reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
DC Code § 34-1671.01 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.01. Findings

The Council of the District of Columbia finds that: (1) It is in the public interest to promote the availability to customers of adequate, reliable, and reasonably priced retail natural gas from licensed natural gas suppliers that provide customers with the price, terms, conditions, and quality options they elect to meet their respective natural gas needs. (2) It is the intent of this chapter to: (A) Clarify existing law regarding the provision of competitive retail natural gas supply in the District of Columbia; (B) Require the Public Service Commission to license retail natural gas suppliers; (C) Authorize the Public Service Commission to adopt complaint procedures; and (D) Establish standards for the protection of customers so that: (i) Customers have access to reliable, safe, and affordable retail natural gas sales, including high quality customer service; and (ii)(I) Customers have the right to receive accurate, easily understood information about natural gas suppliers, services, plans, terms and conditions, and rights and remedies. (II) The information must be unbiased, accurate, and understandable in a written form, that allows for comparison of prices and terms of service. (3) Customers are protected from unfair, deceptive, fraudulent, and anticompetitive practices, including practices such as cramming, slamming, and providing deceptive information regarding billing terms and conditions of service. (4) Customers receive accurate and timely bills from their natural gas suppliers. (5) Customers are entitled to protection of their privacy and are protected from improper use of their customer records or payment histories without their express consent. (6) Customers have the right to a fair and efficient process for resolving disputes with natural gas suppliers.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 2, 51 DCR 10549.)
DC Code § 34-1671.03 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.03. Role, duties, and powers of the Commission

(a) The Commission shall adopt regulations or issue orders to: (1) Govern the licensing and the revocation, suspension, or surrender of a natural gas supplier license; (2) Implement customer protections; (3) Establish procedural rules for complaints, investigations, and dispositional hearings; (4) Impose a civil penalty or other remedy; (5) Require that residential customers’ bills indicate, as an individual line item, charges for retail natural gas sales; (6) Establish reasonable requirements for solicitation of residential customers; (7) Establish uniform contract terms, except as to price, for the enrollment agreement for residential customers; (8) Establish reasonable procedures for contracting between residential customers and natural gas suppliers; (9) Establish reasonable requirements and limitations relating to deposits, billing, contract cancellations, and disconnections of residential customers; and (10) Establish minimum service quality, safety, and reliability standards. (b) The Commission shall adopt any other regulations, or issue any other orders, consistent with the policies enunciated in this chapter that are necessary to ensure the development of a competitive market for retail natural gas, billing, and any component of retail natural gas sales declared to be a potentially competitive service.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 4, 51 DCR 10549.)
DC Code § 34-1671.04 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.04. Consent to District of Columbia jurisdiction

Any licensee or other person who knowingly engages in business activities that are regulated under this chapter, with or without filing an application, is deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the Commission and the courts of the District of Columbia, for an action arising under this chapter.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 5, 51 DCR 10549.)
DC Code § 34-1671.06 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.06. Duties of the gas company

(a) The gas company shall provide distribution services to all customers and natural gas suppliers on rates, terms, and conditions that are comparable to the gas company’s own use of its distribution system. The gas company shall not operate its distribution systems in a manner that favors the natural gas supply of the gas company’s affiliates and shall not price its services in a manner that impedes competition. (b) The gas company shall comply with the following provisions with respect to its relationship with its customers: (1) The gas company shall provide natural gas supplier choice information and facilitate enrollment of customers pursuant to the natural gas supplier choice education program approved by the Commission. (2) The gas company shall provide, pursuant to the prices, terms, and conditions of its tariffs approved by the Commission, default service to those customers who do not select a natural gas supplier and to customers who chose a natural gas supplier but whose service is terminated by the customer or by the natural gas supplier for any reason.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 7, 51 DCR 10549.)
DC Code § 34-1671.06a (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.06a. Disconnection of service in extreme temperature prohibited

