EmPOWER Bill Passes Bringing Increased Energy Efficiency to State, Consumers

Baltimore, M.D. —After a month of action from the Maryland House of Delegates and the State Senate, the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) updates to the EmPOWER Maryland program became law today despite not being signed by Governor Hogan. The legislation, a natural extension of the 2008 legislation of the PSC’s July 2015 Order, will ensure the state continues its energy efficiency investments by requiring utilities to reduce electricity usage 2 percent annually by 2020.

“The General Assembly has shown it’s commitment to increasing jobs and building a robust clean energy economy in the state,” David Smedick, Maryland Beyond Coal Campaign and Policy Representative for the Sierra Club said. “A special thanks to Delegate Jameson and Senator Middleton, both of whom sponsored this bill and championed energy efficiency this session. EmPOWER is already on track to save Maryland residents and businesses over $4 billion based only what the program has already accomplished and that number will only increase through this bill.”

The 2008 EmPOWER Maryland legislation established landmark energy efficiency targets and programs through 2015 with huge successes in energy efficiency services like appliance and lighting rebates, home energy checkups and behavior-based energy saving programs.

“With bipartisan support for energy efficiency across the country, we were hoping the Governor would sign the bill,” Smedick said. “Regardless, we’re excited to see EmPOWER continue to clean Maryland's air and lower electricity bills for customers.”

According to a report from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, EmPOWER programs have deployed efficiency measures that will save Marylanders over $4 billion through the lifespan of the program, making it one of the most successful energy services in the state. The programs have avoided:

• 19 million metric tons of climate-disrupting carbon pollution

• 34 million pounds of smog-forming nitrogen oxides

• 78 million pounds of dangerous sulfur dioxide pollution

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