reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-210 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 2 - Electric Generation Facility Planning|Section 7-210 - Municipal Electric Plants

    (a)    This section does not apply to Baltimore City.    (b)    (1)    A municipal corporation may not build, maintain, or operate a plant for supplying gas or electricity for other than municipal purposes unless the municipal corporation has a certificate of authority from the Commission.        (2)    If the Commission denies the certificate of authority, the municipal corporation may not reapply for a certificate until at least 6 months have elapsed from the date that the Commission denied the previous application.    (c)    Subject to subsection (b) of this section, a municipal corporation in the business of supplying electricity for other than municipal purposes may own or finance an interest in an electric plant to secure an entitlement of electricity for its customers.    (d)    If the boundaries of a municipal corporation are enlarged by annexation, the municipal corporation may acquire the exclusive right to supply electricity within the annexed area if:        (1)    the municipal corporation:            (i)    files a petition with the Commission seeking approval to acquire the exclusive right to supply electricity within the annexed area;            (ii)    provides a copy of the petition to each electric company whose service territory or electric plant will be affected by the annexation; and            (iii)    attaches to the petition a copy of the amendment to the municipal corporation charter that describes the area annexed and a description of the service territory, plant, equipment, and customers of each electric company that is likely to be affected by the annexation; and        (2)    the Commission determines that modification of the service territory of an electric company and the transfer of a franchise or right under the franchise is in the public interest.    (e)    (1)    A municipal corporation that acquires the exclusive right under subsection (d) of this section to supply electricity within an area annexed by the municipal corporation may exercise the right of eminent domain to acquire the existing installed facilities of each electric company within the annexed area that are used solely to supply electricity to the annexed area.        (2)    The value of any property taken under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be determined as of the date of the taking.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-212 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 2 - Electric Generation Facility Planning|Section 7-212 - Regulations Governing Purchase of Liquid-Immersed Distribution Transformers; Life-Cycle Cost Methodology for Transformers Used for Installation Outside State

    (a)    On or before July 1, 2008, the Commission shall adopt regulations governing the purchase of liquid–immersed distribution transformers by electric companies.    (b)    Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the regulations shall be consistent with the regulations adopted by the U.S. Department of Energy.    (c)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the regulations shall ensure that, subject to availability, purchases of liquid–immersed distribution transformers by electric companies occurring on or after January 1, 2009, are based on the life–cycle cost methodology contained in Section 2 of Standard TP–1–2002 published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.        (2)    The regulations adopted under this section may not apply to an electric cooperative that supplies electricity to less than 60,000 electric meters in the State.    (d)    For electric companies that maintain inventories of distribution transformers in the State for installation in adjacent service areas outside of the State, the Commission may also consider additional inventory management costs as costs for inclusion within the life–cycle cost methodology to be used by electric companies for purposes of this section.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-215 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 2 - Electric Generation Facility Planning|Section 7-215 - Sale or Transfer of Solar Electric Generating Facility

    (a)    This section applies to a solar electric generating facility located in the State that:        (1)    has the capacity to produce more than 2 megawatts of electricity; and        (2)    is designed to produce electricity for sale on the wholesale market.    (b)    (1)    Not later than 30 days after selling or otherwise transferring ownership of a solar electric generating facility the owner of the facility shall provide notice of the sale or transfer to:            (i)    the county in which the facility is located; and            (ii)    the Commission.        (2)    The notice under this section shall include the name, address, phone number, and e–mail address of the new owner.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-301 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations|Section 7-301 - Meters -- Authorization by Commission

    (a)    A person may not furnish or put in use for revenue billing purposes a gas meter or electric meter unless the Commission has authorized the meter’s use.    (b)    (1)    Each gas company and electric company shall maintain suitable equipment, approved by the Commission, for testing the accuracy of a gas meter or electric meter furnished by the company for use by its customers.        (2)    The gas company or electric company shall test a customer’s meter with the equipment in accordance with § 7–302 of this subtitle.        (3)    A small rural electric cooperative described in § 7–502(a) of this title may satisfy this section by demonstrating that the electric meters which it furnishes to customers comply with the standards of the utility regulatory body of the state in which the cooperative has its principal place of business.    (c)    (1)    This subsection applies to:            (i)    a new residential multiple occupancy building;            (ii)    a new shopping center; or            (iii)    a new housing unit that is constructed, managed, operated, developed, or subsidized by a local housing authority established under Division II of the Housing and Community Development Article.        (2)    The service restrictions imposed under this subsection do not apply to central hot water.        (3)    The Commission may not authorize a gas company or electric company to service an occupancy unit or shopping center unit subject to this subsection unless the building or shopping center has individual metered service or submetering as provided under § 7–303 or § 7–304 of this subtitle for each individually leased or owned occupancy unit or shopping center unit.        (4)    In accordance with its regulations, the Commission may authorize a gas company or electric company to provide service for central heating or cooling systems, or a combination of those systems, to an occupancy unit or shopping center unit subject to this subsection if the Commission is satisfied that the service will result in a substantial net saving of energy over the energy saving that would result from individual metering or submetering as provided under § 7–303 or § 7–304 of this subtitle.    (d)    The owner, operator, or manager of a residential multiple occupancy building or shopping center subject to this section may not impose a utility cost on an occupancy unit or shopping center unit, except for charges that:        (1)    the Commission authorizes the gas company or electric company to impose; and        (2)    the gas company or electric company actually imposes on the owner, operator, or manager.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-302 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations|Section 7-302 - Meters -- Inspection

