MARYLAND STATE PUBLIC BENEFIT FUNDS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY

• 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.

  Because of start-up issues and the need to issue a request for proposals for operation of the weatherization component, it did not fully expend its first year funding. DHR proposed to spend $3.5 on weatherization services during the second year.

  See updates due to electric utility restructuring.

LEVERAGING

2001: $1.4 million