source

Applies to

Small generator facilities (incl. storage) interconnecting to a utility's distribution system in Maryland, under PSC jurisdiction (Subtitle 50 'Service Supplied by Electric Companies': BGE, Pepco, Delmarva, Potomac Edison, SMECO, Choptank and other PSC-regulated electric companies). PJM-jurisdictional wholesale requests follow PJM.

Application form

Utility-specified interconnection request form (utilities must align forms with other MD utilities) with electronic signature/submission and status tracking on the utility website by applicant or authorized designee (20.50.09.04).

Timelines

Level 1: 5 BD completeness, 15 BD verification, 20 BD approval/PTO; interconnection agreement signed within 30 calendar days. Conditional approval validity: <=100 kW must deliver certificate of completion within 6 months, >100 kW within 12 months (+6 months extension) (20.50.09.06N).

Fees

No fee for Level 1; Levels 2-4 fees specified in utility tariff (20.50.09.05); no fees for PJM-jurisdictional requests; pre-application report fee per tariff.

Insurance

COMAR 20.50.09.06 contains no insurance requirement; PUA §7-306 bars electric companies from requiring net-metered systems meeting NEC/IEEE/UL to buy additional liability insurance.

External disconnect

Required: lockable, visible-break isolation device accessible to the utility, customer-owned, between facility and point of interconnection (20.50.09.06G); utility lockbox allowed (06H). No inverter waiver in rule text.

Export compensation

NEM – Md. Code, Public Utilities §7-306; COMAR 20.50.10
Offered until earlier of 3,000 MW statewide or 2027-07-01; 5 MW for community solar/meter aggregation; excess credited 12 months valued at commodity rate, paid after April cycle; indefinite accrual option not for munis/coops; coops <250,000 may pay monthly. COMAR 20.50.10.01 still shows 1,500 MW (stale).

Not bound by the rule

Net metering statute §7-306 contains specific provisions for municipal utilities and cooperatives, i.e. they offer net metering too; PSC-regulated coops (SMECO, Choptank) follow COMAR 20.50.09.

Other utilities in Maryland

All Maryland utilities →

Gridpol Unlimited

$500 / month

Unlimited interconnection applications. 12-month agreement, signed online. The agreement starts the day you sign; first invoice right away, then monthly.

  • Unlimited interconnection applications
  • Single-line diagram and site plan for every application
  • Pre-submission check against the utility’s requirements
  • Homeowner e-signature link for the authorization
  • Filing in your utility portal accounts or by the utility’s method
  • Utility questions, corrections and resubmissions
  • Follow-up through approval, inspection and PTO
  • Customer list, exports, API and webhooks
Get started

Applications are typically submitted within 2 business days after complete documents. Utility review times are set by each utility.

Get started – $500/month unlimited