Fuel Fund of Maryland

The Fuel Fund of Maryland is a crucial, non-governmental part of the social safety net, offering flexibility through independence, accountability through sound governance, and quality service delivery backed by over four decades of experience. Our immediate impact is on households with incomes at or below 200% of the poverty level, helping them afford utility bills and maintain essential services like lighting, heating, and cooling. This support benefits the broader community by preventing fires, enabling children to have cooked meals and do their homework, freeing up resources for rent, supporting life-saving medications, and saving money for future utility bills.through the utility assistance department, ffm provides financial and community resources to low-income Maryland households to keep their power connected during utility hardships (e.g., power shutoff and/or impending shutoff notice). A key component of our support is the distribution of energy credits. Bge allocates up to $2 million in ratepayer-funded credits annually, administered by ffm. For every $1 of private money paid on a bill, ffm applies $0.50 in bge credits, significantly increasing the number of households we can assist each year. For instance, ffm can cover a $300 client bill using $100 in donated funds, bge credits, other charitable contributions (such as foundation funds), and a payment from the client. Ffm is the only organization in Maryland that can leverage bge ratepayer-funded credits.households with incomes below 50% of the federal poverty level spend 32% of their monthly income on home energy, compared to the affordable rate of 6%. Energy poverty imposes a severe financial burden on low-income households, leaving little money for housing, food, or medical care.from july 1, 2023, to june 30, 2024, ffm provided financial grants to 4,289 households within the bge service with no power or facing an imminent turn off notice.the silver lights program, launched on fy22, continues to address the needs of seniors (60+) and individuals with critical medical conditions struggling with utility hardships. Over 32% of the households served by ffm are through the silver lights program.