In 2008, the Maryland General Assembly passed the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act. The legislation set a target reduction of 15 percent in per capita electricity consumption and demand thru 2017 from a 2007 baseline. Since its inception through September 2012, EmPOWER Maryland has helped fund energy reduction measures that will reduce energy usage by more than 2 million MWh per year and save $250 million annually.
These savings will continue for years, with currently existing measures saving $3.7 billion over their useful life.