reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations › Section 7-312 - Billing Information Provided Upon Request -- Form of Information

(a)    On request of a retail electricity customer, an electric company shall provide to the customer the historic usage and billing information for the customer’s account for not less than the preceding 12 months.
(b)    The electric company shall make the information under subsection (a) of this section available to the customer in one of the following forms, as requested by the customer:
(1)    information accessible to the customer on the electric company’s website;
(2)    information provided electronically to the customer in a searchable PDF format; or
(3)    a physical document sent to the customer at the customer’s billing address.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 3 - Consumer Relations › Section 7-314 - Maintenance of Customer Subscriptions and Contracts Following Change of Address -- Accommodation by Electric Company

** TAKES EFFECT JULY 1, 2022 PER CHAPTERS 265 AND 266 OF 2021 **
(a)    This section applies to electric companies, electric cooperatives, and municipal utilities that offer customer choice for competitive electricity supply under Subtitle 5 of this title.
(b)    A residential electric customer who has a change in the service address associated with the customer’s electricity account may maintain the customer’s competitive electricity supply contract for the new address if the new address is within the same electric territory as the old address.
(c)    An electric company may not terminate a customer’s contract due to a change of address for the service address associated with the contract if the requirements under subsection (b) of this section are met.
(d)    An electric company shall make any changes necessary to accommodate a customer’s change of address on notification by the customer.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 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.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 4 - Energy Conservation Building Standards › Section 7-406 - Duties and Liabilities of Builder to Purchaser

(a)    (1)    A builder subject to the provisions of this subtitle shall:
(i)    provide the first purchaser of the building with a copy of the certificate that is filed with the electric company; or
(ii)    if the builder was issued a waiver under § 7-404 of this subtitle, provide the first purchaser with a copy of the statement of waiver.
(2)    If the first purchaser of the building resells the building without having occupied or rented it, at the time of the resale, the first purchaser shall provide the next purchaser with the copy of the certificate or the statement of waiver.
(b)    (1)    If a builder fails to comply with the energy conservation standards required for certification under this subtitle, or the builder fails to obtain a statement of waiver under this subtitle, the builder is liable to the first purchaser who either occupies or rents the building for an amount not to exceed $2,000 and for:
(i)    the cost of bringing the building into compliance with the standards required under this subtitle;
(ii)    the reasonable attorney's fees and court costs of the purchaser; and
(iii)    any reasonable costs incurred by the purchaser in determining that the builder did not comply with the energy conservation standards required under this subtitle.
(2)    An action under this subsection may not be brought more than 3 years after the date on which the builder provided the purchaser with a copy of the certificate or the waiver.
(3)    If the builder is a corporation and the corporation is dissolved, the purchaser may bring any action authorized under this subsection against any person who was an officer of the corporation at the time that the alleged violation occurred.
(c)    (1)    In any political subdivision that has adopted the Energy Code, if a builder of a building that is completed after July 1, 1982 willfully deviates from the approved plans for the building, the builder is liable to the first purchaser who either occupies or rents the building for an amount not to exceed $2,000 and for:
(i)    the cost of bringing the building into compliance with the Energy Code;
(ii)    the reasonable attorney's fees and court costs of the purchaser; and
(iii)    any reasonable costs incurred by the purchaser in determining that the builder did not comply with the Energy Code.
(2)    An action under this subsection may not be brought more than 3 years after the date on which a use and occupancy permit is issued for the building by the political subdivision in which the building is located.
(3)    If the builder is a corporation and the corporation is dissolved, the purchaser may bring any action authorized under this subsection against any person who was an officer of the corporation at the time that the alleged violation occurred.
(4)    The provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection are in addition to any other remedies available under State or local law.
2023 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.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part I - General Provisions › Section 7-502 - Exemptions for Small Rural Electric Cooperatives