(a) For the purposes of this section, the term “forecast of extreme temperature” means a National Weather Service forecast for the District of Columbia of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below during any time of a day. (b) A gas company shall not disconnect residential gas service during the day preceding and the day of a forecast of extreme temperature or if the forecast of extreme temperature precedes a holiday or weekend day, on any day during the holiday or weekend.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 7a; as added Mar. 9, 2016, D.C. Law 21-82, § 3, 63 DCR 772.)  Cross References Disconnection of natural gas service in extreme temperature prohibited, §  34-1506.01. Temporary Legislation  For temporary (225 days) creation of § 34-1671.06b, see § 307(d) of Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Law 23-130, Oct. 9, 2020, 67 DCR 8622).
DC Code § 34-1671.06b (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.06b. Disconnection of service during a public health emergency prohibited

 *NOTE: This section was created by temporary legislation that will expire on February 4, 2022.*  (a) For the purposes of this section, the term "public health emergency" means a period of time for which the Mayor has declared a public health emergency pursuant to § 7-2304.01. (b) A gas company shall not disconnect gas service for non-payment of a bill or fees during a public health emergency or for 15 calendar days thereafter.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 7b; June 24, 2021, D.C. Law 24-9, § 307(d), 68 DCR 004824.)  Emergency Legislation  For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 307(d) of Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-96, June 7, 2021, 68 DCR 006025).   For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 307(d) of Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-30, Mar. 17, 2021, 68 DCR 003101).   For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 307(d) of Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-328, June 8, 2020, 67 DCR 7598).   For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 307(d) of Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-326, May 27, 2020, 67 DCR 7045).  Temporary Legislation  For temporary (225 days) creation of this section, see § 307(d) of Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Law 24-9, June 24, 2021, 68 DCR 004824).
DC Code § 34-1671.07 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.07. Consumer education

(a) The Commission shall order the gas company, in conjunction with the Office of the People’s Counsel and the District of Columbia Energy Office, to implement a consumer education program to inform residential customers of changes in the natural gas industry and provide natural gas supplier choice information. (b) The consumer education program shall include the dissemination of information to enable residential customers to make informed choices about available licensed natural gas suppliers and the services they provide and suppliers, notification to residential natural gas customers of the right to submit their names for inclusion on a list of residential customers not wanting to receive solicitations from natural gas suppliers, and communication to residential customers of the consumer protection provisions of this chapter. The Commission shall ensure the neutrality of the content and message of the consumer education program’s advertisements and materials. The Commission shall promulgate standards for the recovery of consumer education program costs from residential customers which include reasonable measures and criteria to evaluate the success of the program in enhancing residential customer understanding of retail choice. (c) As part of the consumer education program, the Commission shall develop and maintain information regarding residential rates charged and services provided by licensed natural gas suppliers to residential customers. The information required shall be: (1) Readily understandable and formatted to provide a comparison of rates and services offered by natural gas suppliers; and (2) Made available to the public through the ordinary means of publication by the Commission, including posting on the Internet, or such other means as determined by the Commission. (d) Any dispute regarding the consumer education program mandated by this section shall be resolved by the Commission.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 8, 51 DCR 10549.)
DC Code § 34-1671.09 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.09. Information to be provided to the Commission

(a) A natural gas supplier shall provide the Commission with such information regarding its retail natural gas sales as the Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. The Commission shall take such measures as it considers necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information. (b) The Commission shall require a licensed natural gas supplier to file an annual financial report regarding those retail natural gas sales for which it is subject to licensure.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 10, 51 DCR 10549.)
DC Code § 34-1671.10 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.10. Jurisdiction of the Commission and the Office of the People’s Counsel

(a)(1) The Commission shall have jurisdiction upon the complaint of any person, the People’s Counsel, or on its own initiative regarding the provision by a licensed natural gas supplier of any service for which it is subject to licensure. (2) The Commission shall have jurisdiction upon the complaint of any person, the People’s Counsel, or on its own initiative to determine whether a licensed natural gas supplier has violated or failed to comply with any provision of this chapter regarding retail natural gas sales for which it is subject to licensure or any regulation, rule, or order adopted or issued by the Commission. (3) The Commission, after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing, may conduct an investigation, and impose a penalty, for any violation of this chapter or any regulation or order adopted or issued by the Commission. (b) The People’s Counsel may file a complaint under any provision of this chapter. (c) The Commission shall, by regulation or order, establish procedures for complaints and for resolving disputes between the gas company, natural gas suppliers, and customers.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 11, 51 DCR 10549.)
DC Code § 34-1671.12 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.12. Rights, remedies, prohibitions; cumulative

