Your utility bill is partly based on how much energy you use, but it’s also based on several other factors. One is how much the utility spends on infrastructure. Costs of new poles and wires can show up on your bill for decades. Another is how much energy we all use together at the same time. Times when demand is highest across the system are known as peak demand. The higher peak demand is, the higher the cost of electricity itself, and the more infrastructure we need to build. These costs can add up quickly!
The SAVINGS Act can help. It would require utilities to create a plan to contain infrastructure costs by saving electricity to lower peak demand with affordable, advanced energy technology. These plans would have to be approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, and utilities would be accountable for not meeting a peak demand reduction goal.
A New York study estimated that if their utilities implemented a similar program, it would put $2.4 billion back in the pockets of New Yorkers every year.
Email your state legislators using the form on this page to ask them to support the SAVINGS Act and help lower your electricity bill.