Sections
- Costs Are Getting Higher
- Weatherization Through Utility Company
- Weatherization With DHCD
- Medical Certification Form
Costs are Getting Higher
Your energy bill is partially dependent on the cost it takes BGE to deliver gas and electricity to your home. According to the Office of People’s Counsel (OPC), BGE’s gas and electric delivery charges have increased by roughly 50% and 30% since 2020, respectively. If this rate increase seems high, it’s because it is! In fact, the distribution rates of gas and electricity have increased faster than the rate of inflation.
Another important factor in your energy bill amount is usage. During winter and summer months, households typically use more electricity and gas in order to heat or cool their homes, leading to more expensive energy bills. While energy bills continue to rise, there are actions you can take to potentially lower future costs. In this article, we go through assistance programs and energy-saving tips that you can implement right now to hopefully lower your next energy bill.
(Graphs from the OPC showing gas/electric distribution rates compared to inflation)
Weatherization Through Utility Company
On the cost breakdown of your energy bill, you will find a surcharge for the EmPOWER program. The EmPOWER program was created through the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act of 2008; it funds programs to help customers reduce their energy consumption, reduce gas emissions, and save money. According to a 2021 review, EmPOWER programs have generated $1.79 in benefits for every $1 spent.
If you receive services from these utility companies, it is in your best interest to use them because you are paying for them. The companies that offer energy efficiency programs through EmPOWER are:
- BGE
- Pepco
- Delmarva
- Potomac Edison
- SMECO
- Washington Gas
Most utility customers can request a Quick Home Energy Check-Up (or a Home Energy Improvement Program if you are a customer of SMECO) of their home. Eligibility is generally once every 5 years for an address. The check-up will include:
- Walkthrough: An energy professional will inspect the conditions of the insulation levels, air leakage, heating and cooling system, windows and doors, lighting and appliances, and water-heating equipment.
- Upgrades: Depending on the program and your home, the company may install the following items— LED light bulbs, Smart Thermostats, faucet aerators, efficient-flow showerheads, water heater pipe insulation, ShowerStart showerhead adapter, door sweeps, or foam tape weatherstripping— at no additional cost.
- Report: You’ll get a report of recommendations and advice to lower energy use and costs.
If you are a customer of Washington Gas, you can start by requesting their free Home Energy Assessment Kit via an online assessment. For an in-home ‘quick check-up’ audit, check your electric utility’s EmPOWER offerings.
Depending on your utility provider, visit the appropriate link:
Another energy saving program is Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® (HPwES) which is offered by BGE, Pepco, Potomac Edison, and Delmarva Power. The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® (HPwES) can help many households reduce energy use by up to 20% and get rebates for home improvement work. The cost for the HPwES program home audit is $100 (market value is $400).
Look here for more info on the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program.
Weatherization with DHCD
The Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development offers the Weatherization Assistance Program, which seeks to reduce the amount of energy used to power houses. Both homeowners and renters are eligible for the program.
Eligibility for the Maryland Weatherization Assistance Program is primarily determined by income limits and household size (refer to the table below). Households with individuals older than 60, disabilities, children, and/or high energy usage are given priority, though. Families who have received assistance from the supplementary security income, the temporary assistance for needy families, utilities assistance through the Office of Home Energy Programs, or Maryland energy assistance within the past year are automatically income eligible. However, individuals who have received benefits from Fuel Fund, Medicaid, MEA Energy Equity Grant, MEEHA, DHCD rehab programs, and the Baltimore Lead Hazard Control Program may not necessarily be income-eligible.
Income limits for the Weatherization Assistance Program based on household size:
| Household Size | 60% of State Median Income | 200% Federal Poverty Level |
| 1 | $48,085 | |
| 2 | $62,880 | |
| 3 | $77,675 | |
| 4 | $92,470 | |
| 5 | $107,265 | |
| 6 | $122,064 | |
| 7 | $124,835 | |
| 8 | $127,609 | |
| 9 | $130,383 | |
| 10 | $133,157 | |
| 11 | $141,300 | |
| Each additional person | +$11,000 |
You can initiate the application process for the Department of Housing & Community Development Weatherization Assistance Program by contacting your closest weatherization agency (contact information found here). The weatherization agency can determine your eligibility and will then perform an energy audit inspection. Through the program, you can expect insulation in floors and walls, hot water system improvements, and lighting changes, among other improvements to optimize energy usage.
Medical Certification Form
For individuals with serious illnesses who require medical equipment that uses power, they may be eligible for a medical certification form. The medical certification can inform utility companies that a shutoff would exacerbate existing health conditions and impede an individual’s ability to use vital medical equipment.
There are multiple benefits of having a medical certification form on file. In the event of weather-related emergencies, the form allows utility companies to be aware that your household may require additional assistance. However, it is important to note that your household does not get priority in restoring electricity during outages. Additionally, if you receive a shutoff notice from your utilities company but request a medical certification form, the shut-off will be paused for 30 days, and you can work with the utilities company to set up a payment plan to continue to receive benefits. Lastly, a medical certification form provides additional protections against utility shut-offs, including extra notice and time to arrange a payment plan, but it does not guarantee continued service indefinitely. Specifically, your utility company is required to make at least 2 outreach attempts before it can shut off your services. If they visit in-person, they will either provide a notice to an adult if present or leave the notice at the residence if no one is present. Alternatively, they can call you between business hours or after 6 PM if they couldn’t make successful contact earlier in the day.
It is important to note that a medical certification form will not enable you to receive services indefinitely, nor can it help turn your utilities back on if they are shut off.
If you are interested in getting a medical certification form on file with your utility company, you can either find it here or call your utility company (see table below) to request a form. The medical certification form requires your physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant to sign off and verify your illness. Once the form is complete, call your utility company to determine how to submit the form, and it is recommended to call again to confirm they have received it.
| Company | Phone Number |
| BGE | (800) 685-0123 |
| Pepco | (800) 424-8028 |
| Delmarva | (800) 375-7117 |
| Potomac Edison | (800) 686-0011 |
| SMECO | (888) 440-3311 |
| Washington Gas | (844) 927-4427 |
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