Empower maryland

Ready to upgrade your home for year-round comfort, lower energy bills, and cleaner air? The EmPOWER Maryland program can help! EmPOWER Maryland is the state’s energy efficiency program, created in 2008 to help reduce demand on Maryland’s electric grid by reducing energy waste. The program helps Marylanders save energy, lower bills, and make their homes more comfortable.

Read on…

Download a brochure here!

What is EmPOWER and what can it do for me?

Since 2008, EmPOWER Maryland has:

  • Helped Marylanders save over $4 billion on energy bills – a payback of $2 in benefits for every $1 spent.

  • Saved enough energy to power 1.5 million homes for a year.

  • By reducing energy usage, reduced the need for costly infrastructure upgrades like new substations and power lines, which keeps rates lower for everyone.

Maryland residents can get free or discounted home energy audits, insulation, and appliance tune-ups, health & safety repairs, and with new EmPOWER Maryland reforms passed in 2024, Marylanders with methane gas space and water heating can now access incentives and rebates for clean, efficient space and water heating which were previously reserved for those with electric heat. These incentives are available no matter your income or housing type.

Rebates include:

  • Up to $5,000 for an air- source heat pump

  • Up to $8,000 for a ground- source heat pump

  • $1,600 for a heat pump water heater

Highly efficient appliances like these don’t just cut bills — they protect your health and help Maryland reduce climate and air pollution:

  • Stay cool in summer & warm in winter AND keep utility bills lower.

  • Eliminate harmful air pollution that increases the risks of asthma and respiratory illnesses.

  • Slash climate pollution across Maryland.

Discounted services are available to all customers of participating Maryland utilities, including BGE, PE, DPL, PEPCO, WGL, and SMECO. In addition, the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development offers completely free services if your household income is below the following amounts.

# of people in household

Maximum gross pre-tax annual income for entire household

1

$72,950

2

$83,400

3

$93,800

4

$104,200

5

$112,500

6

$120,900

7

$129,250

8

$137,550

9

$151,300

10

$165,050

For each additional person, add $13,750.

If you rent you will need your landlord’s consent for any work done on the property, but eligibility is determined by YOUR income, not your landlord’s.

If your combined household income is lower than the amount listed above for your household size, you are eligible for free services through the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development. Go here and fill out their easy online pre-application to confirm your eligibility and get started: https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Energy-Home-Repair/pages/homeowner-grants/empower.aspx

If your combined household income is higher than the amount listed above for your household size, you are eligible for discounted services through your local utility provider. Go here and click on your utility provider to explore their offerings and request services: https://energy.maryland.gov/pages/facts/empower.aspx

Want to help spread the word about EmPOWER? We’ve created a handy pamphlet that’s free to download here.