reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-401 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 4 - Energy Conservation Building Standards|Section 7-401 - Definitions

    (a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “B.T.U.” means a British Thermal Unit which is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit.    (c)    “Builder” means:        (1)    the person with whom the owner of a building enters into a contract or agreement to be principally responsible for the construction of the building, either individually or as a general contractor; or        (2)    the owner of a building, if the owner constructs the building or serves as the owner’s own general contractor.    (d)    (1)    “Building” means any new structure that:            (i)    is designed for human use or occupancy;            (ii)    provides a method of controlling energy usage within its exterior envelope; and            (iii)    as designed, does not have a peak design rate of energy usage per square foot of floor area of less than 3.5 B.T.U. per hour or 1 watt.        (2)    “Building” includes any portion of an otherwise excluded new structure if that portion of the structure is primarily for human use or occupancy because the exterior envelopes, heating, venting and air conditioning systems, service water heating, and electrical distribution and illuminating systems are designed for that portion of the structure that is primarily for human use or occupancy.        (3)    “Building” does not include:            (i)    an addition to an existing structure or a single-family dwelling that is to constitute the principal residence of the builder;            (ii)    a structure with a permanent heating and cooling system that utilizes a source other than natural gas, a petroleum product, or electricity;            (iii)    an industrialized building as defined in § 12-301 of the Public Safety Article that bears an insignia furnished by the Department of Housing and Community Development under Title 12, Subtitle 3 of the Public Safety Article; and            (iv)    a manufactured home as defined in § 12-301 of the Public Safety Article that bears an insignia issued by the Department of Housing and Community Development under Title 12, Subtitle 3 of the Public Safety Article.    (e)    “Energy Code” means energy conservation standards adopted under COMAR 05.02.07.04 Maryland Building Performance Standards (MBPS) under the authority of Title 12, Subtitle 5 of the Public Safety Article.    (f)    “Political subdivision” means a county, Baltimore City, or a municipal corporation.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-402 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 4 - Energy Conservation Building Standards|Section 7-402 - Scope of Subtitle

    Except as provided in § 7-406(c) of this subtitle, the provisions of this subtitle do not apply to any building constructed within the boundaries of a political subdivision if:         (1)    the political subdivision has adopted the Energy Code; and        (2)    the Energy Code adopted by the political subdivision applies to the building being constructed.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-403 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 4 - Energy Conservation Building Standards|Section 7-403 - Certificate of Compliance With Energy Code

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and § 7-404 of this subtitle, a builder of any building that is completed after July 1, 1982 shall certify under oath to the electric company designated to provide electric service to the building that the building meets the latest edition of the Energy Code.        (2)    If the building was designed while the immediately preceding edition of the Energy Code was in effect and the building was constructed in accordance with the then preceding edition of the Energy Code, the builder may so certify in order to satisfy the requirements of this section.    (b)    (1)    The certification shall be made on a form that is provided by the Department of Housing and Community Development.        (2)    The certificate shall contain a statement to the effect that any action brought by the first purchaser against the builder under § 7-406(b) of this subtitle may be brought within 3 years after the date on which the builder provided the first purchaser with a copy of the certificate or the waiver as provided in § 7-406(a) of this subtitle.    (c)    (1)    The builder shall file the certificate with the electric company in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested.        (2)    If the builder is a corporation, the certificate shall be submitted under oath by an officer of the corporation.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-404 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 4 - Energy Conservation Building Standards|Section 7-404 - Waiver

    (a)    Subject to the provisions of this section, the Department of Housing and Community Development may grant a waiver from the certification requirements specified in § 7-403 of this subtitle for any building:        (1)    to which a significant commitment had been made to its design or construction prior to January 1, 1982; and        (2)    for which imposition of energy conservation standards under this subtitle would pose a substantial financial hardship.    (b)    For any waiver granted under this section, the Department shall issue a written statement that clearly identifies the building affected and that specifies that the Department has granted a waiver from the energy conservation requirements of this subtitle.    (c)    To be effective, the builder shall file the statement of waiver issued by the Department of Housing and Community Development in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested, with the electric company designated to provide electric service to the building.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-405 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 4 - Energy Conservation Building Standards|Section 7-405 - Duties of Electric Company

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an electric company may not provide electric service to any building on which construction is completed after July 1, 1982, unless the builder has filed with the company the certificate or statement of waiver that is required under this subtitle.        (2)    Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to the temporary provision of electric service for use only during the process of constructing a building.    (b)    If it is later determined that a building did not conform to the energy conservation standards to which the builder has certified or that a false waiver was provided to the electric company by the builder, the electric company may not be held liable for that noncompliance.    (c)    (1)    Certificates and statements of waiver filed with an electric company under this subtitle shall be made available to the public.        (2)    The electric company:            (i)    shall provide a copy of any certificate or statement of waiver that it has on file to any person on request within a reasonable time not to exceed 5 working days; and            (ii)    may charge a reasonable fee for any copy of a certificate or statement of waiver that it provides.        (3)    The electric company is not required to retain a certificate or a statement of waiver filed with the electric company under this subsection beyond 3 years from the date the certificate or statement of waiver was filed with the electric company.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-407 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 4 - Energy Conservation Building Standards|Section 7-407 - Penalties

