reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  3-202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 3 - Administrative and Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Judicial Review|Section 3-202 - Right to Judicial Review of Orders and Decisions

    (a)    Except for the staff of the Commission, a party or person in interest, including the People’s Counsel, that is dissatisfied by a final decision or order of the Commission may seek judicial review of the decision or order as provided in this subtitle.    (b)    The Secretary of Natural Resources may seek judicial review under this subtitle of a final decision or order of the Commission made under §§ 7-201 through 7-204, § 7-207, or § 7-208 of this article that relates to the environmental aspects of power plant siting.    (c)    The Secretary of the Environment may seek judicial review of a final decision or order of the Commission made under §§ 7-205 and 7-206 of this article.    (d)    If the Motor Vehicle Administration suspends or revokes the registration of a motor vehicle carrier in accordance with an order of the Commission, only the order of the Commission is subject to review under this section.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  3-203 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 3 - Administrative and Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Judicial Review|Section 3-203 - Scope of Review

    Every final decision, order, or regulation of the Commission is prima facie correct and shall be affirmed unless clearly shown to be:         (1)    unconstitutional;        (2)    outside the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the Commission;        (3)    made on unlawful procedure;        (4)    arbitrary or capricious;        (5)    affected by other error of law; or        (6)    if the subject of review is an order entered in a contested proceeding after a hearing, unsupported by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  3-204 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 3 - Administrative and Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Judicial Review|Section 3-204 - Proceedings for Review

    (a)    A proceeding for review under § 3-202 of this subtitle shall be instituted in:        (1)    the circuit court in equity for any county in which the public service company involved in the proceeding operates; or        (2)    the Circuit Court in equity for Baltimore City.    (b)    If more than one proceeding to review an order or final decision of the Commission is instituted, on motion of any party, the court may transfer the proceeding to another court that has jurisdiction.    (c)    If a rehearing by the Commission is applied for, a proceeding for judicial review may be filed after service of the decision of the Commission that denies the rehearing.    (d)    The Commission may be a party to an appeal made under this section.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  3-205 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 3 - Administrative and Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Judicial Review|Section 3-205 - Stay of Enforcement

    The Commission may, on terms it considers appropriate, stay the enforcement of a regulation or order that is the subject of a proceeding for review under this subtitle.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  3-206 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 3 - Administrative and Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Judicial Review|Section 3-206 - Time of Trial

    (a)    After an answer has been filed in a proceeding for review under § 3-202 of this subtitle, the matter shall stand ready for trial on 15 days’ notice by any party.    (b)    (1)    This subsection does not apply to proceedings before the Court of Special Appeals or the Court of Appeals.        (2)    A court shall give preference to a proceeding under this subtitle over all other civil actions except actions concerning elections, regardless of the position of the other actions on the docket.        (3)    A court shall always be open for the trial of a proceeding under this subtitle.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  3-207 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 3 - Administrative and Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Judicial Review|Section 3-207 - Existing Record and Transcript

    (a)    (1)    (i)    By stipulation of all parties to a proceeding for review under § 3-202 of this subtitle, the court may shorten the record to be transmitted to the court.            (ii)    If the court determines that a party’s refusal to stipulate to limit the record is unreasonable, the court may assess the additional costs against the refusing party.        (2)    The court may require or allow corrections of the record before the Commission or the certification of additional parts of the record as the court considers appropriate.    (b)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule of court to the contrary, a transcript need not be filed until after the expiration of the period of time for the filing of an answer.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  3-208 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 3 - Administrative and Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Judicial Review|Section 3-208 - Evidence

