EmPOWER MD: That Annoying Fee That Is Saving You Money
2026-03-26
Maryland’s EmPOWER program is one of the main reasons your energy bill isn’t even higher, and getting rid of it could cost you and your family hundreds more each year. Most of us only recognize EmPOWER MD as that recurring surcharge on our utility bills, but with inflation up 20% and electricity distribution rates spiking by as much as 44% for some Marylanders over the last five years, families are feeling the pinch. It’s only natural to look at your bill and try to find any way to lower those costs.
A lot of people ask, “What does EmPOWER MD even do, and why do we still need it?” Originally, it was created to help Maryland reduce energy usage to combat climate change, with an initial goal of a 15% reduction by 2015. The program hit that target by building an ecosystem of programs aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings. Programs like the Energy Star for New Homes program that incentivizes builders to make new homes 15% to 25% more efficient than the standard code, or the Maryland Home Performance with Energy Star program that provides rebates for homeowners to add insulation or upgrade to high-efficiency HVAC and water heating systems. Even renters and small businesses benefit through incentives for LED lighting, water-saving measures, and smart thermostats.
The data backs this up. According to the Maryland Public Service Commission’s annual reports, the program has provided energy-saving measures to over half a million households – that’s roughly 25% of all homes in the state. Even more impressive: for every $1 spent on incentives, approximately $2.12 in actual energy savings is realized. After meeting the 15% reduction goal in 2015, the target was increased to 25% by 2020. Since 2008, the program is estimated to have saved Marylanders $12.7 billion in lifetime energy costs.
The real impact is in the stories of participants who save an average of 16% to 23% on their electric bills. Take Jon in Baltimore, for example. Like many on a fixed income, he was struggling with a $160 monthly bill and a drafty house with a 10-degree temperature difference between floors. Through the EmPOWER-funded Home Performance program, he was able to afford deep insulation and air sealing improvements that cut his bill in half and finally made his home comfortable.
You might think, “Good for Jon, but how does that help his neighbor who didn't get the insulation upgrade?” That’s the wrong question. We should be asking why energy prices are rising in the first place. The answer is simple: as a society, we are consuming more electricity than ever before. We’ve moved into a high-tech era where everything from Ring doorbells to refrigerators to AI assistants are internet connected. Homes now have multiple TVs, tablets, and computers. Lawn mowers and cars are going electric. All these devices require support from data centers which require massive amounts of power (and I haven’t even mentioned the explosive growth of AI yet). These advancements aren’t stopping, so our communities have to adapt.
There are only two ways to meet this demand: (1) build more power plants and expensive infrastructure, or (2) reduce demand by eliminating inefficient technology. Reducing demand is significantly cheaper, and the EmPOWER program allows that to happen. Since 2008, EmPOWER has reduced energy demand by 3,231MW. Between current construction costs for a new natural gas plant and the price for additional distribution (power lines), generating and delivering that same power would have cost $8 billion - that’s double the cost of the EmPOWER Maryland program. Look at it this way: you pay about 14 cents per kWh for electricity, but it only costs the EmPOWER program 5.9 cents to save that same kWh.
If we were to eliminate EmPOWER and rely solely on building new infrastructure, that hypothetical $8 billion would end up on our energy bills, potentially adding hundreds of dollars per year for every customer. By upgrading his home, Jon isn’t just helping himself. He’s effectively lowering the cost of electricity for all his neighbors, by reducing the strain on the grid.
So, let’s give Jon a high five and give our representatives in Annapolis a call. We need to tell them that the EmPOWER MD program is crucial to Maryland’s energy future, and the most cost-effective way to keep our electric bills affordable.
EmPOWER MD: That Annoying Fee That Is Saving You Money
2026-03-26
Maryland’s EmPOWER program is one of the main reasons your energy bill isn’t even higher, and getting rid of it could cost you and your family hundreds more each year. Most of us only recognize EmPOWER MD as that recurring surcharge on our utility bills, but with inflation up 20% and electricity distribution rates spiking by as much as 44% for some Marylanders over the last five years, families are feeling the pinch. It’s only natural to look at your bill and try to find any way to lower those costs.
A lot of people ask, “What does EmPOWER MD even do, and why do we still need it?” Originally, it was created to help Maryland reduce energy usage to combat climate change, with an initial goal of a 15% reduction by 2015. The program hit that target by building an ecosystem of programs aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings. Programs like the Energy Star for New Homes program that incentivizes builders to make new homes 15% to 25% more efficient than the standard code, or the Maryland Home Performance with Energy Star program that provides rebates for homeowners to add insulation or upgrade to high-efficiency HVAC and water heating systems. Even renters and small businesses benefit through incentives for LED lighting, water-saving measures, and smart thermostats.
The data backs this up. According to the Maryland Public Service Commission’s annual reports, the program has provided energy-saving measures to over half a million households – that’s roughly 25% of all homes in the state. Even more impressive: for every $1 spent on incentives, approximately $2.12 in actual energy savings is realized. After meeting the 15% reduction goal in 2015, the target was increased to 25% by 2020. Since 2008, the program is estimated to have saved Marylanders $12.7 billion in lifetime energy costs.
The real impact is in the stories of participants who save an average of 16% to 23% on their electric bills. Take Jon in Baltimore, for example. Like many on a fixed income, he was struggling with a $160 monthly bill and a drafty house with a 10-degree temperature difference between floors. Through the EmPOWER-funded Home Performance program, he was able to afford deep insulation and air sealing improvements that cut his bill in half and finally made his home comfortable.