(a)    Except as required under subsection (b) of this section, the provisions of this subtitle may not be applied to a small rural electric cooperative that:
(1)    has less than 10% of its distribution territory within the State;
(2)    maintains its principal place of business outside the State; and
(3)    is subject to, and conducts its operations within the State in compliance with, the laws of the state in which its principal place of business is located.
(b)    (1)    A small rural electric cooperative, as described in subsection (a) of this section, shall be subject to all requirements and prohibitions adopted under the authority of §§ 7-505(b)(1) through (4), (6), (7), (11), and (12) and 7-507(e), (h), (i), (k), and (l) of this subtitle.
(2)    In addition to the requirements for a small rural electric cooperative set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, a member of a small rural electric cooperative that receives electricity or electricity supply services from an entity other than the small rural electric cooperative may receive these services only from an entity that is licensed under § 7-507 of this subtitle.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part II - Electric Industry Restructuring Enabled › Section 7-504 - Purpose of Subtitle

The General Assembly finds and declares that the purpose of this subtitle is to:
(1)    establish customer choice of electricity supply and electricity supply services;
(2)    create competitive retail electricity supply and electricity supply services markets;
(3)    deregulate the generation, supply, and pricing of electricity;
(4)    provide economic benefits for all customer classes; and
(5)    ensure compliance with federal and State environmental standards.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part II - Electric Industry Restructuring Enabled › Section 7-506 - Distribution Services

(a)    The electric company in a distribution territory shall provide and be responsible for distribution services in the territory.
(b)    The electric company shall provide distribution services in its distribution territory to all customers and electricity suppliers on rates, terms of access, and conditions that are comparable to the electric company’s own use of its distribution system.
(c)    Each electric company shall maintain the reliability of its distribution system in accordance with § 7–213 of this title and applicable orders, tariffs, and regulations of the Commission.
(d)    The electric company shall connect customers and deliver electricity on behalf of electricity suppliers consistent with the provisions of this division.
(e)    The electric company shall provide standard offer service under § 7–510(c) of this subtitle.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part II - Electric Industry Restructuring Enabled › Section 7-508 - Transfer of Assets

(a)    An electric company may transfer any of its generation facilities or generation assets to an affiliate.
(b)    The transfer of a generation facility or generation asset to an affiliate may not affect or restrict the Commission’s determination of the value of a generation asset for purposes of transition costs or benefits under § 7-513(b) of this subtitle.
(c)    (1)    This subsection is in effect until the later of the date when:
(i)    all customers of the electric company are eligible for customer choice under § 7-510 of this subtitle; and
(ii)    the amount of transition costs or benefits arising from the generation to be transferred has been finally determined by the Commission under § 7-513(a) through (c) of this subtitle.
(2)    The Commission may review and approve the transfer for the sole purpose of determining:
(i)    that the appropriate accounting has been followed;
(ii)    that the transfer does not or would not result in an undue adverse effect on the proper functioning of a competitive electricity supply market; and
(iii)    the appropriate transfer price and rate making treatment.
(3)    The Commission shall act on the transfer of a generation facility or generation asset under this subsection within 180 days after the electric company files its proposed transfer application and any required supporting information.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part II - Electric Industry Restructuring Enabled › Section 7-509 - Electric Company's Authority to Regulate

(a)    (1)    On and after the initial implementation date, the generation, supply, and sale of electricity, including all related facilities and assets, may not be regulated as an electric company service or function except to:
(i)    establish the price for standard offer service under § 7–510(c) of this subtitle; and
(ii)    review and approve transfers of generation assets under § 7–508 of this subtitle.
(2)    This subsection does not apply to:
(i)    regulation of an electricity supplier under § 7–507 of this subtitle; or
(ii)    the costs of nuclear generation facilities or purchased power contracts that, as part of a settlement approved by the Commission, remain regulated or are recovered through the distribution function.
(b)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, this section does not apply to an investor–owned electric company until the electric company:
(i)    transfers generation facilities and generation assets to an affiliate of the electric company, and the affiliate operates the facilities and assets; or
(ii)    sells the generation facilities and generation assets to a nonaffiliate.
(2)    (i)    Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, this section applies to an investor–owned electric company that does not transfer its generation facilities and generation assets to an affiliate or sell its generation facilities and generation assets to a nonaffiliate if, on January 1, 1999, the retail peak load of the investor–owned electric company in the State was less than 1,000 megawatts.
(ii)    An investor–owned electric company to which this section applies through subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall, by January 1, 2001:
1.    transfer its generation facilities and generation assets to an affiliate of the investor–owned electric company that operates the facilities and assets; or
2.    sell the generation facilities and generation assets to a nonaffiliate.
(c)    The exceptions in subsection (a)(1) of this section as to any electric company shall remain in effect until the latest of:
(1)    the date when all customers of that electric company are eligible for customer choice under § 7–510 of this subtitle;
(2)    the date when the amount of transition costs or benefits arising from the generation that is deregulated has been finally determined by the Commission under § 7–513(a) through (c) of this subtitle; or
(3)    the date on which the obligation of the electric company to provide standard offer service under § 7–510(c)(3)(ii) of this subtitle terminates.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part II - Electric Industry Restructuring Enabled › Section 7-510.2 - Customer Choice Shopping Website for Electricity Suppliers

