Utilities

Office of Home Energy Programs Application (OHEP)

MEAP, EUSP, ARA & WEES

Services offered through the OHEP (Office of Home Energy Programs) application:

• • MEAP - Maryland Energy Assistance Program - Heating Assistance

    • Payments are made to the fuel supplier and the utility company on the customer’s behalf.

    • NOTE: if a clients heating is included in their rent they may not apply for MEAP but are still be eligible for EUSP.

  • EUSP - Electric Universal Service Program - Electric Assistance.

    • Eligible customers receive help that pays a portion of their current electric bills. Some EUSP participants may qualify for assistance with past due electric bills as well as referrals to energy efficiency programs. Customers who receive EUSP are placed on a budget billing plan with their utility company.

  • ARA - Arrearage Retirement Assistance - Pay Large, Past Due Electric and Gas Bills

    • helps customers that have a large, past due electric bill, in combination with the electric and heating bill payment benefits.

    • If eligible, customers receive forgiveness of up to $2,000 towards their past-due bill, based off their actual bill amount. Customers must have a past due bill of $300 or greater to be considered eligible. Customers may only receive an Arrearage Grant once every seven years with certain exceptions.

  • WEES - Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Services

    • Customer information is referred to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for programs that can provide improvements and repairs to homes at no cost. These improvements can help lower utility bills and make the home more comfortable. DHCD’s energy efficiency and weatherization programs support the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act.

***Client must reapply for OHEP every fiscal year (June/July)***

1. Required Documents for OHEP Application

    - copy of applicant's photo identification

    - proof of residence (lease, mortgage statement etc.)

    - copy of Social Security cards for all household members

    - proof of all gross income the household received in the last 30 days

    - copy of most recent utility bill or termination notice (if applicable)

    - copy of most recent heating fuel bill or receipt (if applicable)

2. Check your client's income eligibility for the service(s) they need.

    - income standards on OHEP Brochure (in supplemental materials)

3. Work with client on applying for OHEP in one of the following ways:

    - In person at their local energy assistance office

    - To find the nearest office, call 1-800-332-6347 or search here.

    - On paper (application below); submit directly or mail to the energy assistance office

    - If they have access to a computer, apply online here.

    - If a client applies online, they can track the status of their application through their   

            account

    - A home visit can be arranged to apply for senior citizens or other persons with special 

            medical needs

OHEP Follow-Up

1. Follow up to confirm that the client submitted the application at the Community Action Center

2. Check their application status here

3. Confirm client received letter of approval

4. If you or the client are having trouble contacting the proper BGE/OHEP representative over the 

        phone, go to the nearest energy assistance office (found in step 3 above) and make a 

        meeting.

Additional Programs

    - For more information on Utility Service Protection Programs, Budget Billing, Energy     

            Efficiency Programs, & Bill Crediting, click here

    - Fuel Fund

        - helps in accordance with OHEP to pay fuel bill application online

        - great for people who are ineligible for OHEP

    - DSS Emergency Services for Families with Children 

        - for families in emergency situations online

        - apply at the local DSS

    - Public Service Commission

        - helps create a payment plan for clients to pay their bill gradual

        - call 410-767-8000 to create the plan

CLIENTS MAY USE A COMBINATION OF ABOVE RESOURCES

Target Time for Successful Resolution:  4 Weeks

For more information on all services through OHEP, refer to the 2020 OHEP Brochure at the bottom of the page.

For Spanish speaking clients, a brochure in Spanish is also available. 

Check the Status

of My Application

Apply for

Utility Assistance

Applying for Energy Assistance

Energy Assistance is a year round program. You can apply at any time during the year, but you can only receive benefits once each year and must reapply each fiscal year (July- June).

If you are having trouble affording your utility or heating bill, you do not need a turn off notice to qualify for assistance. The Office of Home Energy Programs strongly encourages you to apply for assistance before you receive a turn-off notice so that funds can be applied to your account as soon as possible. All OHEP program eligibility is income-based and you do not need a turn off notice to qualify for assistance.

Customers may apply through any one of the following methods:

• You can apply online by visiting: https://mydhrbenefits.dhr.state.md.us

• Remember to upload all of your documents along with your application.

• Submitting your documents separately from your online application will delay your application

Drop Boxes

Energy Assistance offices have secure drop boxes available to receive your application and documents.

• First, download and print the Application for Energy Assistance. You can also request a paper application by calling 1-800-332-6347.

• Next, complete your application and gather your documents. You can find a list of documents that you should include in your application by here: Instructions Form

• Once you have your completed application and documents, take them to your local office’s drop box and submit them.

