A solar array is only as good as the wiring behind it. We’re the licensed electrician half of going solar across Anne Arundel County — the part that ties your panels into the BGE grid safely and to code. From a 1950s Cape in West Annapolis with a 100-amp panel that won’t pass the math, to a new build in Two Rivers already roughed in for a battery, we handle the main-panel interconnection, the AC disconnect by the meter, the conductor runs, and the net-metering tie-in. We don’t sell modules or climb on your roof. We make sure the electrical is done right, inspected once, and signed off by BGE without a callback. David Williams Electric — 30+ years, Maryland master license #11734, up-front pricing, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
What the electrician actually does on a solar job
Most homeowners in Severna Park and Arnold think “solar” means panels and a roof crew. The wiring is a separate trade, and in Maryland it has to be pulled by a licensed electrician. That’s the work we own: the point of interconnection.
On a typical Anne Arundel home that means tying the array into your main service panel under the NEC 120% rule, installing the lockable AC disconnect the utility requires next to the BGE meter, running the conductors from the inverter to the panel, and wiring the production meter and net-metering connection so every kilowatt you don’t use spins your credit, not waste. Where the array is DC-coupled, we set the rapid-shutdown and grounding so the system is safe for firefighters and passes inspection the first time.
We coordinate with whatever solar company sold you the panels. You don’t have to referee between trades — we speak their language and the county inspector’s.
The 120% rule, your panel, and why so many county homes need an upgrade
Here’s the catch that surprises people in Pasadena and Glen Burnie: your existing electrical panel may not legally accept a solar backfeed. The NEC 120% rule limits how much the busbar can carry, and a lot of homes here are running 100-amp or older 150-amp panels that simply run out of room once a solar breaker is added.
When the math doesn’t work, you have two honest options and we’ll tell you which fits: a line-side tap ahead of the main breaker, or a service and panel upgrade to a modern 200-amp setup. We size it for your actual array, not a guess, and we give you the number up front — no “we’ll see when we open it up.”
This is also where a lot of corner-cutting happens. We’d rather lose a job than backfeed a panel that can’t take it, because that’s a fire risk and an inspection failure waiting to happen.
Battery-ready, hybrid inverters, and the protected subpanel
More Crofton and Odenton homeowners are asking us to wire solar so a battery can be added later — smart, given how often a strong storm off the Bay knocks BGE power out in this part of the county. Whether you want backup now or just want the option, the wiring decisions are made today.
For a hybrid or battery-ready system we land the inverter, set a protected (backed-up) subpanel, and move your true essentials onto it — well pump, sump pump, fridge, a few circuits that matter when the lights go out. We make sure the transfer and anti-islanding are wired so the system disconnects from the grid the instant BGE goes down, which is both code and what keeps a lineman safe.
If you’re battery-ready today, we leave the conductors, breaker space, and disconnect staged so adding the battery later is a clean afternoon, not a rip-out.
Permits, BGE, and inspection — handled the local way
Anne Arundel County runs its own permits and inspections out of Annapolis, and BGE has its own interconnection application and net-metering process on top of that. Two separate approvals, two sets of rules, and a solar install isn’t energized until both sign off.
We pull the county electrical permit, wire to what the inspector here actually wants to see, and prepare the work so your interconnection paperwork with BGE clears without a back-and-forth. Many of our customers live in HOA neighborhoods — Heritage Harbour, Tanyard Cove, the Severn River communities — where the panels may need architectural review, but the electrical and meter work is between you, the county, and BGE. We keep our half moving so you’re not waiting on us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you install the solar panels and the roof racking too?
No — and that's on purpose. We're licensed electricians, not a roofing or racking crew. We handle the electrical side: the panel interconnection, AC disconnect, conductor runs, and net-metering wiring. We work alongside whatever solar company supplied your panels, or we'll connect a system you bought yourself. It keeps the trades honest and the wiring done by someone licensed to do it in Maryland.
Will my existing electrical panel handle solar, or do I need an upgrade?
It depends on your panel's busbar rating and main breaker — the NEC 120% rule sets a hard limit on how much solar you can backfeed. A lot of older Anne Arundel homes on 100-amp or aging 150-amp panels run out of room and need either a line-side tap or a 200-amp service upgrade. We check the actual math on your panel before quoting and tell you up front which path you're on, with the price.
Can you wire my solar so I can add a battery later for storm backup?
Yes, and it's one of the most common requests we get in this county, given how often Bay storms take BGE power down. We can install a hybrid or battery-ready setup with a protected subpanel for your essentials — well pump, sump, fridge — and stage the conductors and disconnect so adding the battery later is quick. Decide on backup now and the wiring's ready when the battery is.
Who handles the BGE interconnection and county permit?
We pull the Anne Arundel County electrical permit and wire to what the inspector in Annapolis expects, and we prep the electrical so your BGE interconnection and net-metering application clears cleanly. BGE and the county are two separate approvals — your system can't be energized until both sign off — and we keep our half moving so nothing stalls on the electrical.
What does the solar electrical work cost?
It depends on whether your panel needs an upgrade, the conductor run length, and whether you're going battery-ready — but you'll get a clear, up-front number before we start, not a surprise once the panel's open. That's been how David Williams Electric has worked for 30+ years, and every job is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Maryland master license #11734.
Serving Anne Arundel County
David Williams Electric provides solar installations throughout Anne Arundel County, including Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Severna Park, Pasadena, Crofton, Arnold, Odenton. Explore all Anne Arundel County electrical services or learn more about solar installations across Maryland. Call (410) 781-4357 for a free, up-front quote.
