EmPOWER Maryland Low Income Energy Efficiency Program
Administered by Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
EmPOWER Maryland offers free energy efficiency upgrades to low-income homeowners whose household income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level (ranging from $72,950 for one person to $137,550 for eight, with $13,750 added per additional household member) and who are customers of participating utilities (BGE, Delmarva Power, FirstEnergy, Pepco, SMECO, or Washington Gas). To apply, submit an online pre-application or paper application; once eligible, a local agency will schedule a free energy audit, discuss recommended improvements like insulation, furnace repairs, lighting upgrades, or refrigerator retrofits, and send a contractor to complete the work at no cost to you, followed by a post-installation evaluation. You may also receive guidance on energy-saving behaviors to further reduce your monthly power bills and improve home comfort and air quality.
Under EmPOWER Maryland, you will be matched with eligible low-income homeowners identified through local agencies after they complete energy audits; your role is to install recommended improvements such as attic/floor/wall insulation, hot water system improvements, lighting retrofits, furnace cleaning/tuning/safety repairs, refrigerator retrofits, and health and safety items, all provided at no cost to the participant. Program requirements include completing work according to the audit recommendations and participating in post-installation evaluations to ensure the home operates efficiently; note that activities may be limited to services (e.g., furnace re-tuning) rather than full equipment replacement depending on what the audit identifies.
EmPOWER Maryland, administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, serves low-income households with incomes below 250% FPL across six participating utility service territories (BGE, Delmarva Power, FirstEnergy, Pepco, SMECO, Washington Gas). The program flow involves online or paper applications, income and utility eligibility verification, energy audits performed by local agencies, contractor coordination for improvement installation, and post-installation evaluations; participants automatically qualify if enrolled in SNAP, TANF, SSI, HUD housing assistance, or other designated assistance programs, and the program also accepts applicants from specific local initiatives like Baltimore's Lead Hazard Control Program and MEEHA.
Program details
- Program ID
- 5327
- Last updated
- 8/1/2025
Eligibility
- Technologies
- refrigerators/freezers lighting furnaces building insulation custom/others pending approval other ee
Incentive amount
FY 2013: $2.575 million
Program summary
Note: The eligible technologies listed above are only examples of some improvements that might be supported under this program as detailed on the program web site. Not all potentially eligible improvements will be appropriate for all participants and activities may be limited to services rather than outright equipment replacement (e.g., re-tuning rather than replacing a furnace).
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) EmPOWER Maryland Low Income Energy Efficiency Program helps qualifying low-income residents increase the energy efficiency of their homes at no cost to program participants.
Eligibility
The program is available to state residents that have a total household income that is less than the values listed below, updated in February 2023, and are customers of utilities that participate in the broader EmPOWER Maryland initiative (BGE, Delmarva, PE, Pepco and SMECO). Residents must be able to prove ownership of their home in order to qualify. If the resident is a renter, the landlord must be able to prove ownership of the residence and agree to participate in the program. The table provides eligibility guidelines based on annual household income:
Size of family unit | Maximum annual household income |
1 | $72,950 |
2 | $83,400 |
3 | $93,800 |
4 | $104,200 |
5 | $112,550 |
6 | $120,900 |
7 | $129,250 |
8 | $137,550 |
For each additional person beyond 8, add $13,750 to the total.
Program Description
In order to participate in the program, residents must apply through the appropriate local agency or submit an online application (see program web site for details). Once an applicant has been deemed eligible for the program, an energy audit will be performed on the home to identify appropriate energy efficiency improvements. Improvements may include attic, floor and wall insulation; lighting upgrades; hot water system improvements; furnace cleaning, tuning, and safety repairs; refrigerator retrofits; and health and safety measures. After the appropriate improvements have been selected, a contractor will visit the home to complete the recommended work, at no cost to the resident. Participants may also receive guidance on saving energy with behavioral changes. After the work has been completed, a post-installation evaluation will be performed to ensure that the home continues to operate efficiently.
Please see the program web site for application information and further details on income eligibility criteria.
Contact & resources
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
