EmPOWER Maryland Limited Income Energy Efficiency Program
Application
Application status: Open
How to apply: Apply online or submit application and supporting documents by mail
Repairs and upgrades to a home can significantly reduce energy use throughout the year, which can give you a more comfortable home, lower monthly power bills and improve air quality and family health. Maryland's EmPOWER Program helps limited income households with installation of materials and equipment at no charge.
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive energy efficiency upgrades to your home, you need to:
- Meet income qualifications: Your household income needs to be lower than the limits based on household size, as shown in the table below.
- Be an eligible utility customer: You must have a utility account with one of six participating companies - BGE, Delmarva Power, FirstEnergy, Pepco, SMECO or Washington Gas.
Household income limits for Maryland's EmPOWER program
| Size of Family Unit | Maximum Annual Household Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $74,800 |
| 2 | $85,450 |
| 3 | $96,150 |
| 4 | $106,800 |
| 5 | $115,350 |
| 6 | $123,900 |
| 7 | $132,450 |
| 8 | $141,000 |
| 9 | $153,500 |
| 10 | $167,700 |
Updated: 07/14/2026
Accepted as income-eligible
If you are currently an eligible participant in one of these programs, you are automatically income-eligible for weatherization services.
- Utility Bill Pay Assistance through OHEP
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- HUD housing assistance programs
- Fuel Fund Assistance
- DHCD Rehab Programs
- Baltimore Lead Hazard Control Program
- Medicaid
- MEA Energy Equity Grant
- MEEHA
- Geographical eligibility for certain areas
How the program works
- Home energy audit: Once you are approved, a local agency will contact you to schedule a free in-home energy audit. The audit will prioritize the most effective ways to reduce your energy costs while increasing comfort.
- Review and contractor scheduling: The local agency will review the audit results with you and schedule an approved contractor to complete the recommended work.
- Energy-saving guidance: As part of the process, the local agency will ask you to share information on your energy bills and may talk to you about things that you and your family can do to save even more energy.
- Final inspection: After the energy efficiency upgrades have been made to your home, the local agency will conduct another evaluation of your home to ensure that your home is operating more efficiently.
The program may provide the following improvements to make your home safer, healthier and more energy efficient:
- Insulation in the attic, floors and walls;
- Hot water system improvements;
- Lighting retrofits;
- Furnace cleaning, tuning and safety repairs;
- Refrigerator retrofit, if applicable;
- Health and safety items.
How to apply
Complete the online application form:
- Before starting your application, collect your income and financial information
- The form may take up to 45 minutes to complete
Or, complete a paper program application and submit all required documents to our office by mail.
- Download the program paper application - PDF - 581.23 KB
- Download the Spanish program paper application - PDF - 638.22 KB
If you are currently approved to receive Energy Assistance payments from the Maryland Department of Human Services, you may contact our intake line at 1-855-583-8976.
Resources
Links to additional programs and guidance on energy efficiency improvements:
- Program Guidance for Network Partners
- 15 Things That Will EmPOWER You To Save Money
- Office of Home Energy Programs
- Maryland Energy Administration
- Multifamily Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability-EmPOWER
Contact information
Program: Housing and Building Energy Programs
Toll-Free (Maryland Only): 1-855-583-8976