reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  6-306 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 6 - Business Structure|Subtitle 3 - Acquisition of Water Companies and Sewage Disposal Companies|Section 6-306 - Rate Making Rate Base

    (a)    (1)    Reasonable transaction and closing costs incurred by the acquiring entity shall be included in the rate making rate base of the acquiring entity.        (2)    Fees paid to utility valuation experts may be included in the transaction and closing costs associated with acquisition by the acquiring entity.        (3)    Unless the Commission finds just cause to authorize additional fees, fees eligible for inclusion may not exceed 5% of the fair market value of the selling utility or $50,000 if the actual fees paid exceed 5% of the fair market value.    (b)    As of the closing date of the acquisition, the rate making rate base of the selling utility, including additions under subsection (a) of this section, shall be the lesser of:        (1)    the purchase price negotiated by the acquiring entity and selling utility; or        (2)    the fair market value of the selling utility.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  6-307 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 6 - Business Structure|Subtitle 3 - Acquisition of Water Companies and Sewage Disposal Companies|Section 6-307 - Application for Commission Approval of Acquisition

    (a)    If an acquiring entity and the selling utility agree to use the process outlined in § 6–304 of this subtitle, the acquiring entity shall include in its application for Commission approval of the acquisition:        (1)    copies of the two appraisals performed by the utility valuation experts under § 6–304 of this subtitle;        (2)    the purchase price of the selling utility as agreed to by the acquiring entity and the selling utility;        (3)    the rate making rate base of the selling utility determined in accordance with this subtitle;        (4)    the transaction and closing costs incurred by the acquiring entity that will be included in its rate base; and        (5)    a tariff containing a schedule of rates, service charges, and any additional fees to be incurred by the customers of the selling utility at or immediately after the closing date of acquisition.    (b)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commission shall issue a final order on an application submitted under this subtitle within 180 days after the filing date of a complete application under subsection (a) of this section.        (2)    The Commission may extend a proceeding under this subtitle for an additional 30 days if the Commission finds that the proceedings cannot be completed within the initial suspension period.        (3)    After the expiration of 180 days under paragraph (1) of this subsection and any extension under paragraph (2) of this subsection, if the Commission has not entered a final order, the application shall be deemed approved.    (c)    If the Commission issues an order approving the application for acquisition, the order shall include:        (1)    the rate making rate base of the selling utility, as determined under this subtitle; and        (2)    any conditions of approval that the Commission requires.    (d)    The tariff submitted under subsection (a)(5) of this section shall remain in effect until new rates are approved for the acquiring entity in a base rate case proceeding.    (e)    An appraisal conducted under this subtitle is presumed to be valid unless substantial evidence demonstrates a failure to adhere to the requirements of § 6–304 or § 6–305 of this subtitle.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  6-308 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 6 - Business Structure|Subtitle 3 - Acquisition of Water Companies and Sewage Disposal Companies|Section 6-308 - Improvements

    (a)    The cost of an improvement that an acquiring entity places in service after the acquisition shall accrue a construction allowance after the date the cost was incurred until the earlier of:        (1)    3 years after the improvement is placed in service; or        (2)    the date the improvement is included in the acquiring entity’s next base rate case.    (b)    Depreciation on an acquiring entity’s improvements after the acquisition shall be deferred for book and rate making purposes.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-101 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 1 - General Provisions|Section 7-101 - Scope

    Except as otherwise provided by law, the provisions of this subtitle are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-102 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 1 - General Provisions|Section 7-102 - Gas Companies -- Powers

