reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 26 - ENERGY ALLOCATION SYSTEMS › Chapter 20.26.03 - Disclosure of Estimated Energy Costs and Complaint Procedure › Section 20.26.03.01 - General Requirement

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
An owner shall disclose in writing to a current or prospective occupant prior to the execution or modification of a lease:
(1) That the owner will directly bill the occupant for energy costs as determined by an energy allocation system; and
(2) The estimated energy costs reasonably expected to be incurred by the occupant calculated in a manner as described in Regulation .03 of this chapter.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 26 - ENERGY ALLOCATION SYSTEMS › Chapter 20.26.03 - Disclosure of Estimated Energy Costs and Complaint Procedure › Section 20.26.03.02 - Disclosure of the Use of Energy Allocation System

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. The owner shall disclose in writing to a current or prospective occupant all material aspects of the energy allocation system including, but not limited to:
(1) The measurement unit recorded by the measuring device;
(2) The method for converting measurement units into the approximate energy use and the energy costs;
(3) The method for calculating the per unit charge for energy consumed;
(4) How questions and complaints of an occupant concerning bills will be answered by the owner; and
(5) A statement that the energy allocation system:
(a) Approximates the amount of gas or electricity consumed in the dwelling unit by use of an energy allocation or conversion formula, and
(b) Does not measure the actual use of gas or electricity.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 26 - ENERGY ALLOCATION SYSTEMS › Chapter 20.26.03 - Disclosure of Estimated Energy Costs and Complaint Procedure › Section 20.26.03.03 - Estimated Energy Costs

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. An owner who has previously determined the approximate energy usage for a dwelling unit by the use of an energy allocation system, including use of a system before the promulgation of the regulations, shall disclose to a current or prospective occupant:
(1) The highest monthly energy cost billed to the same dwelling unit in a month the dwelling unit was leased during the preceding 12 months;
(2) The lowest monthly energy cost billed to the same dwelling unit in a month the dwelling unit was leased during the preceding 12 months;
(3) The average monthly energy cost billed to the same dwelling unit for the preceding 12 months including only months the dwelling unit was leased for the entire month; and
(4) The average monthly energy costs billed to similar sized leased dwelling units in the preceding 12 months.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 26 - ENERGY ALLOCATION SYSTEMS › Chapter 20.26.03 - Disclosure of Estimated Energy Costs and Complaint Procedure › Section 20.26.03.04 - Disclosures of Influences on Energy Usage and Costs

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. The owner shall provide to the current or prospective occupant the document "Influences on Energy Usage and Costs" prepared by the Consumer Protection Division.
B. The owner shall disclose in writing to the prospective or current occupant the nature and extent of the weatherization of the apartment unit including, but not limited to the extent of insulation of walls and ceiling, the age of the energy device (for example, furnace) and the directional exposure (for example, north, south) of the unit.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 26 - ENERGY ALLOCATION SYSTEMS › Chapter 20.26.03 - Disclosure of Estimated Energy Costs and Complaint Procedure › Section 20.26.03.05 - Procedure for Handling Occupant Complaints

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
If an occupant contacts the owner concerning the correctness of the energy costs billed to an occupant:
A. The owner shall provide to the occupant a complaint form available from the Commission and request the occupant to complete the form;
B. The owner shall provide the occupant with the name and address of the apartment house manager or other person who will receive the completed complaint form;
C. The owner shall provide the occupant with written confirmation from the vendor within 15 business days of receiving a written complaint from an occupant that the bill does not contain a clerical, mathematical, or computational error;
D. If the bill in question does not contain an error described in §C, the owner shall inspect the energy allocation equipment and the dwelling unit of the occupant;
E. The owner shall provide the occupant with a copy of the written results of the inspections conducted pursuant to the requirement in §D, prepared on forms available from the Commission, within 30 days of the receipt of the complaint;
F. The failure of the occupant to complete the occupant complaint form does not relieve the owner of the requirements of this section;
G. The owner shall also provide to the occupant in writing, along with the written reports required under §E, what, if any, remedial actions have been or will be taken.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 26 - ENERGY ALLOCATION SYSTEMS › Chapter 20.26.03 - Disclosure of Estimated Energy Costs and Complaint Procedure › Section 20.26.03.06 - Referral to Consumer Protection Division

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
If the complaint has not been resolved, the owner shall advise the occupant in writing that a formal complaint concerning an amount billed to the occupant pursuant to an energy allocation system may be filed with the Consumer Protection Division, Office of the Attorney General.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.01 - Nonresidential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.01.01 - Declaration of Public Policy