    (a)    A person who fails or causes another to fail to submit a certification or statement of waiver to an electric company as required by this subtitle and a person who knowingly submits or knowingly causes to be submitted a false certification or statement of waiver, is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $5,000.    (b)    An electric company that knowingly provides service in violation of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-408 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 4 - Energy Conservation Building Standards|Section 7-408 - Short Title

    This subtitle may be cited as the Energy Conservation Building Standards Act.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-601 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 6 - Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|Section 7-601 - "Consumer" and "Customer" Defined

    In this subtitle, “consumer” and “customer” each means a retail gas customer.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-602 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 6 - Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|Section 7-602 - Legislative Findings; Purpose of Subtitle

    The General Assembly finds and declares that the purpose of this subtitle is to:         (1)    clarify existing law regarding the provision of competitive retail gas supply and gas supply services in the State;        (2)    require the Commission to license gas suppliers;        (3)    authorize the Commission to adopt complaint procedures;        (4)    establish certain requirements relating to the competitiveness of retail gas supply and gas supply services markets; and        (5)    establish standards for the protection of consumers.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-603 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 6 - Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|Section 7-603 - Licensing; Authority of Commission

    (a)    The Commission shall license gas suppliers and shall have the same authority as the Commission has under § 7-507 of this title for electricity suppliers, including the authority to:        (1)    revoke or suspend a license;        (2)    impose a moratorium, civil penalty, or other remedy; or        (3)    order a refund for or credit to a customer.    (b)    The Commission shall adopt licensing requirements and procedures for gas suppliers that protect consumers, the public interest, and the collection of all State and local taxes.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-604 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 6 - Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|Section 7-604 - Consumer Protection Orders or Regulations

    (a)    On or before July 1, 2001, the Commission shall adopt consumer protection orders or regulations for gas suppliers that:        (1)    protect consumers from discriminatory, unfair, deceptive, and anticompetitive acts and practices in the marketing, selling, or distributing of natural gas;        (2)    provide for contracting, enrollment, and billing practices and procedures; and        (3)    the Commission considers necessary to protect the consumer.    (b)    In adopting orders and regulations under this section, unless the Commission determines that the circumstances do not require consistency, the Commission shall:        (1)    provide customers with protections consistent with applicable protections provided to retail electric customers; and        (2)    impose appropriate requirements on gas suppliers that are consistent with applicable requirements imposed on electricity suppliers.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-604.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 6 - Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|Section 7-604.1 - Customer Choice Shopping Website for Natural Gas Suppliers

    (a)    The Commission shall establish a customer choice shopping website that allows a customer to sort natural gas suppliers that have open offers to supply natural gas to residential customers in the customer’s service area.    (b)    The website shall include:        (1)    a list of all natural gas suppliers that have open offers to supply natural gas to residential customers in a customer’s service area, sortable by:            (i)    cost of service;            (ii)    cost of natural gas per therm;            (iii)    rate structure;            (iv)    duration of the contract;            (v)    cancellation fee; and            (vi)    any other aspect of service that the Commission considers necessary;        (2)    a way to compare natural gas suppliers based on the sortable items specified under item (1) of this subsection;        (3)    a link to the website of each natural gas supplier with an open offer to supply natural gas to residential customers;        (4)    a link to a complaint process that provides access for the customer to protect the customer’s rights and make use of consumer protections through the Commission; and        (5)    fact sheets on the process for comparing offers from natural gas suppliers on the website, including relevant contract terms, requirements, limitations, and fees.    (c)    (1)    To ensure the currency and accuracy of information required under subsection (b) of this section, the Commission shall maintain a secure portal on its website to receive information about offers to supply natural gas from natural gas suppliers.        (2)    At least once a month, each natural gas supplier with an open offer to supply natural gas shall submit detailed information about the offer to the Commission through a secure portal maintained by the Commission on the Commission’s website for this purpose.    (d)    The Commission shall recover the cost of complying with this section in accordance with § 2–110 of this article.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-605 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 6 - Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|Section 7-605 - Construction of Subtitle; Dispute Resolution

    (a)    This subtitle may not be construed to:        (1)    affect the authority of the Division of Consumer Protection of the Office of the Attorney General to enforce violations of Titles 13 and 14 of the Commercial Law Article or any other applicable State law or regulation in connection with the activities of gas suppliers; or        (2)    exempt gas companies and gas suppliers from otherwise applicable State or federal consumer protection and antitrust laws.    (b)    The Commission shall consult with the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General before adopting regulations designed to protect consumers of gas supply and gas supply services.    (c)    The People’s Counsel has the same authority in licensing, complaint, and dispute resolution proceedings as the People’s Counsel has under Subtitle 5 of this title and Title 2 of this article.    (d)    In connection with a consumer complaint or Commission investigation under this subtitle, a gas supplier shall provide to the Commission access to any accounts, books, papers, and documents that the Commission considers necessary to resolve a matter in dispute.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-606 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 6 - Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|Section 7-606 - Regulations

