1-888-373-7888
233733Need Help Paying Your Bill or Have a Termination Notice?
Where can I get help with paying my heating and electric bills?
The Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP), within the Maryland Department of Human Services, is available to help consumers who need help with paying their winter heating and/or yearly electric bills. Consumers may apply for the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) for help with their heating bill (gas, electric or oil). Payments are made directly to the customer’s fuel provider or utility company one time per year.
In addition, consumers may apply for the Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP). This program provides assistance dollars that are applied to reduce future electric bills. The consumer is required to participate in budget billing to receive this grant. The grant is available once per program year. Consumers may also be eligible for help with past due electric bills provided they had not received arrearage retirement assistance within the past seven years. For more information, including the income eligibility requirements, contact OHEP.
The Fuel Fund of Maryland is also an assistance resource. The Fuel Fund pays a portion of an eligible customer’s outstanding bill—the customer is responsible for paying the rest. Customers must have received all other government and program help first before contacting Fuel Fund. Households can receive help from Fuel Fund once every 12 months.
If I receive a termination notice, what help can I get from the Consumer Affairs Division (CAD)?
If customers receive a termination notice, they must first contact the utility company to request an extension and/or a payment arrangement. Often if a customer contacts the utility before the notice expires, the utility will try to work with the customer as long as they are able to make a reasonable offer to pay what is owed. If the utility is not willing to give the customer an extension and/or payment arrangement, customers can contact CAD for assistance. CAD is not a consumer advocacy office, but will try to assist with obtaining an additional extension or payment arrangement. However, customers are required to tell CAD how they intend to pay on past due bills in addition to keeping up on current charges. CAD will refer customers to OHEP and Fuel Fund, and may suggest additional places for customers to contact.
How do I contact CAD?
CAD staff is available Monday through Friday, except holidays, between 9 a.m.-Noon and 1-4 p.m. To reach CAD, call toll-free at 1-800-492-0474, option #3 then press #1 or call (410) 767-8028, press #1. You can also file an online request for an extension and/or payment arrangement through our website.
My gas and/or electric service has been turned off – what should I do?
If gas and/or electric service has been turned off, first contact the utility to find out what payment is required to have service restored. The utility, by law, can require that a customer pay the entire past due bill, a reconnection fee, and part of a deposit as a condition to restore service. If unable to pay this amount, customers should seek assistance from OHEP first. If qualified for assistance, the MEAP grant can be used to pay off the arrearage.
In addition, customers should apply for EUSP. This program provides assistance dollars that are applied to reduce future electric bills. Customers are required to participate in budget billing to receive this grant. In addition, customers may be eligible for help with past due electric bills provided they had not received arrearage retirement assistance within the past seven years.
Finally, customers should apply for the Utility Service Protection Program (USPP). As a USPP participant, service can be reconnected between November 1 and March 31 without paying a reconnection fee and deposit. For more information about these programs, including the income eligibility requirements, contact OHEP.
After applying for these grants and there is still not enough to have service reconnected, customers should contact the Fuel Fund of Maryland. The Fuel Fund pays a portion of an eligible customer’s outstanding bill—the customer is responsible for paying the rest. Customers must have received all other government and program help first before contacting Fuel Fund. Households can receive help from Fuel Fund once every 12 months. Additional referral information is provided.
