How Energy Costs
Affect Maryland
Households
Investing in state energy efficiency programs can help Maryland residents - especially low-income residents - save money on their utility bills, protect against energy price spikes, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build a more affordable and equitable electricity system for all.
The smartest way to achieve this goal is a state program called EmPOWER Maryland.
About EmPOWER Maryland
EmPOWER Maryland is a state program that helps homeowners, renters, and businesses save energy and money. The program provides incentives and technical assistance to improve insulation, seal air leaks, and install energy-efficient appliances in homes and buildings. The upgrades are funded by a monthly surcharge on customer utility bills that averages less than $6 per month. The program is administered by Maryland’s six largest utilities and the Maryland Department of
Housing and Community Development.
How EmPOWER Maryland Benefits Limited-Income Marylanders
Electricity is a regressive cost. Low-income Marylanders pay more than double what is considered a high energy burden, losing 13% of their household budget to energy bills. The lowest-income households in Maryland spend as much as 42% of their household budget on energy costs. Research shows this energy cost burden is racially unjust, hitting Black and brown households hardest.
In 2023, Maryland enacted legislation to use EmPOWER Maryland funds to provide more limited-income Marylanders with energy-saving retrofits of their homes and apartments. The goal is to achieve a 0.53% annual reduction in energy sales to limited-income households for 2024 and ramp up to a 1 percent annual reduction target by 2026. Maryland Energy Efficiency Advocates are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure this goal is met.
How EmPOWER Maryland Benefits All Residents
EmPOWER Maryland delivers broad economic, environmental, and social benefits to the state’s residents. Here’s how:
Every dollar invested in EmPOWER Maryland returns $1.81 in benefits for Marylanders.
By reducing aggregate consumer demand for power, EmPOWER investments keep electric rates down for all of us.
It has saved Marylanders more than $4 billion on their energy bills and reduced statewide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 9.6 million metric tons.
Combined with other energy initiatives, EmPOWER Maryland has helped 21,000 low-income households save $340 annually on their electric bills.
Maryland could gain more than 68,000 new jobs and $3.75 billion in new gross domestic product as a result of investments through 2027 through
the EmPOWER Maryland.
EmPOWER Maryland is administered by six utilities and the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD). Learn more:
BGE | PEPCO | Delmarva Power | Potomac Edison | SMECO | WGL | DHCD |