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.
  
  Of the $34 million, $3.5 million has been available for weatherization. The weatherization program has lagged behind the bill assistance and arrearage forgiveness components. Because of start-up issues and delays in issuing an invitation to bid for program operation, the EUSP weatherization funds have been under spent most years. For SFY 2006, $1 million is expected for the weatherization transfer.
  
  See updates due to electric utility restructuring.

LEVERAGING

2001: $1.4 million

Page Last Updated: December 7, 2005