Maryland households facing a heating emergency this winter may qualify for a one-time grant of up to $600 to help restore heat, according to a press release from the office of Gov. Wes Moore. The state’s winter crisis season runs from Nov. 1 through March 31.
The grants are handled by the Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP). Eligibility is based mainly on household size and income, and both homeowners and renters may qualify, according to the release.
Residents facing a heating emergency are told to contact their local OHEP office. In Garrett County, that office is the Garrett County Community Action Committee, 104 E. Center Street in Oakland, phone 301-334-9431, according to the state’s list of local energy offices.
Households can also apply for energy assistance online through the OHEP website, or with the Maryland Benefits One Application at benefits.maryland.gov, a simplified form for applying for or renewing several benefits, including energy assistance.
The governor’s office shared the winter season details along with new figures on the programs. OHEP served nearly 150,000 households in fiscal year 2026, a record, according to the release. The Maryland Energy Assistance Program and the Electric Universal Service Program distributed nearly $186 million that year, up 42 percent from fiscal year 2025, and served 148,632 households, about 13 percent more.
“Every Marylander deserves to feel safe and comfortable in their own home,” Moore said in the release.