(a)    The Commission shall establish a customer choice shopping website that allows a customer to sort electricity suppliers that have open offers to supply electricity to residential customers in the customer’s service area.
(b)    The website shall include:
(1)    a list of all electricity suppliers that have open offers to supply electricity to residential customers in a customer’s service area, sortable by:
(i)    cost of service;
(ii)    cost of electricity per kilowatt–hour;
(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 electricity suppliers based on the sortable items specified under item (1) of this subsection;
(3)    a link to the website of each electricity supplier with an open offer to supply electricity to residential customers;
(4)    a link to the customer education webpage established under § 7–510.1 of this subtitle;
(5)    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
(6)    fact sheets on the process for comparing offers from electricity suppliers on the website, including relevant contract terms, requirements, limitations, and fees.
(c)    The Commission shall use the information received from an electricity supplier under § 7–510.1 of this subtitle to maintain the information on the website.
(d)    The Commission shall recover the cost of complying with this section in accordance with § 2–110 of this article.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part II - Electric Industry Restructuring Enabled › Section 7-511 - Competitive Billing and Metering

(a)    Except for electric cooperatives and municipal electric utilities:
(1)    competitive billing shall begin on July 1, 2000;
(2)    competitive metering for large customers shall begin on January 1, 2002; and
(3)    competitive metering for all other customers shall begin on April 1, 2002, or earlier if requested by the electric company.
(b)    The Commission shall adopt regulations or issue orders to implement this section.
(c)    (1)    A person other than an electric company or a municipal electric utility may not engage in the business of competitive billing services in a local jurisdiction that assesses a local energy tax, unless the person holds a license issued by that jurisdiction.
(2)    An application for a local competitive billing services license shall be made in accordance with the requirements of the local jurisdiction.
(3)    (i)    A local jurisdiction may require an applicant or licensee to:
1.    hold a license issued by the Commission, as provided under § 7-507 of this subtitle;
2.    post a bond or other similar instrument in an amount equal to 15% of the bond required under § 7-507 of this subtitle; and
3.    have a resident agent in the State.
(ii)    A local jurisdiction may not require an applicant or licensee to pay a fee or other charge for the local license.
(d)    (1)    A local jurisdiction may revoke or suspend the local license if the licensee fails, within 15 days of the due date established by the local jurisdiction, to pay or remit all of the applicable local energy taxes on services.
(2)    A local jurisdiction may reinstate the license after payment of all local energy taxes due.
(3)    A local jurisdiction may choose not to reinstate a license that has been revoked or suspended 3 times in a 12-month period.
(4)    A local jurisdiction shall report any revocation or suspension of a license to the Commission.
(e)    The Commission shall adopt regulations or issue an order to establish procedures for the assumption of billing responsibilities by the electric company that distributes electricity in the relevant service territory if a local license is revoked or suspended.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part II - Electric Industry Restructuring Enabled › Section 7-512 - Previously Unregulated Electric Companies

