Maryland is gearing up for a serious cut to power costs. On Thursday, Governor Wes Moore rolled out a major expansion of the state's energy-assistance programs that officials say will directly lower bills for roughly 200,000 households.
Starting July 1, 2026, the state will increase standard energy benefits, in some cases by up to 32 percent, and send out $48 million in supplemental electric grants through the end of September. State officials say the new benefit formula could cover as much as 47 percent of electric bills and up to 55 percent of annual heating costs for the most vulnerable residents.
Framing the move as part of a broader affordability push, Moore said in a statement that no family should have to choose between paying a utility bill and putting food on the table. According to a press release from the Office of Governor Wes Moore, many of the improvements will kick in automatically for households that already received FY2026 Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) benefits. Acting Maryland Department of Human Services Secretary Stacy L. Rodgers said the changes are meant to help prevent shutoffs in both sweltering summers and freezing winters.
How the boost will work
The Maryland Department of Human Services' Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) says it plans to increase direct cash assistance across its energy programs, widen automatic enrollment, and streamline the application process.
According to OHEP, the state will:
- Increase benefit amounts across its energy-assistance programs
- Expand automated data matching to pull in households that already receive SNAP or Temporary Cash Assistance
- Simplify the Maryland Benefits One Application so people can enroll faster and with less paperwork
Supplemental EUSP grants, tiered by level of need, will be issued through September and automatically applied to accounts of households that have already received an FY2026 EUSP benefit. Assistance levels will vary based on household size, energy use, and financial situation, with the biggest boosts reserved for the lowest-income households.
Who qualifies and how to apply
State officials say the expansion widens eligibility by implementing House Bill 1532, which removes barriers to federal heat-based relief and extends state-funded EUSP access to households that had previously been excluded from federal programs.
The administration is also launching a Maryland Fuel Assistance program tailored to immigrant families who are not eligible for federally funded help. Residents can apply or check their status through the Maryland Benefits One Application, by mail, by using local drop boxes, or in person at local OHEP offices. Many eligible households will be flagged automatically through data matching with other benefit programs.
Why lawmakers say it is only part of the answer
Advocates have largely welcomed the extra help, but lawmakers in Annapolis have been quick to point out that temporary supplements and rebates will not fully resolve the underlying pressures driving utility rates.
During committee hearings, some legislators argued that direct rebates are often too small for families to feel any real difference, while others pushed for policies that would curb utility profit incentives and speed the buildout of additional in-state generation. That debate, detailed in reporting by WYPR, highlights a broader tension between short-term bill relief and longer-term changes to the state's energy system.
What households should do now
According to the governor's office and OHEP, households that already received an FY2026 EUSP benefit should see supplemental grants credited to their utility accounts automatically. Other eligible families can apply through the Maryland Benefits One Application portal.
The Maryland Public Service Commission has separately advanced a discounted-rate mechanism for limited-income customers, which officials say will further reduce the energy burden once utilities update their billing systems.
Residents who are unsure about their status can check applications online or call OHEP's hotline at 1-800-332-6347 for help.
The move builds on Moore's "Lower Bills and Local Power" agenda introduced earlier this year; for background, see coverage of the Lower Bills and Local Power agenda and reporting by CBS Baltimore. Officials say the supplemental EUSP grants will be available through September 30, 2026.
