EmPOWER Maryland Limited Income Energy Efficiency Program
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Repairs and upgrades to a home can significantly reduce energy use throughout the year, which can give you a more comfortable home, lower monthly power bills and improve air quality and family health. Maryland's EmPOWER Program helps limited income households with installation of materials and equipment at no charge.
Complete an Easy Online Pre-Application
Or, complete a paper program application and submit all required documents to our office.
Program ApplicationSpanish Program Application
If you are currently approved to receive Energy Assistance payments from the Maryland Department of Human Services, you may contact our intake line at
1-855-583-8976.
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Eligibility
To be eligible to receive energy efficiency upgrades to your home, you need to:
- Meet income qualifications. Your household income needs to be lower than the limits based on household size, as shown in the table below.
- Be an eligible utility customer. You must have a utility account with one of six participating companies - BGE, Delmarva Power, FirstEnergy, Pepco, SMECO or Washington Gas.
Household Income Limits for Maryland's EmPOWER Program
1
| $68,500 |
| 2 | $78,250 |
| 3 | $88,050 |
| 4 | $97,800 |
| 5 | $105,650 |
| 6 | $113,450
|
| 7 | $121,300
|
| 8 | $129,100
|
| each additional person | add $13,450
|
Updated: 5/08/2024 | Effective 4/01/2024
Accepted as Income-Eligible
If you are currently an eligible participant in one of these programs, you are automatically income-eligible for weatherization services.
| Utility Bill Pay Assistance through OHEP | Accepted |
| Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | Accepted |
| Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Accepted |
| Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | Accepted |
| HUD housing assistance programs | Accepted |
| Fuel Fund Assistance | Accepted |
| DHCD Rehab Programs | Accepted |
| Baltimore Lead Hazard Control Program | Accepted |
| Medicaid | Accepted |
| MEA Energy Equity Grant | Accepted |
| MEEHA | Accepted |
| Geographical eligibility for certain areas | Accepted |
How Does the Program Work?
Once we have determined that your household is eligible to participate in the program, you will be contacted by a local agency that will schedule a time for your home to receive an energy audit. The audit will prioritize the most effective ways to reduce your energy costs while increasing comfort. The local agency will discuss the results of the energy audit with you and schedule a contractor to come out to your home to complete the recommended work. As part of this process, the local agency will ask you to share information on your energy bills and may talk to you about things that you and your family can do to save even more energy. After the energy efficiency upgrades have been made to your home, the local agency will conduct another evaluation of your home to ensure that your home is operating more efficiently.
The program may provide the following improvements to make your home safer, healthier and more energy efficient:
- Insulation in the attic, floors and walls;
- Hot water system improvements;
- Lighting retrofits;
- Furnace cleaning, tuning and safety repairs;
- Refrigerator retrofit, if applicable;
- Health and safety items.
Helpful Information and Other Resources
Links to additional programs and guidance on energy efficiency improvements:
More Information
Contact: Housing and Building Energy Programs
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
7800 Harkins Road, Lanham, MD 20706
Toll Free (Maryland Only): 1-855-583-8976
