Assistance from Maryland Utility Service Protection Plan

This program has two different options for struggling families and individuals in Maryland. They include the balanced billing plan as well as the Utility Service Protection Plan. Find additional information on both of these resources below.

Maryland Budget Billing Plan.

Budget Billing is an option that utility companies offer to low to moderate income families that can assist them with managing and paying their their monthly utility bill. If someone signs up for budget billing, the program will in effect “spread out” their annual utility bill expense into even monthly payments that are due throughout the year. You need to  check with your gas or electric utility company to see if they offer this assistance program. Most due have it. Ask them about eligibility requirement and also their budget billing policy. You may call your utility provider at the number listed on your monthly utility bill or many will even allow you to log on to their website to gather information there.

Maryland Utility Service Protection Plan.

The Utility Service Protection Plan will protect and help ensure that low-income families and others that are behind on paying their utility and heating bills do not have their service terminated. It is meant to protect people facing a hardship. This program also allows MEAP eligible participants to enter it to get assistance. When you sign up for the USSP program, you will automatically be entered into the balance billing plan as referenced above. Some of the other benefits of the program include :

-The program will establish a supplemental payment agreement that will spread out any unpaid bills or outstanding balance over an extended period of time. So if someone is behind on their bill, they the unpaid balance can be paid over several months.

-Levelized monthly payments, also known as balanced billing

-You will not have your service turned as long as you make monthly payments, even if you can’t pay the entire utility bill.