Blegay hosts senior town hall on bills, services in Upper Marlboro

Rising electric and water bills landed at the center of a senior town hall in Upper Marlboro as Prince George’s County Council Member Wala Blegay brought agencies and assistance programs directly to older residents trying to keep up with household costs.

The meeting ran Thursday, May 14, from 11 a.m. to noon at the Upper Marlboro Community Center, 5400 Marlboro Race Track Road. County officials said the session was designed to give seniors practical help on programs, services and community resources available across Prince George’s County, along with guidance on utility assistance tied to Baltimore Gas and Electric, WSSC Water, the Department of Family Services and hearings that could affect residents.

For older residents living on fixed incomes, the event came as utility pressure has become harder to ignore. The county framed the town hall as a way to connect seniors with help they might otherwise miss, including payment support, consumer protections and referrals to offices that handle energy and water-related problems. Blegay’s office has also said Town Hall 2026 will extend that kind of outreach countywide through a series of community meetings focused on listening and results-driven leadership.

The town hall built on work Blegay launched earlier this spring. In April, her office said it was partnering with Community Impact and 2nd District AME to offer utility bill assistance to county residents, a sign that the issue is not limited to one event or one agency. Blegay was elected to the county council in November 2022 and appointed council member at-large on Jan. 5, 2026.

The county’s utility and aging-services programs offer several paths for relief. WSSC Water says its Emergency Customer Relief Fund can provide up to $750 in one-time help for eligible customers with past-due water and sewer bills. Its Customer Assistance Program can waive ready-to-serve fixed fees and may allow payment plans of up to 48 months for approved customers. Prince George’s County’s energy assistance programs include MEAP, the Electric Universal Service Program, Arrearage Retirement Assistance and the Utility Service Protection Program.

County aging-services officials also point seniors age 55 and older to programs such as the Senior Community Service Employment Program and the Retired Senior and Volunteer Program. Blegay’s earlier Senior Utility Savings Forum in March 2025 drew nearly 200 RSVPs, underscoring the demand for help and explaining why county leaders have kept utility relief and senior services at the forefront.