Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about how the Assistance Finder works and the programs it offers.
Review program benefits and use the Assistance Finder tool to determine which energy assistance, financial or energy efficiency programs best fit your needs. Apply for direct grants, manage monthly bill payments and overdue balances, and incorporate energy efficient practices.
Once you've reviewed the FAQs, find assistance recommendations tailored to your needs.
Find Assistance
What is the Assistance Finder?
The Assistance Finder recommends programs for residential customers. For information on how BGE helps commercial customers, check out our programs for your business.
How long does it take for my aid application to be processed?
You can check the status of your OHEP or Fuel Fund application online at each program's website.
Check OHEP Application Status
Check Fuel Fund Application Status
I applied for one of the programs earlier in the program year but didn't qualify. Can I apply again?
You may be eligible for both OHEP Energy Assistance and Fuel Fund based on your specific situation. The Assistance Finder will help you determine which programs are right for you and how to apply to them.
Different programs administer aid in different ways. OHEP provides help once a year, starting on July 1 each year, for most of its grants. OHEP does offer arrearage assistance grants once every five years. The Fuel Fund will help households no less than 12 months after they last received assistance.
For more information on how each program administers aid, review the OHEP Energy Assistance or Fuel Fund pages on our website.
For OHEP, once your assistance has been determined, you'll see a line item on your billing statement indicating the credit type and amount. Several OHEP grants will address past-due amounts, or arrears, and these will apply as a lump sum credit to your account.
The Fuel Fund will determine your eligibility, how much assistance may be provided to you, and calculate your portion of the bill to pay. The Fuel Fund will then contact you via email or phone with further instructions. Fuel Fund's grants get applied directly to your bill to address past-due amounts.
When you explore programs through the Assistance Finder to receive targeted recommendations, you'll be directed to a detailed information page on the BGE website for each program. These pages provide the information you need to prepare and submit your application.
What is a Due Date Extension?
You can request an extension every 90 days. If you accept an extension but don't pay your balance by the agreed-upon date, you may not be eligible for future extensions.
How do I know if I’m eligible for a Due Date Extension?
In order to be eligible for an extension, you must be in good standing and current on your BGE bills at the time of the request. BGE cannot permanently change a customer's billing date since it is dependent on the timing of their meter reading.
Payment Arrangements help you pay off a large or past due balance on your account over time. An initial down payment is required to set up the plan. After that, the remaining balance you owe can be spread over 1-24 months, depending on your eligibility.
Your payment plan will include your monthly installment in addition to your regular monthly bill.
What happens if I don't pay my Payment Arrangement on time?
Each installment of your payment arrangement and your regular monthly bill must be paid on time. If you fail to make these payments, you will be charged all remaining past-due amounts, and be subject to collection actions.
How do I know I'm eligible for a Payment Arrangement?
To be eligible for a Payment Arrangement, you must:
Can I pay off a Payment Arrangement early?
Yes! To pay off the remainder of your balance early, you'll need to contact a BGE service representative at 1-800-685-0123.
Can I qualify for a Payment Arrangement and a Due Date Extension at the same time?
No. If you're enrolled in a Payment Arrangement, you are not eligible for a Due Date Extension.
Budget Billing spreads costs evenly month to month by charging a pre-arranged amount with each bill. It allows customers to have a consistent and predictable monthly payment throughout the year that eliminates monthly or seasonal variation.
Budget Billing is NOT a payment arrangement. It is an adjustment of your bill amount to spread your costs out, and you may have a balance or a credit at the end of the program year, based on how your budgeted amount compares
to your actual usage.
How is my monthly Budget Billing amount determined?
Your monthly bill payment is based on your average usage during the last 12 months, plus any accumulated imbalance amount. Your actual usage will continue to be shown on your monthly bill.
Will my Budget Billing payment ever change?
It may. To prevent any large deficits or overpayments, BGE will review your account throughout the year. If your Budget Billing payment amount needs to be adjusted higher or lower than your current monthly payments to reflect your actual usage, BGE will notify you one month prior to the change with your new Budget Billing payment amount.
Can I unenroll from Budget Billing?
You can unenroll from Budget Billing at any time. If you have a balance on your account when you unenroll, you'll need to pay it. If you have a credit, it will be applied to your next bill.
What is LIEEP?
The EmPOWER Maryland Low Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP) is a ratepayer-funded program that helps income-eligible households with the installation of energy efficiency materials in their homes at no additional cost.
The LIEEP program is part of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. You can learn more about how to apply on their website or by calling 1-855-583-8976 .
The Weatherization Assistance Program is a federally-funded program that helps eligible limited income households make energy-efficient home updates to reduce heating and cooling costs.
Is the Weatherization Assistance program a BGE program?
The Weatherization Assistance program is part of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. You can learn more about how to apply on their website or by calling 1-855-583-8976 .
What is a Quick Home Energy Check-up?
A Quick Home Energy Check-up is a one-hour walk-through of your home with a certified checkup professional that offers a fast, easy way to learn about your home's energy efficiency and start saving energy immediately. BGE offers this service to our customers, along with energy-saving products installed during the Check-up, at no additional cost.
More questions? Review BGE's dedicated Quick Home Energy Check-up Frequently Asked Questions.
How does BGE determine Energy Savings Days?
Energy Savings Days typically coincide with the hottest days of the summer when electricity usage is especially high.
How will I know when to reduce my energy usage to take advantage of Energy Savings Days?
You'll receive a phone call, email, text, or mobile app notification before a BGE Energy Savings Day alerting you of the upcoming event.
BGE provides you with $1.25 for every kilowatt-hour of electricity you reduce. Based on results from past years, participating customers earned an average of $5-$8 per Energy Savings Day, but the actual savings vary by customer.
What's the best way to reduce my energy usage during Energy Savings Days?
There are many ways to reduce energy, but the most impactful way is to raise the temperature on your thermostat by 3-4° from your usual setting and use other ways to stay cool.
For an in-depth look at ways you can reduce energy, check out our Energy Savings Days Tips.
