Summer Youth Employment Program
The 2025 Youth@Work Summer Youth Enrichment Program (SYEP) will soon be open for students and young professionals to apply to learn how county government operates, hear from county and community leaders, learn about the legislative process, and gain valuable work experience. The initiative is open to those between the ages of 14 and 24 and will provide an excellent opportunity to develop useful skills and career insights. The 2025 Program will offer in-person and hybrid opportunities, signature programs that support life skills, job exploration, career development, and randomized candidate selection and potential career matching process.
In the last several years, our office has requested high-performing students from the SYEP who live within District One to work for our office. If a student who is a resident of District One applies and qualifies for the candidate selection and career matching process, please email our office at councildistrict1@co.pg.md.us and let us know so we may consider if they would make a great addition to our team. The application period opens on March 1, 2025, and ends on March 31, 2025. The SYEP will be held from July 1, 2025, to August 8, 2025.
Concerning Energy Bill Increases
Energy bills are expected to increase significantly this year. Rising electricity costs will vary between customers, but Pepco has some potential cost drivers. Extreme cold in December 2024 resulted in heating systems running 117 percent more than in November 2024 and 34 percent more in January 2025. These cost adjustments, which began this past January, have led to a 1 percent supply increase, equating to +$1.18, and a 4 percent surcharge increase to +$6.34 in cost.
Major inflation from 2023, supply chain disruptions the same year, and rising energy distribution costs are driving costs up across the state and may also contribute to increasing costs. Maryland’s transition from fossil fuels, higher electricity generation costs due to the current low electricity supply, and efforts to ensure long-term electrical grid reliability will impact residents across the state.
Residents should begin to budget for rising electricity bills. To keep costs down in the long term, residents should consider potential financial assistance programs such as the Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP), the Fuel Fund of Maryland, and several energy-saving programs. Four energy-saving programs that residents might benefit from include EmPOWER Maryland’s Limited Income Energy Efficiency Program, EmPOWER Maryland’s Quick Home Energy Check-Up, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Weatherization Assistance Program, and energy efficiency incentives through EmPOWER Maryland. To learn more about the tools and to see if you qualify for Assistance, please visit https://secure.pepco.com/assistance/landing. BGE customers can also learn to review if they qualify at https://www.bge.com/HereToHelp.
Please see the State of Maryland’s Office of the People’s Counsel's (OPC’s) Energy Bill Saving webpage for Energy-Efficiency Tips, How to Buy an Energy-Efficient Home Appliance, Programs to Help Pay for Weatherization, and EmPOWER Programs at https://opc.maryland.gov/Consumer-Learning/Energy-Bill-Savings. If you need assistance paying your gas and/or electric bill, please visit the OPC’s “Get Help” website at https://bit.ly/OPCGasElectricBill.
On February 26, Council Member Dernoga, the Maryland State 21st and 23rd District Delegations met virtually with special guests David Lapp with the State of Maryland’s Office of the People’s Counsel, Stacy Wirth with BGE, and William Ellis with Pepco. At this community conversation, the attendees discussed why utility bills are rising and how residents can keep their costs down. They then answered questions submitted by the community. To watch the recording, please visit Council Member Tom Dernoga’s government Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TomDernogaD1.
Immigration Resources
Our office has received inquiries about how we can support our immigrant neighbors. We understand that there is significant concern in our community. We will continue to work with our state and federal partners and local schools to ensure everyone's safety and well-being. My team has put together a list of resources you may find helpful. Please feel free to print it out and share the resources. Please see the list of resources in English at https://bit.ly/DernogaImmiRescsENG and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/DernogaImmiRescsES.
Join our District 1 Senior Living Newsletter List
Take advantage of resources, local activities, and events for seniors. Sign up for our monthly senior email newsletter: https://bit.ly/D1SeniorNewsletterOptIn.
Contact Us
Please keep in touch. You can email us at councildistrict1@co.pg.md.us or call 301-952-3887. Se habla español. አማርኛ እንናገራለን. Follow us on Facebook, X, Threads, and Instagram: @TomDernogaD1.
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