You are here: Home /

Maryland State Public Benefit Funds for Rate Assistance

• Maryland's restructuring legislation, which was passed in April 1999, provided a $34 million universal service program (USP) to be administered by the Department of Human Resources (DHR) through the Maryland Energy Assistance Program.
  
  As of July 2000, DHR began collecting the universal service funds and operating the Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) that was authorized in restructuring legislation. The EUSP helps participants pay current and past due electric bills and provides weatherization measures.
  
  In 2004, DHR spent $28.7 million on rate assistance and $1.5 million for arrearage forgiveness. The Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs has projected that during SFY 2006 it will spend $27.8 million on electric bill assistance and $1.5 million on arrearage retirement payments (this amount is capped by statute), similar to its spending levels over the last several years.
  
  See updates due to electric utility restructuring.

LEVERAGING

2004: $27.5 million
2003: $29.1 million
2002: $26.8 million (includes energy efficiency)
2001: $27.3 million
2000: $6.4 million

Page last updated: October 21, 2011