Customers who are interested in participating can apply here. Participation will be dependent on income verification.
Moderate Income Offering Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Moderate Income
You can still schedule a home energy assessment through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program and receive up to $10,000 in rebates for eligible home upgrades. You may also qualify for low-interest financing (0% interest for 24 months).
If your income is below the minimum household income allowed by the Home Performance Moderate Income Offering, you may qualify for income eligible programs through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Learn more by visiting dhcd.maryland.gov/Residents/Pages/lieep or calling 1-855-583-8976.
Electrification
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:
- Your home must have an operational combustion (gas, propane, or oil) fueled appliance such as HVAC (furnace or boiler) and/or water heater equipment.
- You must complete weatherization upgrades (at least attic insulation and air sealing) prior to being eligible for electrification rebates. These weatherization upgrades will be listed in your report within the prioritized list of measures.
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.
The EmPOWER Maryland charge funds programs that can help you reduce your energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and save you money. Since the inception of the EmPOWER Maryland program in 2008, the programs have saved $14.5 billion on installed measures at a cost of $4.1 billion. In addition to new program costs, this charge includes paying off the uncollected costs that were accrued over time by programs required by the EmPOWER statute and authorized by the Commission. In accordance with House Bill 864 the uncollected amounts will be fully paid by the end of 2032.