• Baltimore City residents should drop applications at the nearest CAP Center. For a list of locations, click here: https://www.bmorechildren.com/cap/#location

Mail-in Applications

To apply by mail, you can request an application be mailed to you, or print a copy of the application and mail it, along with copies of all your documents to your local Energy Assistance office. To see a full list of locations please visit:

https://dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-home-energy-programs/local-home-energy-program-office/

Telephone

Energy Assistance offices can accept applications over the phone. However, you will need to email or mail your documents to the local office after your information has been taken. Energy assistance does not need documents to be scanned, we can accept clear pictures of your documents where text is visible.

In-person

Call your local office to schedule an appointment. To see a full list of locations please visit: https://dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-home-energy-programs/local-home-energy-program-office/

Information Needed with Application

1. Copy of Applicant’s photo identification

2. Proof of Residency

3. Copies of Social Security cards for the entire household (including children)

4. Proof of your household’s total Gross income for the last 30 day period

5. A copy of your most recent Utility bill, termination notice (if applicable)

6. A copy of your most recent heating fuel bill or receipt (if applicable)

Restoring Services that are Currently Cut Off

Restoration of services should ONLY be open if a clients services have been cut off.

*If they have received a shut off notice but the clients services are still on go to the Shut Off Protection tab* 

Restoration of Services:

1. Advocate can call BGE: 800-685-0123 (press "0" to talk to representative), describe client's situation without using a name, ask what the clients current options are

2. If client wants to, do a three-way call with advocate, BGE, and your client to discuss payment options

Typically to restore services at least a portion of the due bill must be paid:

1. ARA - Arrearage Retirement Assistance through OHEP (in heating, energy, electric tab) can offer up to $2000 toward a past due bill

    - Bill must be greater

    - NOTE: OHEP application for ARA may take weeks.

2. If there is a crisis, emergency funds can be used.

    - Follow this link to 211 MD website

    - Scroll down and click on the square for utility assistance

    - Under the "Do you need help paying your utility bills?" tab, click the service your client needs assistance with

    - This will lead you to a list of locations that may be able to provide emergency funding to clients

    - Find the locations closest to the client, call the location confirm they are currently offering utility shut-off assistance

    - Give your client 3-5 options with the hours, paperwork needed (if any)

3. Fuel Fund

    - program created to help clients paying utility bills, they will pay a portion of a clients bill directly to BGE

    - can be used BOTH when client recives shut off notice or when a clients serivces have been shut off

        For current eligibility standards click here.

        A client must compete an application here.

        Processing of application takes 3 days, takes 3-4 weeks for all payment and matching credit to be applied to account.

Follow Up

1. Follow up with client to ensure their services have been restored

2. Walk them through application for OHEP, to offer discounted services

3. When services have been restored direct them through Shut Off Protection services to prevent shut off from occurring again

Target Time for Successful Resolution: 1-2 Weeks

Shut Off Protection

Shut Off Protection used when a clients services have NOT been shut off yet.

They can apply if they have received a shut-off notice or want simply want to protect their services.

*If a clients' services are currently shut off refer to the Restoration of Services tab*

Emergency Protection/ Payment Plans

Applying for an emergency extension through BGE.

1. To be eligible for an extension, a customer must be in good standing and current on their BGE bills at the time of the request.

    - A due date extension request can be made again 90 days after the initial request as long as the customer has paid the bill by the extension date.

2. Client can call BGE alone or, if possible, do a three-way call with advocate, client, & BGE:  1-800-685-0123 (press "0" for representative).

    - Ask for an personal extension on the bill

    - Mention to BGE if there are any children younger than 12-months, or members that need necessary medical equipment in the household (may     

    need a physician signature) **This MAY NOT guarantee an extension

    - When calling, client should have their 10-digit billing account number ready.

3. If the client is able, OHEP may be able to apply grants towards your electric and gas bill in order to avoid termination of service.

    - Call your local OHEP office to schedule an appointment to apply for assistance.

    - Tell them that you have a turn-off notice.

        - Client may still have to pay off portion of bill

Fuel Fund

    - Program created to help clients paying utility bills, they will pay a portion of a clients bill directly to BGE

    - Can be used BOTH when client receives shut off notice or when a clients services have been shut off

1. For current eligibility standards, click here.

2. A client must complete an application here.

3. Processing of application takes 3 days, takes 3-4 weeks for all payment and matching credit to be applied to account.

Emergency Assistance to Families with Children (EAFC)

    - Provides emergency cash assistance to families who need emergency help paying rent or utilities or for other emergencies.

    - These funds are available through the local department once every two years when funds are available.

1. For eligibility and required documents click here

2. Clients apply at their local DSS office once every two years.

Long Term Protection Plans

1. Introduce the OHEP application (in the heating, electric, and energy tab) to your client. If they have not already, encourage them to apply to 

    MEAP and EUSP for discount rates or budget billing plans.