    (a)    (1)    Any party may introduce new evidence on judicial review.        (2)    If the evidence presented on judicial review is materially different from the evidence presented at the hearing before the Commission, the court shall:            (i)    unless all parties stipulate in writing to the contrary, refer a transcript of the new evidence to the Commission; and            (ii)    stay the proceedings for a period of time that the court considers appropriate.    (b)    (1)    On receipt of a transcript in accordance with subsection (a)(2)(i) of this section, the Commission may modify its findings based on the new evidence.        (2)    Within a period of time that the court specifies, the Commission shall file with the court a report of any action taken based on the new evidence.    (c)    (1)    If, on referral, the Commission rescinds the action on which the appeal was taken, the court shall dismiss the appeal and any modification made by the Commission shall stand in place of the original action.        (2)    If, on referral, the Commission does not rescind or modify the original action, the court shall render judgment on the original order.    (d)    Further evidence may not be introduced in the reviewing court after referral to the Commission under this section unless the court finds that serious injustice would otherwise result from the failure to allow the introduction of the new evidence.    (e)    The provisions of § 3-110(c) of this title relating to incriminating testimony apply to proceedings for judicial review under this subtitle.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  3-209 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 3 - Administrative and Judicial Procedure|Subtitle 2 - Judicial Review|Section 3-209 - Appeal to Court of Special Appeals

    A party aggrieved by a final judgment in any proceeding under this subtitle may appeal the judgment to the Court of Special Appeals in the manner provided by law for appeals in other civil cases.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  4-101 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 4 - Rate Regulation|Subtitle 1 - General Provisions|Section 4-101 - "Just and Reasonable Rate" Defined

    In this title, “just and reasonable rate” means a rate that:         (1)    does not violate any provision of this article;        (2)    fully considers and is consistent with the public good; and        (3)    except for rates of a common carrier, will result in an operating income to the public service company that yields, after reasonable deduction for depreciation and other necessary and proper expenses and reserves, a reasonable return on the fair value of the public service company’s property used and useful in providing service to the public.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  4-102 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 4 - Rate Regulation|Subtitle 1 - General Provisions|Section 4-102 - Commission Power to Regulate Rates

    (a)    This section does not apply to small rural electric cooperatives.    (b)    The Commission shall have the power to set a just and reasonable rate of a public service company, as a maximum rate, minimum rate, or both.    (c)    (1)    The Commission shall issue an order, including the rate set under subsection (b) of this section.        (2)    The Commission shall serve the order on each affected public service company.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  4-103 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 4 - Rate Regulation|Subtitle 1 - General Provisions|Section 4-103 - Commission Power to Regulate Rates -- Limitations

    (a)    In setting just and reasonable rates under this title, the Commission may not discourage the use of employee stock ownership plans by public service companies by denying to the public service companies the full benefits of investment tax credits provided in connection with these plans by the Internal Revenue Code.    (b)    A public service company may not charge off lobbying expenses against its ratepayers.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  4-201 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 4 - Rate Regulation|Subtitle 2 - Rate Setting Proceedings|Section 4-201 - Rates Charged

    In accordance with the provisions of this article, a public service company shall charge just and reasonable rates for the regulated services that it renders.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  4-202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 4 - Rate Regulation|Subtitle 2 - Rate Setting Proceedings|Section 4-202 - Tariffs

    (a)    Except as provided in subsection (c)(1) of this section and subject to subsection (c)(2) of this section, a public service company shall file with the Commission a tariff schedule of its rates and charges for its regulated services and for standard offer service as provided in § 7–505(b)(8) of this article.    (b)    As ordered by the Commission, a public service company shall:        (1)    plainly print the tariff schedule of its rates and charges for its regulated services;        (2)    make available the tariff schedules for public inspection; and        (3)    post the tariff schedules to make the tariff schedules readily accessible to and convenient for inspection by the public.    (c)    (1)    (i)    A telephone company that is regulated using an alternative form of regulation under § 4–301 of this title for baskets of services is not required to file with the Commission a tariff schedule of its rates and charges for its regulated retail services that are included in Basket 4 “Discretionary Services” and Basket 5 “Competitive Services”.            (ii)    A telephone company that is not regulated using an alternative form of regulation under § 4–301 of this title for baskets of services is not required to file with the Commission a tariff schedule of its rates and charges for its regulated retail services that, as determined by the Commission, are similar to the services included in Basket 4 “Discretionary Services” and Basket 5 “Competitive Services”.        (2)    Notwithstanding any other law, except as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection, if the Commission finds after notice and hearing that it is in the public interest, the Commission may allow a telephone company that has 20,000 or fewer subscribers to provide a regulated service without requiring the telephone company to file a tariff schedule of its rates and charges for the regulated service.        (3)    The Commission may issue orders or adopt regulations that the Commission determines necessary to regulate a service in which a telephone company is not required to file a tariff schedule of its rates and charges under this subsection.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  4-203 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 4 - Rate Regulation|Subtitle 2 - Rate Setting Proceedings|Section 4-203 - New and Changed Rates; Notice