(a)    This section and § 7-513 of this subtitle apply to an entity that was regulated as an electric company on June 30, 1999, whether or not the entity or any of its businesses, services, or assets continues to be regulated under this article after that date.
(b)    An electric company may recover costs under this section to the extent that the Commission finds costs to be just and reasonable.
(c)    (1)    An electric company shall be provided a fair opportunity to recover fully all costs that have been or will be incurred by the electric company under public purpose programs established by law or ordered by the Commission.
(2)    (i)    Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, the costs subject to this subsection shall be funded by a surcharge or other cost recovery mechanism collected on a statewide basis that:
1.    fully recovers from customers the costs of the plans and programs; and
2.    subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, with respect to any of these costs not included in rates on January 1, 2000, is not subject to any otherwise applicable cap.
(ii)    The recovery by an electric company of costs for a universal service program is subject to any applicable cap regardless of when the costs are included in rates.
(3)    During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, an electric company may not, under paragraph (2) of this subsection, recover costs of a consumer education program established by law, regulation, or order.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part II - Electric Industry Restructuring Enabled › Section 7-514 - Investigations of Anticompetitive Conduct

(a)    (1)    On complaint or on its own motion, for good cause shown, the Commission may conduct an investigation of the retail electricity supply and electricity supply services markets and determine whether the function of one of these markets is being adversely affected by market power or any other anticompetitive conduct.
(2)    The Commission shall monitor the retail electricity supply and electricity supply services markets to ensure that the markets are not being adversely affected by market power or any other anticompetitive conduct.
(b)    If, as a result of an investigation conducted under this section, the Commission determines that market power or any other anticompetitive conduct in the relevant market under the Commission’s jurisdiction is preventing the electric customers in the State from obtaining the benefits of properly functioning retail electricity supply and electricity supply services markets, the Commission may take remedial actions within its authority to address the impact of the market power or any other anticompetitive conduct activities.
(c)    The Commission shall include antitrust principles in performing its analysis under this section.
(d)    The Commission shall cooperate with and share information with the Antitrust Division of the Office of the Attorney General.
(e)    The rights and remedies provided in this section supplement any other rights or remedies that may exist under State or federal law or common law.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part II - Electric Industry Restructuring Enabled › Section 7-515 - Interstate Competition

An electricity supplier that also provides distribution service, or that has an affiliate that provides distribution service, in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, or the District of Columbia may not provide retail electricity supply service, directly, indirectly, or through an aggregator, marketer, or broker, in the distribution territory of an unaffiliated electric company unless there is electricity supply competition in at least a portion of the distribution service area of the electricity supplier or affiliate.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part II - Electric Industry Restructuring Enabled › Section 7-516 - Transition Procedures

(a)    (1)    In recognition of the potential environmental impacts of restructuring the electric industry, it is the intent of the General Assembly to minimize the effects of electric restructuring on the environment.
(2)    Electric companies in Maryland shall conduct a study that tracks shifts in generation and emissions as a result of restructuring the electric industry.
(3)    The study shall be submitted to the Department of the Environment and the Commission one year after the initial date of implementation of customer choice.
(4)    Electric companies in Maryland shall update the study twice and submit each updated study to the Department of the Environment and the Commission on or before December 31, 2003 and on or before December 31, 2005.
(b)    If, after review of the study required under subsection (a) of this section, the Department of the Environment determines that the emissions levels impose a higher emission burden in Maryland, the Department of the Environment, in consultation with the Commission, shall study the appropriateness, constitutionality, and feasibility of establishing an air quality surcharge or other mechanism to protect Maryland’s environment in connection with the implementation of customer choice of electricity suppliers.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part III - Rate Stabilization › Section 7-521 - Applicability

This part applies to an electric company that:
(1)    has an obligation to provide standard offer service to residential electricity customers in accordance with § 7-510(c) of this subtitle; and
(2)    is not subject to a rate cap or price freeze under § 7-505(d) of this subtitle during the period for which a rate stabilization plan is requested under this part.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part III - Rate Stabilization › Section 7-522 - Filing Rate Stabilization Plan

(a)    An electric company subject to this part may file a rate stabilization plan with the Commission for approval.
(b)    The rate stabilization plan may include both short-term and long-term deferrals of incremental expenses of electricity supplies.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part III - Rate Stabilization › Section 7-523 - Deferrals

