How to get help paying your electric bill in Maryland

Your summer shutoff protection in Maryland

A medical certificate delays a shutoff for 30 days.

Assistance programs in Maryland

• EUSP delivers an ongoing electric bill discount based on income (not a one-time grant).
• ARA (Arrearage Retirement Assistance) pays up to $2,000 toward a past-due electric balance — once every 5 years, if you owe at least $300 and qualify for EUSP.

Your utility's own programs

Which help you get depends on who your electric company is, not just your state. Find yours below — these programs are often the biggest, most durable relief, because they lower the bill going forward, not just once.

• BGE — assistance programs → · 1-800-685-0123

• Pepco (Maryland) — assistance programs → · 202-833-7500

• Delmarva Power (Maryland) — assistance programs → · 1-800-375-7117

• Potomac Edison — bill assistance →

Step by step, when a shutoff is looming

1. 1

   Read your notice for the real deadline

   Find the shutoff date and the exact amount needed to avoid termination — it's often less than your full balance.

2. 2

   Call your utility before that date

   Even with no money in hand. Ask for a payment plan and whether enrolling in assistance or a payment plan pauses the shutoff.

3. 3

   Apply for assistance

   Apply for OHEP (Maryland Energy Assistance + EUSP) (1-800-332-6347) and ask your utility about its own program. A pending application can hold off a disconnection.

4. 4

   Use a medical certificate if anyone is vulnerable

   A medical certificate delays a shutoff for 30 days.

5. 5

   Escalate if the rules are broken

   If your utility won't follow the rules, contact Maryland PSC at 1-800-492-0474.

If the main programs are tapped out

When government funds run dry or you're just over the income line, these are the backstops:

• 211 Maryland → · 211
• Fuel Fund of Maryland (BGE customers) →

One warning, because this audience gets targeted: your real utility will never demand a gift card, and a genuine shutoff never happens in the next hour over the phone. If someone says that, it's a scam — hang up and call the number printed on your bill. More on utility scams →

The honest read on Maryland

• Maryland's own ratepayer advocate runs strong assistance here, and the 95°F rule means many hot days are protected — but it's a per-day rule, not a whole-summer guarantee, so don't sit on it.
• If you're carrying old debt, ARA is the one to ask about: up to $2,000 wiped off a past-due electric bill is rare among these states.

Common questions

Can my electricity be shut off in summer in Maryland?

In Maryland, your power can't be shut off for nonpayment on a day the 6 a.m. forecast is 95°F or hotter. No disconnection when the temperature forecast at 6 a.m. is 95°F or above. (The medical certificate adds a separate 30-day hold.) It's worth knowing the exact rule, because it may mean you're already protected today.

What's the fastest way to stop a shutoff in Maryland this week?

Apply for OHEP at benefits.maryland.gov or 1-800-332-6347 — you can do it even with a shutoff notice in hand, and the grant pays your utility directly. On a 95°F+ forecast day, you also can't be disconnected.

How do I apply for help paying my electric bill in Maryland?

Start with OHEP (Maryland Energy Assistance + EUSP), run by MD Dept. of Human Services, Office of Home Energy Programs. Open year-round. The EUSP electric grant covers heating or cooling electric costs — apply even after you get a shutoff notice; the grant pays the utility directly. You can apply online or by phone (1-800-332-6347). Also ask your own utility about its assistance program — that's often the bigger, longer-term help.

Does applying for assistance stop a disconnection in Maryland?

Often, yes. In many cases, having a pending assistance application or an accepted payment plan postpones a shutoff — you don't always have to wait for the money to land. Say so explicitly when you call your utility, and get a confirmation number.