OFFICE OF HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS (OHEP): Provides bill assistance via grants to income eligible households in the State of Maryland to help with home energy cost.

OHEP grants are Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), Electrical Universal Service Program (EUSP) and the Arrearage Retirement Assistance.

The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) provides financial assistance with home heating bills. Payments are made to the fuel supplier and utility company on the customer’s behalf.

The Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) is OHEP’s electric assistance grant. This grant is available once per program year (July- June). Customers who receive EUSP may choose to enroll in budget billing with their utility company but are not required. Budget Billing is a tool that utility companies provide to help spread out your annual utility bills into even monthly payments and avoid seasonal spikes in your bill.

Arrearage Retirement Assistance helps customers with large, past due electric and gas bills. If eligible, customers may receive a grant for up to $2,000 towards their past due bill. Customers must have a past due bill of $300 or greater to be considered eligible. Customers may only receive an arrearage grant once every five years, with certain exceptions. Arrearage grants received between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021 will not count towards the five-year limitation.

Other OHEP services are Utility Service Protection Program( USPP) and the weatherization and energy efficiency services. The Utility Service Protection Program (USPP) is designed to protect low-income families from utility turn-offs during the heating season. Participation also requires a year-round even monthly budget billing. Failure to make consecutive payments may result in removal from USPP. For 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. https://dhcd.maryland.gov/energy-home-repair/energy-grants-and-loans-residents/weatherization-assistance-program-wap#income

Applicants can check the status of their submitted MEAP application by visiting https://myohepstatus.benefits.maryland.gov/

Income eligibility is based on all gross (before taxes and other deductions) income received by everyone in the household over the age of 18 during the 30 days preceding the date of application. 

FY 27 Household Size Monthly Income Limits