2. If a client already has MEAP they are automatically eligible for USPP (Utility Service Protection Protection).

USPP - Utility Service Protection Program through OHEP

    - Designed to protect low-income families for utility turn-offs during the heating season (winter)

    - ALL MEAP eligible customers can participate in USPP

    - Requires year round, even monthly budget billing

        - Failure to make consecutive payments may result in removal from program

Success = Client confirms they have shut off protection

Target time for successful resolution = 1 week

Telephone Subsidies

There are 16, Lifeline Assistance, free government cell phone providers in Maryland.

Each provider offers different plans with different numbers of minutes, texts, different refill options, and serve different geographic areas.

1. Find out what your client is looking for...

    - do they already have a phone and need a reduced phone plan?

    - do they need a cell phone for free and a phone plan?

    - where do they live? (certain plans only cover certain locations)

    - do they prefer more minutes, texts, or data for their phone?

2. See if the client fits into the eligibility requirements

    - the requirements are found at the bottom of this webpage

    - if client is eligible for SNAP they are eligible

3. Click through the options and find the plan that is the best fit for the client.

    - The complete list of free cell phone providers is here.

    - Once determined follow the link for the specific provider to apply

Success = Client confirms receipt of subsidies or cell phone

Target time for successful resolution: 1 week

EmPOWER Maryland

EmPOWER programs have the potential to provide cost-effective  long-term benefits, including reduced energy consumption and rates, avoided investments  in energy transmission and distribution, job creation, and improvements to the  environment. There are several options to save on energy bills that can be viewed in full on the EmPOWER Maryland website. 

• BGE Smart Energy Savers Program

  • Provides information on optimizing one's energy

  • Provides incentives on saving energy-- earn bill credits by enrolling in designated Energy Saving Days

Water Discount Rates

Baltimore City Department of Public Works offers several programs to assist qualifying Baltimore City customers who need, bill adjustments, payment plans, financial distance, or discounts on their water bills. A complete list of programs offered is found here.

Monthly Water Bill Payment Plan Program

    - Homeowners and tenants can apply for a payment plan that allows up to one year to pay a past due amount on their water/sewer bill without penalties or turn-off.

1. Eligibility Requirements

    - must be a City of Baltimore resident who receives a water/sewer bill directly from the city

    - must certify that he/she is the property owner of record with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, or one whose name is on the water bill

2. Eligible residents will apply by calling one of our water customer services analysts at 410-396-8963

3. The client will have two options for paying the unpaid balance

    - Zero percent (0%) down payment with the entire balance due to be paid in six equal monthly installment

    - Fifty percent (50%) of the balance owed with the remaining balance paid in 12 monthly installment

    - if client choses a down payment plan they must send an email to dpw.billing@baltimorecity.gov with proof of payment

(*The applicant must not have breached a payment plan with the Department of Public Works or City Law Department in the last 12 months and all customers must stay current on any bills incurred following the beginning of the payment agreement*)

Low-Income Water Assistance Program

    - helps Baltimore City Residents who have fallen behind on their water bill

    - clients, if accepted, receive a $179 grant toward their outstanding balance, and agree to make monthly payments toward this balance

    - the credit will reduce the downpayment on the water bill that is required to set up a payment plan

1. Eligibility Requirements are found here.

2. Applications must be mailed to the client by calling, 410-396-5398 or the client must go to the nearest Community Action Partnership Center (list located at the bottom of this webpage here.

Hardship Exemption

    - Eligible customers get a discount on their water bill by exempting them from paying the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fee and the Storm Water Remediation Fee (2 fees included in typical MD water bill)

    - Eligibility Requirements are found here; client must meet 2

    - application is mailed to client by calling 410-396-5398; or are available at local community action partnership center (listed at the bottom of this webpage and on express sheet below) 

    - to submit, email application and supporting information to dpw.billing@baltimorecity.gov or bring/mail completed application to 200 Holliday St. 4th floor, Baltimore, MD 21202

Medical Exemption Program**

    - an exemption program for residents with a documented medical condition or are the primary caregiver of another property resident whose health or medical equipment would be harmed by water turn-off (determined by a licensed medical professional)

    - homeowners and tenants can apply each each year if they meet this criteria

    - an owner or tenant may file an application for a Medical Exemption on behalf of another individual residing at the service address, provided that proof of residency for the individual with the medical condition is submitted

    - application can be mailed to client by calling 410-396-5398 or downloaded (also below)

    - submit the document in person at 200 Holliday St. First Floor, Room 8, Baltimore, MD 21202 or email to dpw.billing@baltimorecity.gov

                            Success: Client confirms enrollment into program or receipt of discount rate

Target time for successful resolution: 2-3 weeks