Maryland’s EmPOWER initiative offers residents and businesses comprehensive energy savings programs, transforming utility charges into tangible financial and environmental benefits across the state.
- Energy Savings Powerhouse: Maryland’s EmPOWER program has generated $14.5 billion in customer savings since 2008, delivering an impressive $3.54 return for every dollar invested in energy efficiency measures.
- Utility-Specific Accessibility: Utility Assistance ensuring consistent energy-saving opportunities across different service territories.
- Home Energy Audits: Your Savings Roadmap: Professional energy audits are significantly subsidized, typically costing just $100-$150 for most homeowners, providing a comprehensive assessment that identifies precise opportunities for energy and cost reduction.
- Income-Qualified Enhanced Support: Low- and moderate-income households can access zero-upfront-cost energy improvements, including free home energy audits and direct installation of efficiency upgrades targeting meaningful bill reductions.
- Comprehensive Program Coverage: EmPOWER Maryland offers diverse rebate programs spanning residential and commercial sectors, including ENERGY STAR® appliances, heat pumps, home weatherization, and smart home technology installations.
- 2025 Strategic Focus: The program now integrates climate commitments with energy savings, prioritizing heat pump installations, building electrification, and greenhouse gas reduction while providing targeted support for low-income households.
Transform that small EmPOWER charge on your utility bill into meaningful savings by exploring the programs tailored to your specific needs and household profile.
Introduction
Maryland households waste $200-400 annually on preventable energy loss—money that disappears through leaky windows, inefficient appliances, and outdated HVAC systems you’re already paying to run.
The EmPOWER Maryland program returns those losses as cash rebates and free services. You’ve been funding it through a small monthly charge on your utility bill since 2008. Now it’s time to claim what you’ve already paid for.
This isn’t a future tax credit or complicated grant application. Your existing utility company—BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, Potomac Edison, or SMECO—administers direct rebates and no-cost installations through programs designed for straightforward participation.
The math is transparent: Maryland has invested $4.1 billion in EmPOWER since launch, generating $14.5 billion in verified customer savings. That’s $3.54 returned for every dollar spent, delivered through lower monthly bills starting the moment you complete an upgrade.
What makes 2025 different:
- Enhanced rebates for heat pumps and building electrification
- Expanded zero-cost programs for income-qualified households
- Streamlined multi-meter support for businesses
- Direct coordination with climate incentives for stacked savings
Whether you’re a homeowner facing unpredictable utility bills, a renter seeking quick efficiency wins, or a business managing multiple locations, EmPOWER provides tiered programs matching your specific situation.
Income-qualified residents receive the deepest benefits: free comprehensive energy audits and zero-upfront-cost installations of insulation, air sealing, and efficient equipment. Standard-tier participants access substantial rebates reducing out-of-pocket costs by 50-70% on qualifying improvements.
The program’s structure eliminates the typical barriers—no separate applications to unknown agencies, no waiting for distant approval processes. Your utility handles administration, contractor verification, and rebate processing through systems you already use to manage your account.
Here’s exactly how EmPOWER works, which programs deliver the fastest payback for your home or business, and how to access benefits available in your specific utility territory.
What Is EmPOWER Maryland and How Does It Work?
EmPOWER Maryland is the state’s flagship energy efficiency initiative helping residents and businesses cut energy use and lower utility bills since 2008.
The program works through your existing utility company—same wires, smarter savings. You already pay a small monthly surcharge labeled “EmPOWER MD Charge” on your bill; this program returns that investment through rebates, free audits, and direct installation services.
Proven Results: $14.5 Billion Saved Since 2008
The numbers demonstrate real impact. Maryland has invested $4.1 billion in the program since launch, generating $14.5 billion in customer savings on efficiency measures.
That’s $3.54 returned for every dollar invested—delivered through lower monthly bills, not future promises. These energy efficiency programs in Maryland deliver measurable financial relief directly to households and businesses.
Oversight Ensures Consistent Standards
The Maryland Public Service Commission regulates program performance and customer protections across all utility territories.
This oversight guarantees consistent quality standards, verified contractor credentials, and measurable energy savings regardless of which utility you use.
2025 Focus: Electrification and Emissions
This year emphasizes three priorities: heat pump installations, building electrification, and greenhouse gas reduction.
Enhanced funding targets low- and moderate-income households with zero-upfront-cost improvements and deeper rebate levels. The EmPOWER Maryland energy savings now integrate directly with the state’s climate commitments, positioning efficiency upgrades as both money-savers and environmental solutions.
EmPOWER transforms the small charge on your utility bill into accessible rebates and services that reduce energy waste, with your utility handling all administration for straightforward participation.
Comprehensive Overview of Available Programs and Services
EmPOWER Maryland offers diverse programs tailored to different customer types and needs. Whether you’re a homeowner replacing an aging HVAC system or a business upgrading lighting across multiple locations, the program provides both standard rebates and custom solutions designed to reduce your upfront costs.
Proven Energy Savings Results
The portfolio spans residential, commercial, and industrial sectors with proven results: since 2008, participants have captured $14.5 billion in energy savings on installed efficiency measures at a program cost of $4.1 billion. These energy efficiency programs in Maryland deliver consistent value across all customer segments.