The rights, remedies, and prohibitions accorded by the provisions of this chapter are in addition to and cumulative of any right, remedy, or prohibition accorded by the common law or any statute of the District of Columbia and nothing contained herein shall be construed to deny, abrogate, or impair any such common law or statutory right, remedy, or prohibition.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 13, 51 DCR 10549.)
DC Code § 34-1671.13 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.13. Application of District of Columbia and federal consumer protection laws

This chapter shall not be construed to exempt natural gas suppliers from otherwise applicable District of Columbia or federal consumer protection laws.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 14, 51 DCR 10549.)
DC Code § 34-1671.14 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 16C - Retail Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|§ 34-1671.14. Market power remediation

(a) The Commission and the People’s Counsel shall monitor the District of Columbia retail markets for natural gas supply and sales declared by the Commission to be potentially competitive services to ensure that the markets are not being adversely affected by anticompetitive conduct and anticompetitive conditions. (b)(1) If, as a result of the monitoring efforts required by subsection (a) of this section or as a result of a complaint, the Commission determines that the District of Columbia retail markets for retail natural gas sales are being adversely affected by anticompetitive conduct or anticompetitive conditions, the Commission shall take remedial action to remedy the impact of the anticompetitive conduct or anticompetitive conditions. (2)(A) If, as a result of the monitoring efforts required by this section, the Commission or the People’s Counsel obtain evidence that the retail markets for natural gas supply or sales declared by the Commission to be competitive services are being adversely affected by anticompetitive conduct or anticompetitive conditions other than the anticompetitive conduct or anticompetitive conditions described in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Commission or the People’s Counsel shall transmit the evidence to the Attorney General, the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and any other appropriate federal agency. (B) The Commission or the People’s Counsel may request the Attorney General to issue a report to the Council within 6 months of the transmittal of evidence by the Commission or the People’s Counsel under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, explaining the course of its investigation, the actions that it has taken or plans to take, and the reasons for those actions. The failure of the Attorney General to bring an action within 6 months of the receipt of the transmittal shall not be deemed to eliminate the Attorney General’s otherwise existing authority to act. Any report submitted under this subsection shall not include information that may compromise any investigation. (c) Nothing in this section shall affect the authority of the Attorney General to investigate or take action against anticompetitive conduct or anticompetitive conditions on its own initiative.  (Mar. 16, 2005, D.C. Law 15-227, § 15, 51 DCR 10549.)
DC Code § 34-1701 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 17 - Ban on Automated Dialing Systems|§ 34-1701. Ban on automated telephone dialing systems for commercial solicitation; definitions; prohibition; exceptions

(a) For the purposes of this section, the term: (1) “Automated dialing or push-button or tone-activated address signaling telephone system with a prerecorded message” is any equipment used for telephone solicitation purposes, which alone or in conjunction with other equipment, can convey a prerecorded or synthesized voice message to the number called. (2) “Soliciting” means any attempt to sell or lease consumer goods, services, or real property to another person. (b)(1) A person may not use an automated dialing, push-button, or tone-activated address signaling telephone system with a prerecorded message for the sole purpose of: (A) Soliciting a person over the telephone to purchase or lease goods, services, or real property; or (B) Requesting survey information over the telephone where results are to be used directly for the purpose of soliciting a person to purchase or lease goods, services, or real property. (2) This section shall not apply if: (A) The person soliciting is a federal, state, or local government agency that uses an automated dialing prerecorded message for emergency purposes; or (B) A person has a preexisting business relationship with the party called and the call concerns goods, services, or real property that have been previously ordered or purchased. (3) Any automated, push-button, or tone-activated address signaling telephone system used in the District must automatically create a disconnect signal or on hook condition which allows the called party’s line to be released within 10 seconds after the called party hangs up. (4) Any person who violates this section shall be fined a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for the 1st violation and not more than $5,000 for each subsequent violation. (5) The Corporation Counsel of the District of Columbia, or his assistants, shall prosecute violations of this section in the name of the District of Columbia.  (July 13, 1991, D.C. Law 9-14, §§ 2, 3, 38 DCR 3384.)  Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 43-1418.
DC Code § 34-1731.01 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 17A - Digital Inclusion|§ 34-1731.01. Findings and purposes

