Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Once your energy assessment is complete and you receive the contractor’s recommendations, it’s your decision whether to sign a contract and move forward with the improvements. You are under no obligation to have the work performed. However, customers should keep in mind that our recommended energy efficiency improvements can lower their energy bills and improve indoor air quality and the comfort of their home.
The scope of upgrades, and the time needed to complete them, will vary depending on your home and the type of energy efficiency improvements you choose. To complete the selected upgrades, your contractor may have to visit your home on multiple days. We strongly recommend that you meet with your contractor at the beginning of each day before work begins, and at the end of the day to review their progress and help you better understand the project timeline.
You must be a current residential Pepco customer with a valid account number, as well as the owner of the house where the assessment will be performed.
Pepco customers pay $100 for a Home Energy Assessment. The $100 offer is available to customers who live in homes up to 3,000 square feet with a single combustion appliance zone. Assessments of larger homes or ones with multiple combustion appliance zones may cost more. Customers should discuss the cost with their selected participating contractor.
Customers can receive up to $10,000 in rebates, but rebates will vary, depending on the breadth and scope of the home improvements.
Electrification is the process of partially or fully converting a home’s major appliances/systems that rely on combustion fuels (natural gas, oil, or propane) to ones that run on electricity. An example would be converting a storage tank water heater that runs on natural gas to a heat pump water heater that runs solely on electricity.
An air sourced heat pump is an HVAC system that can both heat and cool your home. In winter, it pulls heat from outside air—even when it’s cold—and brings it inside. In summer, it works like an air conditioner by removing heat from your home.
Similar to an air sourced heat pump, heat pump water heater technology uses air within your home to heat the stored water within the storage tank.
Air sourced heat pumps have come a long way with their ability to operate in extreme cold temperatures. Traditionally, air-sourced heat pumps needed auxiliary heating such as electric strip heaters or a backup furnace to maintain indoor temperatures during periods of extreme outdoor temperatures.
There are now cold climate heat pumps that can operate in temperatures that are well below the average winter temperatures for our area. Check here for cold climate heat pump information or ask your participating contractor to learn if one of these units is right for you.
To qualify for electrification rebates:
Customers are eligible to receive rebates of up to $15,000 when switching combustion fueled (natural gas, oil, or propane) HVAC and/or Water Heating systems to electric fueled systems such as air sourced heat pumps and/or heat pump water heaters.Click here to learn more.
Weatherization upgrades allow your home to become more energy efficient. Upgrading your home’s insulation and improving the air sealing of your home allows you to slow the heat transfer (both hot and cold) of conditioned air throughout the year. In other words, the hot and cold air stay in your home longer, reducing the runtimes for your HVAC system.
When pairing weatherization upgrades with a new HVAC system, you are ensuring that the right sized HVAC equipment is installed and allowing the new system to run more efficiently. This approach will help improve your indoor comfort year-round while helping to lower operating costs.
EmPOWER Maryland programs are funded by a charge on your energy bill. EmPOWER programs can help you reduce your energy consumption and save you money. To learn more about EmPOWER and how you can participate, click here.