    The Commission may adopt regulations or adopt orders to implement this subtitle that it considers necessary and in the public interest.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-607 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 6 - Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection|Section 7-607 - Short Title

    This subtitle may be referred to as the “Natural Gas Supplier Licensing and Consumer Protection Act of 2000”.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-702 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 7 - Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard|Section 7-702 - Intent and Findings

    (a)    It is the intent of the General Assembly to:        (1)    recognize the economic, environmental, fuel diversity, and security benefits of renewable energy resources;        (2)    reduce greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate carbon–fueled generation from the State’s electric grid by using these resources;        (3)    establish a market for electricity from these resources in Maryland; and        (4)    lower the cost to consumers of electricity produced from these resources.    (b)    The General Assembly finds that:        (1)    the benefits of electricity from renewable energy resources, including long–term decreased emissions, a healthier environment, increased energy security, and decreased reliance on and vulnerability from imported energy sources, accrue to the public at large;        (2)    electricity suppliers and consumers share an obligation to develop a minimum level of these resources in the electricity supply portfolio of the State; and        (3)    the State needs to increase its reliance on renewable energy in order to:            (i)    reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals under § 2–1205 of the Environment Article; and            (ii)    provide opportunities for small, minority, women–owned, and veteran–owned businesses to participate in and develop a highly skilled workforce for clean energy industries in the State.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-706 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 7 - Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard|Section 7-706 - Recovery of Costs or Compliance Fees; Waiver

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, in accordance with the obligation to provide standard offer service through the bid process created under § 7–510 of this title, the Commission shall allow an electricity supplier to recover actual dollar–for–dollar costs incurred, including a compliance fee under § 7–705 of this subtitle, in complying with a State–mandated renewable energy portfolio standard.        (2)    In accordance with the Phase II settlement agreement approved by the Commission in Order No. 78710 in Case No. 8908 on September 30, 2003, for any full–service agreement executed before the renewable energy standard under this subtitle applies to an electric company, the electric company and its wholesale electricity suppliers may pass through their commercially reasonable additional costs, if any, associated with complying with the standard, through the end of the year of standard offer service in which the requirement took effect.    (b)    An electricity supplier may recover a compliance fee if:        (1)    the payment of a compliance fee is the least–cost measure to customers as compared to the purchase of Tier 1 renewable sources to comply with a renewable energy portfolio standard;        (2)    there are insufficient Tier 1 renewable sources available for the electricity supplier to comply with a renewable energy portfolio standard; or        (3)    a wholesale electricity supplier defaults or otherwise fails to deliver renewable energy credits under a supply contract approved by the Commission.    (c)    Any cost recovery under this section:        (1)    for all electricity suppliers, may be in the form of a generation surcharge payable by all current electricity supply customers, except as otherwise provided in § 7–704(e) of this subtitle;        (2)    shall be disclosed to customers in a manner to be determined by the Commission; and        (3)    may not include the costs for a power purchase contract under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act contemplated in rates or restructuring proceedings.    (d)    (1)    In accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission in consultation with the Department of Commerce, the Commission may waive the recovery of all or part of the compliance fee assessed on the load of a particular industrial or nonretail commercial customer for a particular year, based on a demonstration by the applicant of an extreme economic hardship that significantly impairs the continued operation of the applicant.        (2)    Any compliance fee recovery that is waived under this subsection may not be assessed against other customers.        (3)    An electricity supplier is not liable for any compliance fee that is waived under this subsection.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-708 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 7 - Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard|Section 7-708 - Renewable Electricity Trading System

    (a)    (1)    The Commission shall establish and maintain a market-based renewable electricity trading system to facilitate the creation and transfer of renewable energy credits.        (2)    To the extent practicable, the trading system shall be consistent with and operate in conjunction with the trading system developed by PJM Interconnection, Inc., if available.        (3)    The Commission may contract with a for-profit or a nonprofit entity to assist in the administration of the electricity trading system required under paragraph (1) of this subsection.    (b)    (1)    The system shall include a registry of pertinent information regarding all:            (i)    available renewable energy credits; and            (ii)    renewable energy credit transactions among electricity suppliers in the State, including:                1.    the creation and application of renewable energy credits;                2.    the number of renewable energy credits sold or transferred; and                3.    the price paid for the sale or transfer of renewable energy credits.        (2)    (i)    The registry shall provide current information to electricity suppliers and the public on the status of renewable energy credits created, sold, or transferred in the State.            (ii)    Registry information shall be available by computer network access through the Internet.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-710 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 7 - Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard|Section 7-710 - Administration Fee

    The Commission may impose an administrative fee on a renewable energy credit transaction, but the amount of the fee may not exceed the Commission’s actual direct cost of processing the transaction.