Energy Consumers: About

The Fuel Fund was incorporated in 1981 as the Fuel Fund of Central Maryland, following the nation's first energy crisis during the late 1970s when an oil embargo squeezed supply, and energy prices soared.

Hardest hit were those people least able to pay dramatic cost increases. Victorine Q. Adams, a Baltimore City councilwoman and noted civil rights activist, intervened and the earliest version of the Fuel Fund was born. She was moved to do so when a couple in her council district froze to death in their home. Adams vowed that this would never happen again under her watch.

Today an integrated network of fuel funds across the nation carries on Mrs. Adam's vision. With the onset of the deregulation of the electric utility industry, the Fuel Fund changed its name to Fuel Fund of Maryland, Inc. At every stage of the life of the Fuel Fund, its focus has been solely on the essential energy needs of individuals and families for whom energy is unaffordable.

Families who receive help always pay as much of their bills as they are able. The portion that is unaffordable is usually divided among the customer, the Fuel Fund donations and bill credits allowed by the utility. In this way, the Fuel Fund supplements the resources of each family. Likewise, in order to use all of the resources that are available for families, the Fuel Fund refers applicants to the government-funded programs that operate out of the state Office of Home Energy Programs. Often a family receives adequate assistance from these programs. If they are still in need, the Fuel Fund helps.

Though the Fuel Fund of Maryland has been able to supplement the resources of thousands of families each year, the substantial increase in all energy prices since 2002, has challenged the organization to meet the need. We realized that families will need to reduce their bills in addition to receiving financial help to pay their bills. Knowledge of how to lower their energy bills was missing in the low-income community.

Fuel Fund of Maryland realized that with a little education and practical tips we could help people learn to control how much energy they used and that it would be reflected in their monthly utility bill. Thus Watt Watchers of Maryland™ was born.

Watt Watchers of Maryland™ was started by the Fuel Fund of Maryland in 2007 as the organization expanded to include energy conservation education and financial education.

The WattWatchers of Maryland program teaches people how to read their energy bills and to understand how much energy they are using and how they can control their energy usage. Our volunteer trainers teach participants how to open a checking/savings account, make a realistic financial plan, understand needs versus wants and not throw away money on wasted energy.

The classroom setting provides a forum for participants to compare and share how they are able to reduce energy in their homes and save money. It also stresses that energy conservation is a family project that involves people of all ages in your family. It is our hope that by involving family members we will create an intergenerational effect and lessen the energy burden of future generations.

Currently energy assistance programs concentrate on paying energy bills. Watt Watchers of Maryland™ concentrates on teaching families how to reduce their usage, rewards them for doing so and gives them a forum in which to share ideas on energy conservation and financial education.

Traditionally, Watt Watchers of Maryland™ is a 4-5 week class taught in a classroom setting in the community. However, the Watt Watchers of Maryland™ curriculum can be taught in other shorter formats by special request depending on your groups’ needs. The program is free to participants and community partners such as local non-profits, religious organizations, senior centers and other civic groups. Watt Watchers of Maryland™ will provide all materials necessary to teach the program.

Past Watt Watchers of Maryland™ participants have realized up to 50% saving on their utility bills as a result of applying practical tips learned in the classes.