Maryland State Public Benefit Funds for Rate Assistance

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.

In recent years in response to electric rate hikes, the EUSP base amount has been increased and it has been supplemented by state general revenue funds. In 2007, the program spent about $46 million on bill payment assistance and $5 million for arrearage forgiveness.

See updates due to electric utility restructuring.

LEVERAGING

2007: $51.7 million
2006: $31.3 million
2005: $29.6 million
2004: $27.5 million
2003: $29.1 million
2002: $26.8 million (includes energy efficiency)
2001: $27.3 million
2000: $6.4 million

Page Last Updated: December 19, 2008