    (a)    Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, a public service company may not establish a new rate or change in rate unless the public service company:        (1)    provides to the Commission notice of the new rate or change in rate at least 30 days before the new rate is established or current rate is changed; and        (2)    publishes the new rate or change in rate in accordance with § 4–202 of this subtitle during the entire 30 day notice period in new schedules or plainly indicated amendments to existing schedules.    (b)    The public service company shall plainly set forth in the notice and publication:        (1)    the changes that it proposes to the rate schedules currently in force; and        (2)    the effective date of the changes.    (c)    (1)    The technical staff of the Commission may assist a water company or a sewage disposal company in establishing a proposed just and reasonable rate.        (2)    In assisting a water company or a sewage disposal company under this subsection, the technical staff may seek information from the water company or the sewage disposal company.        (3)    The Commission shall restrict the availability of staff–assisted rate cases authorized under this subsection to water companies or sewage disposal companies whose gross annual revenues, for the most recent calendar year for which data are available, are below an amount determined by the Commission, not to exceed $1,000,000.        (4)    The Commission shall adopt regulations to establish formal rules for staff–assisted rate cases authorized under this subsection.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  4-204 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 4 - Rate Regulation|Subtitle 2 - Rate Setting Proceedings|Section 4-204 - Effective Date of Proposed Rate; Suspension

    (a)    (1)    The Commission may suspend, effective immediately and without formal proceedings, any new rate or change in rate proposed by a public service company.        (2)    Unless suspended by the Commission, and subject to § 4-203 of this subtitle, a new rate or change in rate proposed by a public service company takes effect on the date specified in the rate application.        (3)    The Commission shall furnish to the public service company proposing a rate a written statement of the reasons for the suspension.    (b)    (1)    The Commission promptly shall institute proceedings to consider whether the suspended rate is a just and reasonable rate.        (2)    The Commission may:            (i)    suspend the rate initially for not more than 150 days after the proposed effective date; and            (ii)    extend the suspension for an additional 30 days if the Commission finds that the proceedings cannot be completed within the initial suspension period.        (3)    Subject to subsection (c) of this section, after the suspension or extension under paragraph (2) of this subsection expires, if the Commission has not entered a final order, the new rate or change in rate proposed by the public service company takes effect.    (c)    (1)    If a proposed new rate or rate increase takes effect before the Commission enters a final order in the proceedings, if practicable, the Commission may order the public service company that proposes the rate to keep a detailed and accurate account of:            (i)    all amounts received under the new rate or rate increase; and            (ii)    the persons on whose behalf the amounts are paid.        (2)    After the proceedings conclude, the Commission may require the public service company to refund with interest, to each person listed under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection, the part of the new rate or rate increase that the Commission finds unjustified.        (3)    If a refund is not practicable, the public service company shall charge off and amortize the difference between the operating revenues under the rate charged and the operating revenues that would have been obtained from the same volume of business from the final set rate, through a temporary rate decrease for the period that the Commission sets.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  4-205 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 4 - Rate Regulation|Subtitle 2 - Rate Setting Proceedings|Section 4-205 - Temporary Rates