    (a)    A gas company incorporated in Maryland may:        (1)    manufacture artificial gas;        (2)    sell or furnish any quantity of natural gas or artificial gas that may be required in any municipal corporation or county of the State;        (3)    lay pipe under the roadways or other public ways of any county or municipal corporation of the State to transmit natural gas or artificial gas; and        (4)    connect the pipe from the place of supply to any structure or object.    (b)    (1)    A gas company must have the consent of the governing body of the municipal corporation or county before laying any gas pipe in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.        (2)    The governing body of the municipal corporation or county may adopt reasonable regulations and conditions for the laying of a gas pipe, including regulations requiring the gas company to refill and repave any roadway or other public way under which the pipe is laid.    (c)    A gas company, whether incorporated in Maryland or another state, that is authorized by a governing body of a municipal corporation or county to lay or maintain pipe or other structures in a roadway or other public way or place shall obtain consent from the Commission before using the pipe or other structure to transmit and supply natural gas, artificial gas, or a mixture of natural gas and artificial gas.    (d)    This section does not:        (1)    extend the duration of a franchise granted by the governing body of a municipal corporation or county; or        (2)    except as provided in this section, change the terms or conditions of the franchise.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-103 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 1 - General Provisions|Section 7-103 - Electric Companies -- Powers

    (a)    An electric company incorporated in Maryland may:        (1)    manufacture, sell, and furnish electric power in any municipal corporation or county of the State;        (2)    construct a power line to transmit power under, along, on, or over the roadways or public ways of any municipal corporation or county of the State; and        (3)    connect the power line from the place of supply to any other structure or object.    (b)    (1)    An electric company must have the consent of the governing body of the municipal corporation or county before laying or constructing any power line in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.        (2)    The governing body of the municipal corporation or county may adopt reasonable regulations and conditions for the laying of a power line, including regulations requiring the electric company to refill and repave any roadway or public way under which the power line is laid.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-104 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 1 - General Provisions|Section 7-104 - Electric Cooperatives

    The formation, organization, and governance of electric cooperatives incorporated in Maryland are governed by Title 5, Subtitle 6 of the Corporations and Associations Article.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-105 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 1 - General Provisions|Section 7-105 - Water Companies -- Powers

    (a)    A water company incorporated in the State has the powers necessary for the purposes for which it is incorporated and may:        (1)    acquire, possess, and use land, water rights, and other property for those purposes; and        (2)    lay pipes and construct works necessary or suitable to carry out its purposes.    (b)    (1)    A water company shall obtain the consent of the governing body of the municipal corporation or county before laying pipes or constructing waterworks in that jurisdiction under subsection (a) of this section.        (2)    The governing body of the municipal corporation or county may adopt reasonable regulations for the laying of pipes, construction of works, and operations of a water company.    (c)    This section does not authorize the incorporation of a water company to operate in Baltimore City.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-107 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Public Utilities|Division I - Public Services and Utilities|Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies|Subtitle 1 - General Provisions|Section 7-107 - Charges for Water Service -- Garrett County

    Subject to the regulations of the Commission, the County Commissioners of Garrett County may adopt, amend, and enforce a reasonable charge for discontinuing and restoring water service.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-201 (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 7-201 - Electric Companies -- Long-Range Plans

    (a)    (1)    Annually, the Chairman of the Commission shall forward to the Secretary of Natural Resources a 10-year plan listing possible and proposed sites, including the associated transmission routes, for the construction of electric plants within the State.        (2)    (i)    The Chairman shall delete from the 10-year plan any site that the Secretary of Natural Resources identifies as unsuitable in accordance with the requirements of § 3-304 of the Natural Resources Article.            (ii)    The Chairman may include a site deleted from a 10-year plan under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph in a subsequent 10-year plan.        (3)    The Chairman shall include information in the annual 10-year plan on current and projected efforts by electric companies and the Commission to moderate overall electrical generation demand and peak demand through the electric companies’ promotion of energy conservation by customers and through the electric companies’ use of alternative energy sources, including cogeneration.        (4)    To the extent that the Commission requires an electric company to report the information described in paragraph (3) of this subsection, a small rural electric cooperative described in § 7-502(a) of this title may satisfy the requirement by submitting to the Commission a copy of the power requirement study that the small rural electric cooperative submits to the rural utilities service.    (b)    (1)    The Commission shall evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the investments by electric companies in energy conservation to reduce electrical demand and in renewable energy sources to help meet electrical demand.        (2)    The evaluation of investments shall include:            (i)    the electric companies’ promotion and conduct of a building audit and weatherization program, including low-interest or no-interest electric company financing for the installation of energy conservation materials and renewable energy devices;            (ii)    utilization of renewable energy sources;            (iii)    promotion and utilization of electricity from cogeneration and wastes; and            (iv)    widespread public promotion of energy conservation programs.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-202 (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 7-202 - Electric Companies -- Power Plant Sites

