BALTIMORE — Households in Maryland struggling with rising utility costs will receive increased energy assistance benefits this year, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced Thursday.
The expanded aid comes from increased appropriations for the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, which is a state reserve made up of fines paid by utility companies for falling short of renewable energy requirements.
Electric assistance will now range from $250 to $1,000 per household — up from a maximum of $575 last year. Gas benefits will rise from last year’s maximum of $300 to between $300 and $550.
“At a time when the federal government is passing dangerous, heartless legislation to cut assistance for working families, we are standing in the breach,” Moore said in a release. “We will not waver in our work to protect our people and leave no one behind.”
Households already enrolled in SNAP, SSI, TANF or income-based veterans benefits are automatically eligible for the benefits.
As of May, over 156,000 households have applied for energy assistance this fiscal year, with over 117,000 approved, according to the release.
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