    (a)    (1)    By written request, a consumer may compel the Commission to inspect and test the consumer’s electric meter or gas meter.        (2)    The consumer is entitled to be present for the test.    (b)    (1)    The Commission shall set a percentage tolerance limit for the accuracy of an electric meter or gas meter.        (2)    The Commission shall order a gas company or electric company to replace a meter at the company’s expense if the meter is incorrect to the prejudice of the consumer by more than the percentage tolerance limit set by the Commission.    (c)    (1)    The Commission shall set a uniform reasonable fee for meter test services under this section.        (2)    (i)    If the test indicates that the meter is within the percentage tolerance limit set by the Commission under subsection (b)(1) of this section, the consumer shall pay the test fee.            (ii)    If the test indicates that the meter is not within the percentage tolerance limit set by the Commission, the Commission shall refund the fee.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-304 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations|Section 7-304 - Energy Allocation Equipment -- Apartments

    (a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.        (2)    “Apartment house” has the meaning stated in § 7-303(a) of this subtitle.        (3)    “Dwelling unit” has the meaning stated in § 7-303(a) of this subtitle.        (4)    “Energy allocation system” means a method of determining the approximate energy use within an individual dwelling unit by a measuring device that the Commission approves.    (b)    (1)    Approval from the Commission is required before energy allocation equipment and procedures may be used by the owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house to determine the amount of gas or electricity used by an individual dwelling unit, if the amount of gas or electricity is determined by means other than by actual measurement of fuel or electric power consumed by the unit.        (2)    An energy allocation system may not be used for direct billing of energy costs to the tenant of an individual dwelling unit unless the Commission approves the system in accordance with this subsection.    (c)    (1)    The Commission shall adopt regulations that specify the conditions under which the energy allocation equipment and procedures approved by it under subsection (b) of this section may be implemented.        (2)    The regulations shall include requirements that the owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house shall use to inform consumers about estimated energy costs.    (d)    The Commission shall send any complaint it receives about an individual dwelling unit’s gas or electric power consumption to the Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, if the dwelling unit’s gas or electric power consumption is determined by the use of energy allocation equipment and procedures approved by the Commission under subsection (b) of this section.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-305 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations|Section 7-305 - Customer Billing

    (a)    A gas company or electric company may bill its customers for gas, electricity, or any other service it renders only on the basis of the net total cost of the service under the applicable rate that is filed for that service.    (b)    (1)    The Commission may authorize a gas company or electric company to apply an additional charge over the net total cost to any bill or part of a bill that is not paid:            (i)    within 20 days for a residential customer or residential cooperative; or            (ii)    within 15 days for any other customer.        (2)    (i)    The additional charge that is applied by a gas company or electric company under this subsection may not exceed 5% of the net bill or part of the bill.            (ii)    Unless the Commission approves the imposition of different charges on different classes of customers, any additional charges applied by a gas company or electric company under this subsection shall be uniform for all customers.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-307.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations|Section 7-307.1 - Termination of Electric and Gas Service in Extreme Temperatures

    (a)    A public service company may not terminate electric or gas service to a residential customer in a designated weather station area because of nonpayment on a day for which the forecasted high temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below in that weather station area.    (b)    A public service company may not terminate electric service to a residential customer in a designated weather station area because of nonpayment on a day for which the forecasted temperature is 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above in that weather station area.    (c)    The Commission shall require each public service company that provides electric or gas service to designate and file with the Commission designated weather station areas within its service territory for use in administering the restrictions on weather–related terminations under subsections (a) and (b) of this section.    (d)    This section may not be construed to limit the authority of the Commission to adopt, by regulation or order, additional limitations and conditions on termination of electric or gas service that are more protective of consumers.    (e)    The Commission shall adopt regulations to carry out this section.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-307.2 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations|Section 7-307.2 - Default in Payment for Electric, Gas, Sewer and Water Service

    (a)    This section applies only to property subject to a condominium regime established under Title 11 of the Real Property Article.    (b)    Notwithstanding any other law, if a public service company bills the governing body of a condominium or a person designated by the governing body of a condominium for electric, gas, or water service for all or a portion of the units in a condominium property, and the charge for service is in arrears for at least 60 days, the public service company shall post notice conspicuously at or near the entry to the common area of the condominium.    (c)    The public service company may enter onto the common area of a condominium property at a reasonable time to post the notice required under this section.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-307.3 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations|Section 7-307.3 - Termination of Service to Multifamily Dwelling Unit