    (a)    If the Commission determines that a site is needed, the Commission, on its own motion, may request the Secretary of Natural Resources to purchase a power plant site as provided in Title 3, Subtitle 3 of the Natural Resources Article.    (b)    In determining whether a need exists for the State to purchase a power plant site, the Commission shall consider:        (1)    the suitability of sites owned by an electric company, both within and outside the State;        (2)    the anticipated growth of electric power demand and the alternative means and locations for meeting that demand, both within and outside the State; and        (3)    any other factors required by law.    (c)    (1)    The Commission may determine that a power plant site is needed only after the Commission gives public notice and holds a public hearing.        (2)    The hearing shall be held in the legislative district in which the site under consideration is located.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-203 (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 7-203 - Electric Companies -- Environmental Surcharge

    (a)    (1)    The Commission shall:            (i)    impose an environmental surcharge per kilowatt hour of electricity distributed to retail electric customers within the State; and            (ii)    authorize each electric company to add the full amount of the surcharge to its customers’ bills.        (2)    To the extent that an electric company fails to collect the surcharge from its customers, the amount uncollected shall be deemed a cost of power distribution and allowed and computed as such together with other allowable expenses for purposes of rate making.    (b)    (1)    The Comptroller shall collect the revenue from the surcharge imposed under subsection (a) of this section and place the revenue into a special fund, the Environmental Trust Fund.        (2)    The Comptroller shall maintain the method of collection of the surcharge from each electric company, and the money collected shall accrue to the Fund.    (c)    (1)    Each fiscal year, the Secretary of Natural Resources shall coordinate the preparation of the annual budget required to carry out the provisions of the Power Plant Research Program under Title 3, Subtitle 3 of the Natural Resources Article.        (2)    Each fiscal year, on approval of the annual budget by the General Assembly for the Power Plant Research Program, the Commission shall establish the amount of the environmental surcharge per kilowatt hour of electric energy distributed in the State that is to be imposed on each electric company in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.    (d)    (1)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, the amount of the surcharge for each account of each retail electric customer may not exceed the lesser of 0.15 mill per kilowatt hour or $1,000 per month.        (2)    The Department of Natural Resources shall credit against the amount the Commission requires each electric company to pay into the Environmental Trust Fund 0.75% of the total surcharge amount attributed to the electric company on the basis of the amount of the electricity distributed in the State.    (e)    To the extent that the Commission requires an electric company to report the total estimated kilowatt hours of electricity distributed in the State in order to calculate the surcharge under subsection (a)(1) of this section, a small rural electric cooperative described in § 7–502(a) of this title may satisfy the requirement by submitting to the Commission an estimate made in accordance with a formula approved by the Commission from information that the small rural electric cooperative submits to the rural utilities service that includes the required information.    (f)    The surcharge imposed under this subtitle shall terminate on June 30, 2030.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-204 (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 7-204 - Electric Companies -- Lines and Transmission Devices

    (a)    (1)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, at least 30 days before a hearing, a public service company shall provide to each owner of land and each owner of adjacent land, by certified mail, written notice of intent to run a line or similar transmission device over, on, or under the land.        (2)    The public service company shall determine the property owners from the current tax assessment records of the political subdivision in which the property is located.    (b)    Unless the failure is willful or deliberate, the failure of a public service company to provide notice does not invalidate a public hearing or require that another hearing take place.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-205 (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 7-205 - Electric Companies -- Modification of Power Plant

