|
Beware of rising bills
Increased demand and the war in Ukraine mean prices for many fuels remain volatile. Just how these global forces will impact the price you pay at home for natural gas or electricity this summer depends on the service you have selected. While heating season is behind us, air conditioning season is ahead—now is as good a time as any to review your bill, weatherize your home and develop a plan to conserve energy where you can.
If you have standard offer service (or “SOS”), which utilities provide to customers who have not chosen a competitive electricity supplier (known as a “retail supplier”), the price most of you will pay for electricity this summer was approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission based on wholesale supply contracts procured some time ago, prior to the recent spike in energy prices. Baltimore Gas & Electric Company, Potomac Electric Power Company and Delmarva Power & Light Company each is therefore scheduled to slightly reduce its charge to standard offer service customers for each kilowatt hour of electricity beginning June 1, 2022, while Potomac Edison’s standard offer service rates will increase slightly. If you obtain natural gas through your utility—such as BGE or Washington Gas—changes in natural gas market prices still will impact you if you use gas for cooking or water heating, as the utility generally passes through to you its costs for buying the gas commodity. The gas commodity charge is a “per therm” charge that is set monthly depending on the market. The energy charge on your electric bill and the gas commodity charge on your gas bill are separate charges from the distribution charges, which go to pay the utility’s cost of delivering service.
If you have chosen a retail supplier for electricity or natural gas, pay close attention to what the price is and consider locking in a rate now. If you are on a variable price contract with a retail supplier, there are few limits on the price that a company can charge. For electricity, anything over $.0774 per kilowatt hour likely will be higher than the price charged by your utility beginning June 1, 2022. For natural gas, anything over $0.74 per therm for BGE or $0.97 per therm for Washington Gas is likely higher than the price charged by your utility.
|
|
Statewide water assistance program |
|
The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is available statewide and provides Maryland households with financial relief toward water and/or wastewater bills. Eligible households may receive up to $2,000. LIHWAP funding is limited, and applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
To be eligible for LIHWAP, an applicant must meet the following criteria:
- The applicant (or a member of the household) must be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen.
- The applicant must be a Maryland resident who is responsible for a water and/or wastewater bill issued by a public water system or treatment works and must live at the property for which assistance is being provided.
- The applicant must submit a current water and/or wastewater bill showing accrued arrearages of at least $100.
- The total household income (previous 30 days) may not exceed the gross income threshold which is 60% of the State Median Income.
- An applicant may be categorically eligible if they (or someone in their household) are receiving one of the following benefits at the time of application:
- Low Income Household Energy Assistance (MEAP)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP)
- Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)
- Temporary Disability Assistance (TDAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP)
- Means Tested Veterans Benefits
You can apply for LIHWAP assistance online using the consumer portal at mymdthink.maryland. gov. If you are unable to apply online, you may request an application be mailed to you through the service hotline at 1-800-332-6347 or by calling your local Department of Social Services or Office of Home Energy Programs office. A printable paper application can be found at dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-home- energy-programs/low-income-household-water- assistance-program.
You can connect with LIHWAP Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-5PM by calling their customer service hotline at 1-800-332-6347 or by calling your local Department of Social Services or Office of Home Energy Programs office.
|
|
|
|
The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) wants to hear from you. There are new rules that oversee electric/gas retail suppliers and the offers that they can give to utility customers who receive assistance from the Office of Home Energy Programs.
The Commission has opened Public Conference 55 (PC55) and invites your thoughts on what this process should involve. Submit your comments online here https://bit.ly/3lHd0eh. Or you can mail your comments to the PSC. Learn more about this process here: https://bit.ly/3No9xx6
|
|
For questions or assistance, contact Brandi Nieland, Director of Consumer Assistance at brandi.nieland@maryland.gov. |
|
|
Your People's Counsel is David S. Lapp. Our team is here to help and advocate for you. We represent Maryland residential customers before the Public Service Commission and federal agencies, and we provide you assistance dealing with your utility issues, including affordable and reliable service.
To see what OPC is currently working on, click here for our recent press releases or click here for our media coverage.
|
|
|
|
