If your utility bill’s past due balance is adding up during the pandemic, you’re not alone. Here’s some good news: Maryland and the regulated utilities — like BGE, Pepco, and Delmarva — took decisive steps to help residential customers. Managing the process can be tricky, so we’ve gathered the inside scoop to keep your power on and ease your family’s energy burdens.
Maryland’s state energy assistance coffer got a serious injection of cash to help pay down residential utility bills. Today, there’s about $150 million available to help income-qualified households tackle growing utility bills.
Maryland’s energy assistance program, known as the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP), is designed to help low-income households’ utility bills be more affordable. A turn-off notice isn’t necessary to apply for OHEP energy assistance; it’s an income-based benefit. That’s key as utilities have been mailing hundreds of thousands of turn-off notices since October 2020 based on a record number of accounts behind on payment. Because of the pandemic’s financial fallout, utilities did extend the pay-off time to avoid termination from 14 to 45 days to pay off a past-due bill. And, utilities are now offering their customers 12- or 24-month payment plans.
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