Energy Efficiency and EmPOWER Maryland

The Maryland General Assembly has previously declared energy efficiency to be among the least expensive ways to meet the growing electricity demands of the state. This finding is repeatedly affirmed by national studies; energy efficiency is widely regarded as the least-cost energy resource option available today. Consistent with this declaration, the General Assembly passed the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act of 2008, which established a goal to reduce per capita electricity usage and peak demand 15 percent by 2015. The 2015 goals were met statewide.

In 2017, the General Assembly passed legislation that updated the EmPOWER statute to establish a new goal structure and cost-effectiveness requirements for the 2018-2020 and 2021-2023 program cycles. The new goal is an annual energy savings goal of 2% of gross energy sales. The Commission will continue to require utilities to establish any program that it deems appropriate and cost effective to encourage and promote the efficient use and conservation of energy.

As part of their EmPOWER Maryland portfolios, Maryland’s five largest electric utilities offer many programs to save your home or business energy and money. Programs include lighting and appliance rebates, HVAC, Home Performance with Energy Star, Energy Star New Homes, combined heat and power, and other efficiency services and/or measures for homes, businesses and industrial facilities. Natural gas offerings are available to eligible BGE and Washington Gas customers.

EmPOWER Maryland Fact Sheet

Find incentives offered by your utility using the following links:

BGE –  Residential Programs and Commercial Programs

Pepco – Residential Programs and Commercial Programs

Delmarva – Residential Programs and Commercial Programs

Potomac Edison – Potomac Edison’s Energy Saving Programs

SMECO – SMECO’s Energy Saving Programs

Washington Gas – Washington Gas Residential Programs and Commercial Programs

For low-income customers of BGE, Pepco, Delmarva, Potomac Edison, SMECO and WGL, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP).  This program assists low-income households with installation of energy conservation measures in their homes with zero out-of-pocket expenses.

For more information on the LIEEP program and to check your eligibility status, click the following link:

DHCD – Single Family and Multi Family

In addition to offering energy efficiency programs, BGE, Pepco, Delmarva and SMECO also offer incentives to customers with central air conditioning, for allowing the utility to cycle the air conditioner off and on during periods of high electricity demand.

For more information on your utility’s demand response program, click on the utility program link below:

BGE – PeakRewards

Pepco – Energy Wise Rewards

Delmarva – Energy Wise Rewards

SMECO – Cool Sentry

For the 2024-2026 program cycle, the Commission has established Case No. 9705. Filings, orders and notices for this program cycle can be found in this docket.

Filings, orders and notice for the 2021-2023 program cycle can be found in the docket for Case No. 9648.

In 2018, the Commission achieved its own efficiency by consolidating EmPOWER Maryland cases 9153, 9154, 9155, 9156, 9157 and 9362 into one proceeding – Case No. 9494 for the 2018-2020 program cycle.  (Filings and orders before this date can still be found using the old case numbers below):

Potomac Edison, Case No. 9153
Baltimore Gas and Electric, Case No. 9154
Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco), Case No. 9155
Delmarva Power & Light, Case No. 9156
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), Case No. 9157
Washington Gas Light, Case No. 9362