(a)    The Commission may require that a deferral of expenses under a rate stabilization plan be either voluntary or mandatory if the Commission finds that the required type of deferral is in the public interest.
(b)    The rate stabilization plan may provide that a deferral shall be secured through the issuance of rate stabilization bonds authorized by a qualified rate order under this part.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part III - Rate Stabilization › Section 7-524 - Tariffs Implementing Rate Stabilization Plan; Application for Qualified Rate Order

(a)    Tariffs implementing a rate stabilization plan may provide that:
(1)    residential customers shall be charged the full cost of residential standard offer service necessary to recover the electric company’s costs under § 7- 510(c)(3) of this subtitle; and
(2)    any credits or recoveries required or authorized under this part shall be reflected as nonbypassable credits or charges on the electric distribution portion of each residential customer’s bill.
(b)    As part of the submission of a rate stabilization plan, an electric company may apply to the Commission for a qualified rate order for the financing and recovery of its approved rate stabilization costs in accordance with this part.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part III - Rate Stabilization › Section 7-525 - Recovery of Actual Cost of Deferred Expenses

(a)    The Commission may authorize an electric company to recover, as additional rate stabilization costs, the actual cost to the electric company of carrying the deferred expenses as regulatory assets under short-term and long-term deferral plans.
(b)    The actual cost is equal to the deferred expenses as regulatory assets multiplied by the electric company’s cost of debt.
(c)    If the electric company secures the debt in accordance with this part, the cost of the secured debt is substituted for the electric company’s cost of debt.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part III - Rate Stabilization › Section 7-526 - Application for Qualified Rate Order

(a)    An electric company may apply to the Commission for a qualified rate order for the financing and recovery of its rate stabilization costs.
(b)    On application of an electric company, the Commission may adopt a qualified rate order if the Commission finds that the total amount of revenue to be collected under the qualified rate order is less than the rate stabilization costs revenue that would be recovered over the same period using the electric company’s weighted average cost of capital.
(c)    The rate stabilization costs to be financed and recovered under a qualified rate order may be reduced by funds contributed from other sources.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part III - Rate Stabilization › Section 7-527 - Order to Include Costs and Recovery Time Period

(a)    The qualified rate order shall set forth the rate stabilization costs to be recovered and the period over which the nonbypassable qualified rate stabilization charges shall be recovered.
(b)    The recovery period may not exceed 12 years.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part III - Rate Stabilization › Section 7-528 - Effectiveness and Irrevocability; Review

(a)    A qualified rate order shall become effective in accordance with its terms.
(b)    After a qualified rate order becomes effective, the qualified rate order and the qualified rate stabilization charges authorized in the qualified rate order are irrevocable and are not subject to reduction, impairment, or adjustment by further action of the Commission except in accordance with §§ 7-531, 7-533, and 7-534 of this subtitle.
(c)    (1)    A qualified rate order is not subject to rehearing by the Commission.
(2)    A qualified rate order may be reviewed by appeal only to the Circuit Court of Baltimore City by a party to the proceeding filed within 15 days after the qualified rate order is signed by the Commission.
(3)    The judgment of the circuit court may be reviewed only by direct appeal to the Court of Appeals of Maryland filed within 15 days after entry of judgment.
(4)    All appeals shall be heard and determined by the circuit court and by the Court of Appeals of Maryland as expeditiously as possible with lawful precedence over other matters.
(5)    Review on appeal shall be based solely on the record before the Commission and briefs to the courts and shall be limited to whether the qualified rate order conforms to the Constitution and laws of this State and the United States and is within the authority of the Commission under this subtitle.
(6)    The review process in this subsection shall be the exclusive remedy to challenge or review a qualified rate order.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part III - Rate Stabilization › Section 7-529 - Time Limit for Commission's Decision

The Commission shall make a final decision on the issuance of a qualified rate order under this part no later than 60 days after the electric company files its request for the qualified rate order.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Public Utilities › Division I - Public Services and Utilities › Title 7 - Gas, Electric, and Water Companies › Subtitle 5 - Electric Industry Restructuring › Part III - Rate Stabilization › Section 7-530 - Qualified Rate Stabilization Charges -- Imposition and Collection Are Nonbypassable

A qualified rate order approved by the Commission shall include terms ensuring that the imposition and collection of qualified rate stabilization charges authorized in the order are nonbypassable.