To Help Families Struggling to Pay their Energy Bills, BGE Files Proposal to Expand Energy Assistance for Eligible Customers

With high energy supply costs straining many Maryland families, BGE has filed a proposal with state regulators to lower bills for customers who most need relief. The Residential Customer Assistance Program (R-CAP) is a new discount, required by Maryland law, that will provide limited-income customers with a credit on monthly energy bills once approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC).

"We understand how difficult rising energy supply costs can be for families, especially when every dollar in the household matters," said Valencia McClure, senior vice president of Governmental, Regulatory and External Affairs at Exelon for BGE, Delmarva Power and Pepco. "R-CAP will provide meaningful assistance to eligible households. We are committed to working with the state to deliver that support while being mindful of the impact on all BGE customers. Through The Exelon Promise, we will continue advocating for solutions that help keep energy affordable and connect customers with the assistance they need."

Here's how R-CAP works:

• Who qualifies: Customers who get energy assistance through Maryland's Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) and whose household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
• How to sign up: If you are enrolled with OHEP, you will be automatically enrolled in R-CAP. If you are not currently enrolled with OHEP, you can apply for assistance at maryland.gov.
• What you get: A credit on your monthly BGE bill for up to 18 months, based on household size and income. Depending on customer usage and actual benefits, it may be worth up to $1,464 a year for electric customers and up to $802 a year for gas customers.
• When it starts: January 2027

The state requires R-CAP to be paid for using either state funds, charges on other customers' bills, or both. State funding is available from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF), as outlined in the Utility RELIEF Act passed by the Maryland General Assembly earlier this year. BGE's recommended affordability-focused approach would ensure that SEIF funds fully cover first-year costs for residential electric customers. If the PSC approves that approach, residential electric customers would not pay an R-CAP charge during the program's first year. BGE gas customers and business customers who are not eligible for R-CAP would still see a charge because SEIF funds can only be used for residential electric customers.

While energy supply costs are outside BGE's control, the company recognizes the impact higher bills can have on household budgets and remains focused on connecting customers with assistance and flexible payment options. Eligible customers can combine the R-CAP discount with other assistance programs or payment plans, such as:

• Budget Billing, which offers a predictable monthly payment, spread out evenly month to month.
• Payment arrangements to make it easier to update past due balances.
• BGE Assistance Finder or Single Stop can help customers explore additional support options.

The PSC is expected to make final decisions on how the program is implemented for BGE customers in December. Customers can learn more about R-CAP and available energy assistance at bge.com/RCAP.