Section 9-2016 - Customer-Sited Solar Program(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.(2) "Eligible customer-generator" has the meaning stated in § 7-306 of the Public Utilities Article.(3) "Low to moderate income" means a household with an annual household income at or below 150% of the average median income for the State.(4) "Program" means the Customer-Sited Solar Program established in this section.(b) There is a Customer-Sited Solar Program in the Administration.(c) The purpose of the Program is to: (1) increase deployment of customer-sited solar energy generating systems; and(2) provide grants to eligible customer-generators that have installed solar energy generating systems with or without energy storage.(d)(1) The Administration shall: (i) on or before January 1, 2025, establish application and income verification procedures for the Program; and(ii) award grants from the Program.(2) An applicant for a grant under this section shall:(i) include in the application an executed contract to purchase or lease a solar energy generating system or an executed power purchase agreement for the system;(ii) demonstrate that an agreement entered into between a third party and an eligible customer-generator meets the minimum benefits published under subsection (j) of this section; and(iii) include a signed disclosure form developed under subsection (l) of this section.(e) The Program may provide grants to an income-verified eligible customer-generator with a low to moderate income in an amount equal to $750 per kilowatt of nameplate capacity for a solar energy generating system, up to a maximum of $7,500 per system.(f) A grant awarded under subsection (e) of this section shall be funded from fees collected under § 7-705(b)(2)(i) 2 of the Public Utilities Article and allocated in accordance with § 9-20B-05(g-1) of this title.(g) The Administration shall use the income verification processes under § 7-306.2(f)(1)(iv) 1 through 6 of the Public Utilities Article to verify income for an eligible customer-generator with a low to moderate income.(h) A third party may: (1) apply for a grant on behalf of an eligible customer -generator with proof of consent from the eligible customer-generator; and(2) be assigned a grant by the eligible customer-generator to act on behalf of the eligible customer-generator.(i)(1) Funding used for grants under this section shall be monitored through an application process maintained by the Administration and visible on the Administration's website.(2) Data on the Administration's website shall: (i) include the amount of funding available, reserved, and spent for the fiscal year; and(ii) be updated regularly.(j) The Administration shall publish: (1) the disclosure form developed under subsection (l) of this section; and(2) the minimum benefits that an eligible customer - generator must receive under an agreement with a third party.(k) A solar energy generating system shall be installed within 180 days after a grant under this section is reserved by the Administration for an eligible customer-generator.(l)(1) The Administration shall develop a consumer protection policy in consultation with representatives of the customer-sited solar industry.(2) The consumer protection policy developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall: (i) include a disclosure form for solar energy power purchase agreements, solar energy lease agreements, and solar energy loan agreements that must be signed by an eligible customer-generator before entering into the agreement;(ii) for a solar energy power purchase agreement or a solar energy lease agreement, prohibit an annual rate increase of more than 3%;(iii) allow a customer-generator to cancel an agreement entered into with a third party up to 30 days after signing the agreement; and(iv) be easily accessible on the Administration's website and social media platforms.Added by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 595,Sec. 2, eff. 7/1/2024.