(a) The Council finds that: (1) Low-income residents and residents in economically disadvantaged areas of the District of Columbia are also likely to be digitally-disadvantaged in that they cannot afford access to the Internet or may lack the computer equipment and training necessary to benefit meaningfully from Internet access. (2) Certain assets of the District, including light poles and buildings, may provide value to telecommunications carriers for the attachment of wireless network antennae and the deployment of broadband internet services. (3) The District government does not have the funds to provide to digitally-disadvantaged residents the range of services necessary to afford Internet access and permit them to benefit meaningfully from that Internet access. (4) By awarding one or more franchises that permit a telecommunications carrier to use District-owned assets such as buildings and poles on a nonexclusive basis in return for the provision of certain services to digitally-disadvantaged residents, the District government can meet the Internet access needs of these residents without additional cost or risk to the District. (b) The purposes of this chapter are to: (1) Obtain value for the District through the awarding of rights to use poles, buildings, and other assets of the District for telecommunications purposes; and (2) Provide for the furnishing of benefits to digitally-disadvantaged residents of the District in exchange for a franchise to use poles, buildings, and other assets of the District for Internet-related telecommunications purposes.  (Mar. 2, 2007, D.C. Law 16-210, § 2, 53 DCR 9122.)  Emergency Legislation For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 2 of Digital Inclusion Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-467, July 25, 2006, 53 DCR 6754).
DC Code § 34-1731.02 (2021)
2021 District of Columbia Code|Title 34 - Public Utilities|Chapter 17A - Digital Inclusion|§ 34-1731.02. Definitions

For purposes of this chapter, the term: (1) “Backhaul” means the transmission of voice and data traffic from the wireless network to a wireline network infrastructure. (2) “Census tracts” means geographical areas defined by median household income according to the most recent census for the District of Columbia published by the United States Bureau of the Census. (3) “Connectivity” means connection from a home to a telecommunications provider’s network. (4) “DC-Net” means the District government’s telecommunications service network and information technology infrastructure. (5) “Digitally-disadvantaged areas” means census tracts in the District of Columbia with median income below the median income in the District as a whole. (6) “Digitally-disadvantaged population” means low-income residents of the District of Columbia. (7) “Digitally-disadvantaged residents” means residents of digitally-disadvantaged areas. (8) “Digitally-disadvantaged resident household” means all digitally-disadvantaged residents residing at a fixed single-family address in the District of Columbia that define themselves as a family unit. (9) “District telecommunications assets” means nonexclusive access to District-owned pole-mounted street light fixtures and buildings and backhaul on DC-Net from selected District locations to carrier hotel at 1275 K Street N.W., Washington, D.C., for Internet-related services. (10) “Franchisee” means a person or entity that enters into a franchise agreement pursuant to a successful bid and award. (11) “Low-income resident” means any District of Columbia resident whose income meets the eligibility standards for reduced price meals according to the Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the National School Lunch Program, as established annually pursuant to sections 9(b)(1) and 17(c)(4) of AN ACT To provide assistance to the States in the establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of school lunch programs, and for other purposes, approved June 4, 1946 (60 Stat. 233; 42 U.S.C. §§ 1758(b)(1) and 1766(c)(4)), and sections 3(a)(6) and 4(e)(1)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, approved October 11, 1966 (80 Stat. 885; 42 U.S.C. §§ 1772 (a)(6) and 1773(e)(1)(A)). (12) “OCTO” means Office of the Chief Technology Officer. (13) “Package of services for digitally-disadvantaged residents” means some combination of connectivity, computers, software, computer training, support, and Internet service provider services. (14) “RFI” means a request for information. (15) “RFP” means a request for proposals.  (Mar. 2, 2007, D.C. Law 16-210, § 3, 53 DCR 9122.)  Emergency Legislation For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 3 of Digital Inclusion Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-467, July 25, 2006, 53 DCR 6754).