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Maryland DHCD energy grants: Weatherization, EmPOWER Limited Income and MEAP open
Administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), through local agencies and assigned contractors.
One DHCD application checks a Maryland household for three free programs: weatherization up to 60% of state median income, $92,470 for a family of four; EmPOWER Maryland's limited-income upgrades up to $106,800 for four; and MEAP heating, cooling and water heater repair or replacement up to 200% of poverty. MEAP's 2025-26 money is spent, and new applicants join a waitlist.
source · verified 3 October 2026 · amounts in US dollars
What it pays
| Program | What it does | Family of four |
|---|---|---|
| Weatherization Assistance Program | Air sealing, insulation, hot water, lighting, furnace tune-up, repair or replacement, health and safety | $92,470 |
| EmPOWER Limited Income Energy Efficiency | Insulation, hot water improvements, lighting and more, at no charge, for customers of six EmPOWER utilities | $106,800 |
| Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) | Repair or replacement of heating, cooling and water heating systems; homeowners first | $66,000 |
The assigned contractor does the work at no cost to you, and DHCD combines the programs you qualify for. MEAP gives water heater work priority only when there is no waitlist for heating or cooling.
Who is eligible
| People in household | Weatherization (60% of state median income) | EmPOWER Limited Income | MEAP (200% of poverty) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $48,085 | $74,800 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $62,880 | $85,450 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $77,675 | $96,150 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $92,470 | $106,800 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $107,265 | $115,350 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $122,064 | $123,900 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $124,835 | $132,450 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $127,609 | $141,000 | $111,440 |
- automatic
- SSI, TANF, SNAP, OHEP bill assistance and HUD housing assistance qualify a household; Medicaid and fuel funds do not.
- utility
- For EmPOWER Limited Income: an account with BGE, Delmarva Power, FirstEnergy (Potomac Edison), Pepco, SMECO or Washington Gas.
- priority
- Weatherization serves people over 60, people with disabilities, households with children and high energy burdens first.
Where the application goes
Send DHCD's grant application with the supporting documents; if you qualify, DHCD sends the name of your contractor, who contacts you within 30 days.
| If this is you | Apply here |
|---|---|
| Apply | dhcd.maryland.gov |
| Housing and Building Energy Programs | 1-855-583-8976 |
| Bill help (OHEP) | 800-332-6347 |
The thing most pages get wrong
Weatherization is usually described as a 200%-of-poverty program, $66,000 for a family of four. Maryland's weatherization line is 60% of state median income, $92,470 for four, and EmPOWER's limited-income line is higher again, $106,800; only MEAP, the heating repair program, uses 200% of poverty.
MEAP is on a waitlist
DHCD says MEAP's 2025-26 funding is fully spent and every service has a waitlist; the next cycle runs from 1 November 2026 (1 October in Garrett County) to 30 September 2027, depending on funding.
Just above these lines
BGE, Pepco and Delmarva customers earning up to $133,500 for four can get upgrades for an estimated $250 to $750 through the utilities' moderate-income offers.
Sources
- https://dhcd.maryland.gov/energy-home-repair/energy-grants-and-loans-residents — primary source, read 3 October 2026
- https://dhcd.maryland.gov/energy-home-repair/energy-grants-and-loans-residents/weatherization-assistance-program-wap
- https://dhcd.maryland.gov/energy-home-repair/energy-grants-and-loans-residents/empower
- https://dhcd.maryland.gov/energy-home-repair/energy-grants-and-loans-residents/maryland-energy-assistance-program