    (a)    The Commission may set a temporary rate for any public service company that is higher or lower than the rate previously in effect.    (b)    The Commission may set a temporary rate after hearing only if the Commission finds that:        (1)    pending a final rate proceeding, the rate in force is not a just and reasonable rate; and        (2)    the temporary rate is necessary in the interest of justice in view of the length of time that must elapse before a final order may be entered.    (c)    If the order involves a temporary rate increase, and refund to the consumer is practicable, the public service company shall post a bond, with security and in an amount that the Commission approves, payable to the State and conditioned to ensure prompt refund with interest to each consumer of each amount received by the public service company from the consumer above the final rates that the Commission sets.    (d)    Any temporary change in rate shall equal the amount found by the Commission to be higher or lower than a just and reasonable rate.    (e)    (1)    The temporary change in rate under subsection (d) of this section shall remain in effect for an initial period of not more than 9 months.        (2)    The Commission may order the temporary change to be extended by not more than 3 months.    (f)    (1)    If the final rate set is higher than the rate set in the order for a temporary rate, the public service company may amortize and recover over a period that the Commission sets, through a temporary increase over the final rate set, the difference between the operating revenue obtained under the order for a temporary rate and the operating revenue that would have been obtained from the same volume of business from the final rate set.        (2)    If the rate in the order for a temporary rate is higher than the final rate set, the Commission shall order a refund, charge off, or amortization under § 4-204(c) of this subtitle.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  4-206 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 4 - Rate Regulation|Subtitle 2 - Rate Setting Proceedings|Section 4-206 - Rate Base -- Valuation

    (a)    At any time, the Commission may investigate and determine the fair value of the property of a public service company used and useful in providing service to the public.    (b)    (1)    The valuation:            (i)    is not final until the Commission:                1.    serves on the public service company a copy of the order setting the proposed valuation and the method used to set the valuation; and                2.    allows a reasonable time in which to file a protest; and            (ii)    is final if a protest is not filed within the time specified in the order.        (2)    If a timely protest is filed, the Commission shall enter a final valuation by order after hearing.    (c)    All final valuations are prima facie evidence of value in proceedings under this division.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  4-208 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 4 - Rate Regulation|Subtitle 2 - Rate Setting Proceedings|Section 4-208 - Cost Allocation Manual

    (a)    This section applies to a public service company that:        (1)    provides gas or electric services;        (2)    is subject to a cost allocation manual approved by the Commission;        (3)    (i)    engages in an unregulated business activity; or            (ii)    has a subsidiary that engages in an unregulated business activity; and        (4)    does not meet the standards for rate proceedings provided for under § 4-207 of this subtitle.    (b)    (1)    A public service company subject to this section shall file an independent audit opinion prepared by an entity approved by the Commission on the earliest of:            (i)    once every 2 years; or            (ii)    when the public service company:                1.    files a request for a change in its base rate under this subtitle; or                2.    has a major change in its corporate organization or structure as determined by the Commission.        (2)    The independent auditor shall:            (i)    examine:                1.    compliance by the public service company with policies and procedures of the public service company’s cost allocation manual;                2.    proper allocation of costs to an affiliate of the public service company in accordance with the manual; and                3.    appropriate charging of costs and transactions relative to the manual to the public service company and its affiliates; and            (ii)    identify adjustments that should be made:                1.    to the manual consistent with prior Commission rulings; and                2.    to the public service company or to an affiliate of the public service company relative to the examination of the allocation of costs and charging of costs and transactions.    (c)    The cost of the independent audit opinion filed under subsection (b) of this section shall be borne by the stockholders of the public service company.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  4-209 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 4 - Rate Regulation|Subtitle 2 - Rate Setting Proceedings|Section 4-209 - Allocation of Costs of Relocating Utilities Underground

    (a)    With respect to the net capital costs associated with the relocation underground of utility lines and facilities in connection with projects required by § 8–401 of the Land Use Article, the Commission shall:        (1)    set the amount of the monthly surcharge required to support the costs and determine which customers of the applicable utility are subject to the surcharge;        (2)    include in the rate base the related net capital costs; or        (3)    adopt another method to apportion the costs appropriately.    (b)    A utility may not be required to pay more than 50% of the net capital costs of a relocation project.    (c)    A county or municipal corporation may appropriate money for a relocation project from appropriate federal, State, and local funds it receives for this purpose.