Residential Program Categories
Standard rebate programs cover the equipment and improvements that deliver measurable savings:
- Appliance and Equipment Rebates: ENERGY STAR® appliances, efficient HVAC systems, heat pumps, and water heaters
- Home Energy Audits: Professional assessments identifying your home’s specific opportunities with implementation support
- Weatherization and Insulation: Building envelope improvements including air sealing and insulation upgrades
- Smart Home Technology: Programmable thermostats and energy management systems
Commercial and Business Solutions
Business programs accommodate everything from single-location offices to complex industrial facilities:
- Prescriptive Rebates: Standard incentives for lighting, HVAC, refrigeration, and office equipment
- Custom Incentive Programs: Engineered solutions for unique processes or large-scale projects
- Multi-Meter Support: Coordinated programs for businesses with multiple locations
Income-Qualified Support Programs
Eligible households receive no-cost energy audits and efficiency installations through enhanced programs coordinated with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. This includes zero-upfront-cost improvements like insulation, air sealing, and efficient equipment installations that would typically require thousands in out-of-pocket spending.
Utility-Specific Program Access
Utility Assistance utility provider’s EmPOWER programs ensure you receive the specific incentives and support available in your area, making it simple to access the right efficiency solutions for your needs.
Home Energy Audits: Your Starting Point for Maximum Savings
A professional home energy audit pinpoints exactly where your house bleeds energy and drives up bills. EmPOWER Maryland subsidizes these assessments—typically $400-600—making them the smartest first step before investing in any upgrades.
Your energy auditor delivers a customized roadmap prioritizing improvements by ROI. Most Maryland homeowners recover audit costs within 12 months through identified savings.
What Your Energy Auditor Will Assess
A certified home performance assessment combines visual inspection with diagnostic testing to create your efficiency baseline. This comprehensive home energy assessment is the first step to a more comfortable and efficient home.
- Blower door test measuring air leakage and infiltration rates
- Thermal imaging revealing hidden heat loss through walls and around windows
- HVAC system efficiency evaluation including combustion safety checks
- Complete insulation inventory identifying gaps in attics and walls
- Appliance and lighting audit calculating current energy consumption
The typical Maryland home energy audit takes 2-3 hours and generates a detailed report within one week.
Understanding Audit Costs and Subsidies
EmPOWER reduces audit pricing significantly across utility territories. The EmPOWER Maryland Home Energy Audit program makes professional assessments accessible and affordable for all residents.
- Standard Maryland home energy audit: $400-600 before subsidies
- BGE customers: $100 out-of-pocket after utility incentive applied
- Pepco/Delmarva customers: Similar $100-150 subsidized pricing
- Income-qualified households: No-cost audits with immediate follow-up installations
Low- and moderate-income residents receive enhanced benefits including free energy efficiency improvements installed directly after the assessment.
Your Action Plan After the Audit
The auditor prioritizes improvements showing projected annual savings for each measure. You’ll receive ranked recommendations from quick wins to major upgrades with estimated payback periods.
Your home energy audit report Maryland becomes your efficiency roadmap—addressing the biggest energy wasters first maximizes both comfort improvements and utility bill reductions.
Understanding Eligibility Requirements Across Program Tiers
EmPOWER Maryland eligibility spans three distinct tiers, each offering progressively enhanced benefits. Most Maryland utility customers automatically qualify for standard programs—the key differentiator is your income level and utility service territory.
Your eligibility tier determines rebate amounts, out-of-pocket costs, and whether you receive free installation services or standard incentives.
Standard Program Eligibility
All residential and commercial customers of participating utilities qualify for base-level programs.
The EmPOWER Maryland initiative requires only a few basic criteria for standard participation:
- Active utility account in good standing
- Property located within Maryland state boundaries
- No income verification required for standard rebates
Business customers with multiple meters receive specialized support through dedicated commercial program tracks.
Income-Qualified Enhanced Benefits
Low- and moderate-income households access significantly enhanced programs with no-cost energy audits and zero-upfront-cost installations. These households receive priority benefits including free comprehensive energy audits and no-cost installation of insulation and air sealing.
Income thresholds vary by household size and utility territory, with most programs using 200% of Federal Poverty Level benchmarks.
Commercial and Multi-Family Requirements
Commercial customers and building owners face specific eligibility criteria including minimum facility size thresholds and multi-meter documentation. The program’s energy efficiency programs for income-qualified households ensure equitable access across all community segments.
2025 funding allocations specifically target increased participation in underserved communities. If you pay an “EmPOWER MD Charge” on your utility bill, you’ve already funded these programs and should explore which tier maximizes your available benefits.
Conclusion
That monthly EmPOWER charge on your utility bill isn’t just another fee—it’s already funding rebates, free audits, and direct installations waiting for you to claim. Maryland residents have captured $14.5 billion in verified savings since 2008, and 2025’s enhanced funding makes participation more accessible than ever.
The smartest first move? Schedule your subsidized home energy audit for $100-150 (or free if you’re income-qualified). This single assessment reveals exactly where your home wastes energy and creates a prioritized action plan showing projected savings for every improvement.
Most Maryland homeowners recover their audit cost within 12 months through implemented recommendations. The assessment takes 2-3 hours, generates a detailed roadmap within a week, and transforms vague efficiency goals into concrete savings opportunities with verified payback periods.
You’ve already invested in these programs through your monthly utility charge. The only question is whether you’ll capture the rebates and services you’ve been funding—or leave thousands in available savings sitting on the table.
Same utility. Smarter supply. Your efficiency upgrade starts with one phone call to your utility’s EmPOWER program desk.
