MARYLAND STATE PUBLIC BENEFIT FUNDS FOR RATE ASSISTANCE

• Maryland's restructuring legislation, which was passed in April 1999, provided a $34 million universal service program (USP) to be administered by the Department of Human Resources (DHR) through the Maryland Energy Assistance Program.

  As of July 2000, DHR began collecting the universal service funds and operating the Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) that was authorized in restructuring legislation. The EUSP helps participants pay current and past due electric bills and provides weatherization measures.

  For the second year, DHR proposed to spend about $24 million on bill payment assistance and $3.1 million on arrearage retirement assistance.

  See updates due to electric utility restructuring.

LEVERAGING

2001: $27.3 million
2000: $6.4 million