    (a)    A public service company that intends to terminate, because of nonpayment, electric or gas service to a customer of the service to a multifamily dwelling unit shall notify the property owner or property manager of the multifamily dwelling unit before terminating service to the customer if the public service company has received the customer’s consent that designates the property owner or property manager as a third–party authorized to receive a notice of termination of services.    (b)    As a term of a lease of a multifamily dwelling unit, the property owner or property manager of the multifamily dwelling unit may require a tenant to ensure that a customer of the public service company that is responsible for the account for that multifamily dwelling unit provides consent for the property owner or property manager to receive a notice of termination of services as a result of nonpayment by the customer.    (c)    A customer’s consent may be provided to a public service company by:        (1)    the customer; or        (2)    if the consent is written, the property owner or property manager of the multifamily dwelling unit.    (d)    Each public service company shall set up a procedure for handling the third–party notification process in a manner best suited to the circumstances of the particular public service company.    (e)    Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent any other form of third–party notification that a customer may request.    (f)    The Commission may adopt regulations to carry out this section.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-307.4 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations|Section 7-307.4 - Termination of Service to Involuntarily Furloughed Federal Employees

    (a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.        (2)    “Eligible residential customer” means a residential electric or gas customer who is:            (i)    employed by the federal or State government or a local government in the State; and            (ii)    involuntarily furloughed from work without pay because of a government shutdown, regardless of whether the employee is required to report to work during the furlough.        (3)    “Government shutdown” means a government shutdown that:            (i)    occurs when government funding is unavailable to operate the governmental activities due to the lack of a legislative appropriation or a continuing resolution; and            (ii)    lasts for a period that exceeds 7 consecutive days.    (b)    A public service company may not terminate electric or gas service to an eligible residential customer for nonpayment on a day that a government shutdown is in effect and for 7 days after the government shutdown has ended if the customer contacts the public service company before the date of termination to:        (1)    provide verification that the customer is an employee of the federal, State, or local government affected by the government shutdown; and        (2)    enter into a payment plan to pay any outstanding amount on the customer’s account after the government shutdown ends.    (c)    The Commission may adopt regulations to implement this section.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-308 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations|Section 7-308 - Natural Gas Vehicles

    (a)    In this section, “natural gas vehicle” means a vehicle operated on a public road and powered by natural gas.    (b)    The sale by any person of natural gas that is received from a public service company for use as a motor fuel in a natural gas vehicle is not subject to regulation by the Commission.    (c)    A person that sells natural gas received from a public service company for use as a motor fuel in a natural gas vehicle is not considered a public service company for purposes of this article.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-310 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations|Section 7-310 - Retail Choice Customer Education and Protection Fund

    (a)    In this section, “Fund” means the Retail Choice Customer Education and Protection Fund.    (b)    There is a Retail Choice Customer Education and Protection Fund.    (c)    The purpose of the Fund is to provide resources to improve the Commission’s ability to:        (1)    educate customers on retail electric and gas choice; and        (2)    protect customers from unfair, false, misleading, or deceptive practices by electricity or gas suppliers.    (d)    The Commission shall administer the Fund.    (e)    (1)    The Fund is a special, nonlasping fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.        (2)    The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.    (f)    The Fund consists of:        (1)    revenue distributed to the Fund under § 13–201(e)(3) of this article;        (2)    money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and        (3)    any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.    (g)    The Fund may be used only to:        (1)    educate retail electric or gas customers on retail choice; and        (2)    improve customer protections for retail electric or gas customers.    (h)    (1)    The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.        (2)    Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the General Fund of the State.    (i)    Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-311 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations|Section 7-311 - Training and Educational Program -- Electricity and Gas Suppliers

    (a)    The Commission shall develop a training and educational program for any entity or individual that is licensed by the Commission as an electricity supplier or a gas supplier.    (b)    The Commission shall develop the program in consultation with interested stakeholders, including electricity suppliers and gas suppliers.    (c)    The program shall require that a designated representative of each licensed electricity supplier or licensed gas supplier demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Commission’s regulations regarding:        (1)    sales;        (2)    consumer protection; and        (3)    any other matter the Commission deems appropriate.    (d)    At the conclusion of the training, the Commission shall:        (1)    conduct an examination; and        (2)    on a satisfactory score, certify that the designated representative of the licensed electricity supplier or licensed gas supplier has successfully completed the training.    (e)    (1)    The Commission shall determine the schedule and frequency by which a designated representative of a licensed electricity supplier or licensed gas supplier must complete the training and certification.        (2)    A designated representative of a new electricity supplier or gas supplier shall complete the training and certification prior to the issuance of a license.    (f)    The Commission may adopt regulations that include appropriate penalties or sanctions for failure to comply with this section.    (g)    (1)    The Commission shall use the assessments collected in accordance with § 2–110 of this article for the initial development of the training and educational program.        (2)    The Commission may establish reasonable fees to pay for the costs of the program.