Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 59 - COMPETITIVE GAS SUPPLY › Chapter 20.59.07 - Residential Customer Protection › Section 20.59.07.08 - Supplier Contracts

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Minimum Contract Requirements.
(1) Only a person licensed under COMAR 20.54 may execute a gas supply contract with a customer.
(2) A supplier contract shall contain all material terms and conditions, including:
(a) A list and description of the contract services;
(b) A statement of minimum use requirements, if any;
(c) A description of any time-of-use restrictions, including seasonal or monthly pricing, if applicable;
(d) A clear and concise price description of each service, including but not limited to any condition of variability or limits on price variability;
(i) If there is a limit on price variability, such as a specific price cap, a maximum percentage increase in price between billing cycles or minimum/maximum charges per therm for natural gas during the term of the contract, the supplier shall clearly explain applicable limits;
(ii) If there is not a limit on price variability, the supplier shall clearly and conspicuously state that there is not a limit on how much the price may change from one billing cycle to the next.
(e) A notice that the contract does not include utility charges;
(f) A billing procedure description explicitly identifying the billing method that will be used by the supplier;
(g) A notice that the customer acknowledges that customer billing and payment information may be provided to:
(i) The supplier if the customer receives utility-consolidated billing services; or
(ii) The utility if the customer receives supplier-consolidated billing services;
(h) The frequency of the customer's bill, if the customer receives supplier-consolidated billing services;
(i) The method by which the customer will receive the bill from the supplier if the customer receives supplier-consolidated billing;
(j) A statement of contract duration, including the initial time period and any rollover provision;
(k) A deposit requirement, if any, including:
(i) The amount of the deposit;
(ii) A description of when and under what circumstances the deposit will be returned;
(iii) A description of how the deposit may be used; and
(iv) A description of how the deposit will be protected;
(l) A description of any fee or charge and the circumstances under which a customer may incur a fee or charge;
(m) A statement that the supplier may terminate the contract early, including the:
(i) Circumstances under which early cancellation by the supplier may occur;
(ii) Manner in which the supplier shall notify the customer of the early cancellation of the contract;
(iii) Duration of the notice period before early supplier cancellation; and
(iv) Remedies available to the customer if early cancellation occurs;
(n) A statement that the customer may terminate the contract early, including the:
(i) Circumstances under which early cancellation by the customer may occur;
(ii) Manner in which the customer shall notify the supplier of the early cancellation of the contract;
(iii) Duration of the notice period before early cancellation;
(iv) Remedies available to the supplier if early cancellation occurs;
(v) Amount of any early cancellation fee; and
(vi) Statement that the supplier cannot charge a termination fee to energy assistance households;
(o) A statement describing contract renewal procedures, if any;
(p) A statement describing how the customer may access future pricing information;
(q) A dispute procedure;
(r) Identification if the contract is for an energy assistance household;
(s) A statement that a contract may be cancelled early if a supplier can no longer serve the customer under the existing contract between the supplier and the customer as required by Public Utilities Article, §4-308, Annotated Code of Maryland;
(t) A statement, in a prominent manner with specific written confirmation, regarding whether the customer is receiving, or received during the previous fiscal year, energy assistance from an energy assistance program; and
(u) The Commission's toll-free number and Internet address.
(3) Beginning July 1, 2023, if a supplier's offer is a Commission-approved offer for energy assistance households, the supplier contract shall contain a statement that energy assistance households cannot be charged more than the utility's gas commodity or net purchased gas charge.