You might think, “Good for Jon, but how does that help his neighbor who didn't get the insulation upgrade?” That’s the wrong question. We should be asking why energy prices are rising in the first place. The answer is simple: as a society, we are consuming more electricity than ever before. We’ve moved into a high-tech era where everything from Ring doorbells to refrigerators to AI assistants are internet connected. Homes now have multiple TVs, tablets, and computers. Lawn mowers and cars are going electric. All these devices require support from data centers which require massive amounts of power (and I haven’t even mentioned the explosive growth of AI yet). These advancements aren’t stopping, so our communities have to adapt.
There are only two ways to meet this demand: (1) build more power plants and expensive infrastructure, or (2) reduce demand by eliminating inefficient technology. Reducing demand is significantly cheaper, and the EmPOWER program allows that to happen. Since 2008, EmPOWER has reduced energy demand by 3,231MW. Between current construction costs for a new natural gas plant and the price for additional distribution (power lines), generating and delivering that same power would have cost $8 billion - that’s double the cost of the EmPOWER Maryland program. Look at it this way: you pay about 14 cents per kWh for electricity, but it only costs the EmPOWER program 5.9 cents to save that same kWh.
If we were to eliminate EmPOWER and rely solely on building new infrastructure, that hypothetical $8 billion would end up on our energy bills, potentially adding hundreds of dollars per year for every customer. By upgrading his home, Jon isn’t just helping himself. He’s effectively lowering the cost of electricity for all his neighbors, by reducing the strain on the grid.
So, let’s give Jon a high five and give our representatives in Annapolis a call. We need to tell them that the EmPOWER MD program is crucial to Maryland’s energy future, and the most cost-effective way to keep our electric bills affordable.
EmPOWER MD: That Annoying Fee That Is Saving You Money
2026-03-26
Maryland’s EmPOWER program is one of the main reasons your energy bill isn’t even higher, and getting rid of it could cost you and your family hundreds more each year. Most of us only recognize EmPOWER MD as that recurring surcharge on our utility bills, but with inflation up 20% and electricity distribution rates spiking by as much as 44% for some Marylanders over the last five years, families are feeling the pinch. It’s only natural to look at your bill and try to find any way to lower those costs.
A lot of people ask, “What does EmPOWER MD even do, and why do we still need it?” Originally, it was created to help Maryland reduce energy usage to combat climate change, with an initial goal of a 15% reduction by 2015. The program hit that target by building an ecosystem of programs aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings. Programs like the Energy Star for New Homes program that incentivizes builders to make new homes 15% to 25% more efficient than the standard code, or the Maryland Home Performance with Energy Star program that provides rebates for homeowners to add insulation or upgrade to high-efficiency HVAC and water heating systems. Even renters and small businesses benefit through incentives for LED lighting, water-saving measures, and smart thermostats.
The data backs this up. According to the Maryland Public Service Commission’s annual reports, the program has provided energy-saving measures to over half a million households – that’s roughly 25% of all homes in the state. Even more impressive: for every $1 spent on incentives, approximately $2.12 in actual energy savings is realized. After meeting the 15% reduction goal in 2015, the target was increased to 25% by 2020. Since 2008, the program is estimated to have saved Marylanders $12.7 billion in lifetime energy costs.
The real impact is in the stories of participants who save an average of 16% to 23% on their electric bills. Take Jon in Baltimore, for example. Like many on a fixed income, he was struggling with a $160 monthly bill and a drafty house with a 10-degree temperature difference between floors. Through the EmPOWER-funded Home Performance program, he was able to afford deep insulation and air sealing improvements that cut his bill in half and finally made his home comfortable.
You might think, “Good for Jon, but how does that help his neighbor who didn't get the insulation upgrade?” That’s the wrong question. We should be asking why energy prices are rising in the first place. The answer is simple: as a society, we are consuming more electricity than ever before. We’ve moved into a high-tech era where everything from Ring doorbells to refrigerators to AI assistants are internet connected. Homes now have multiple TVs, tablets, and computers. Lawn mowers and cars are going electric. All these devices require support from data centers which require massive amounts of power (and I haven’t even mentioned the explosive growth of AI yet). These advancements aren’t stopping, so our communities have to adapt.
There are only two ways to meet this demand: (1) build more power plants and expensive infrastructure, or (2) reduce demand by eliminating inefficient technology. Reducing demand is significantly cheaper, and the EmPOWER program allows that to happen. Since 2008, EmPOWER has reduced energy demand by 3,231MW. Between current construction costs for a new natural gas plant and the price for additional distribution (power lines), generating and delivering that same power would have cost $8 billion - that’s double the cost of the EmPOWER Maryland program. Look at it this way: you pay about 14 cents per kWh for electricity, but it only costs the EmPOWER program 5.9 cents to save that same kWh.
If we were to eliminate EmPOWER and rely solely on building new infrastructure, that hypothetical $8 billion would end up on our energy bills, potentially adding hundreds of dollars per year for every customer. By upgrading his home, Jon isn’t just helping himself. He’s effectively lowering the cost of electricity for all his neighbors, by reducing the strain on the grid.
So, let’s give Jon a high five and give our representatives in Annapolis a call. We need to tell them that the EmPOWER MD program is crucial to Maryland’s energy future, and the most cost-effective way to keep our electric bills affordable.