    (a)    (1)    In this section, “modification” means a physical alteration of, replacement of, or other change to the facilities at a power plant, or a change in the fuel used by the plant, that could result in a change of the air emissions from the plant or from a generating unit of the plant.        (2)    “Modification” does not include:            (i)    routine maintenance or repairs of the facilities of a power plant; or            (ii)    a change that the Commission determines will not result in an increase in air emissions from the plant or from a generating unit of the plant.    (b)    Subject to subsections (c) through (e) of this section, a person may not commence a modification without the prior approval of the Commission under this title.    (c)    (1)    Unless the Commission orders otherwise, an application for a modification to a power plant shall be filed with the Commission at least 180 days before the date on which the modification is to commence.        (2)    The applicant for the modification shall submit to the Commission and to the Department of the Environment all information relating to the modification, including:            (i)    detailed plans and specifications; and            (ii)    the impact of the modification on air quality.    (d)    The Commission shall render its decision within 150 days after the day the application is filed.    (e)    Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a modification to a power plant that involves the short-term inability to obtain the type of fuel normally used by the plant is subject to Title 2, Subtitle 5 of the Environment Article.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-206 (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 7-206 - Electric Companies -- Clean Air Act Modifications

    (a)    This section applies to the installation of pollution control equipment or a change in the method of operation at a generating station that a person performs in order to comply with Phase II pollution control requirements of the federal Clean Air Act.    (b)    Any person that performs an installation or change in operation under subsection (a) of this section shall obtain prior review and approval of the Commission in accordance with:        (1)    §§ 7-203, 7-207, and 7-208 of this subtitle; and        (2)    the procedures set forth in § 7-205 of this subtitle and § 2-405 of the Environment Article.    (c)    In order to meet compliance dates established under Title 2, Subtitle 10 of the Environment Article or the federal Clean Air Act, a Commission review and approval, or processing of an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under § 7-207 of this subtitle, shall be expedited and take precedence over other review and approval by the Commission if the review and approval or certificate of public convenience and necessity is required:        (1)    for pollution control equipment or a change in the method of operation at a generating station; and        (2)    for compliance with:            (i)    Title 2, Subtitle 10 of the Environment Article;            (ii)    regulations adopted by the Department of the Environment under Title 2, Subtitle 10 of the Environment Article; or            (iii)    the federal Clean Air Act.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-207.2 (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 7-207.2 - Solar Voltaic Systems

    (a)    This section applies to a person who constructs a generating station that:        (1)    has the capacity to produce at least 2 megawatts of electricity from a solar photovoltaic system; and        (2)    is exempted under § 7–207.1 of this subtitle from the requirement to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity.    (b)    (1)    A person shall file an application for approval to construct a generating station under § 7–207.1 of this subtitle at least 6 months before construction commences.        (2)    The Commission shall require a person who files an application for approval to construct a generating station to pay a deposit of 1% of total installed costs.    (c)    (1)    The Commission shall place any deposits collected under subsection (b) of this section into an escrow account.        (2)    If a person demonstrates to the Commission that the person is fully authorized to commence construction within 18 months after filing an application for approval, the Commission shall refund the deposit, less reasonable administrative costs.        (3)    (i)    Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, if a person does not commence construction within 18 months after filing an application for approval, the money held in the escrow account shall be:                1.    deemed to be abandoned; and                2.    transferred to the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund under § 9–20B–05 of the State Government Article, less reasonable administrative costs.            (ii)    1.    A person may request an extension for a project that does not commence construction within 18 months after the filing of an application for approval.                2.    The Commission may grant the request based on factors the Commission considers compelling, including the occurrence of events outside the person’s control.
MD. Public Utilities Code Ann. §  7-209 (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 7-209 - Alternatives to Construction of Transmission Lines

    (a)    The Commission shall examine alternatives to the construction of a new transmission line in a service area, including the use of an existing transmission line of another company, if:        (1)    the existing transmission line is convenient to the service area; or        (2)    the use of the transmission line will best promote economic and efficient service to the public.    (b)    In considering the use of an existing transmission line under subsection (a) of this section, the Commission need not consider whether the company that owns the line has a franchise in a service area.