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. The Public Service Commission of Maryland, in these regulations referred to as the "Commission", declares that it is in the public interest for each utility to administer fairly and without discrimination a reasonable policy reflected by written regulations, in accordance with these regulations, which will permit an applicant for permanent nonresidential service to establish, or an existing nonresidential customer to reestablish, credit with the utility for the use of its service.
B. The Commission further declares that when it is necessary for an applicant or customer to make a cash deposit to establish or reestablish credit in accordance with these regulations, the making of this deposit is in the public interest because it avoids, to the extent practicable, the creation of a burden arising from uncollectible bills which would have to be borne ultimately by all the utility's ratepayers.
C. The Commission further declares that the essential ingredient in each utility's administration of its deposit policy, as expressed by these regulations, is the equitable and indiscriminate application of that policy to all applicants for service and customers throughout its service area without regard to the economic character of the area or any part of it, and that this deposit policy shall be predicated upon the credit risk of the applicant (or customer) without regard to the collective credit reputation of the area in which the applicant does business.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.01 - Nonresidential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.01.02 - Establishment of Credit

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. A utility may require each applicant for nonresidential service to establish credit in compliance with the methods and procedures listed in §B of this regulation.
B. Methods of Establishing Credit.
(1) In order to establish credit, a utility may require an applicant for nonresidential service to demonstrate good paying habits by showing that the applicant:
(a) Was a customer of a Maryland utility for at least 12 months within the preceding 2 years;
(b) Does not currently owe any outstanding bills for utility service to a utility doing business in Maryland;
(c) Did not have service discontinued for nonpayment of a utility bill during the last 12 months that service was provided; and
(d) Did not fail, on more than two occasions during the last 12 months that service was provided, to pay a utility bill when it became due.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.01 - Nonresidential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.01.03 - Reestablishment of Credit

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. A utility may require an applicant for service who is a present or former nonresidential customer of that utility to reestablish credit under Regulation .02 of this chapter at the time of application if one of the following exists:
(1) Customer owes an outstanding bill for a prior nonresidential service;
(2) Customer's nonresidential account has been terminated by the utility within the last 12 months of prior service for nonpayment of a bill;
(3) Customer failed to pay a nonresidential bill when it became due on more than two occasions in the last 12 months of prior service;
(4) Customer's nonresidential account is more than 1 month in arrears; or
(5) Conditions of service or the basis on which the customer's credit was originally established have materially changed.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.01 - Nonresidential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.01.03-1 - Denial of Service

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Except as prohibited by State or federal law, a utility may refuse to connect or may disconnect service for a former nonresidential customer unless the customer has paid or made satisfactory arrangements to pay any outstanding bill, or undisputed portion of a disputed bill, for prior nonresidential service.
B. A utility may not refuse service to a customer for nonpayment of an outstanding bill that is over 7 years old, unless the:
(a) Customer signed an agreement to pay the outstanding bill before the expiration of this period; or
(b) Outstanding bill is for service obtained by the customer in any manner described in COMAR 20.31.02.03DD or COMAR 20.31.02.04A(1)-(4).
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.01 - Nonresidential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.01.04 - Deposit

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Amount of Deposit. The deposit required by the utility may not be less than $5, and it may not be more than the maximum estimated charge for service for two consecutive billing periods, or 90 days, whichever is less, or as may reasonably be required by the utility in cases involving service for short periods or special occasions.
B. Payment of Deposit. If requested by the applicant, the utility shall provide some means by which a deposit amount of $100 or more may be paid by the customer in installments over a period of at least 8 weeks. The customer shall be notified of this right at the time of the initial request for deposit. The provisions of this section do not apply to utilities providing telephone service.
C. Deposit Receipt. Each utility shall issue a receipt of deposit to each customer from whom a deposit is received, and shall provide means by which a depositor may establish his claim if his receipt is lost.
D. Interest on Deposits.
(1) Each utility shall pay simple per annum interest on a deposit from the date of receipt by the utility.
(2) The rate of the interest in §D(1) of this regulation shall be a weighted monthly average of calendar year rates appropriate to the holding period.
(3) Calendar Year Rates.
(a) The calendar year rates shall be established in December of each year to be effective January 1 of the following year.
(b) The rate shall be equal to the average of the percent yields of 1-year treasury constant maturities for September, October, and November of the preceding year.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.01 - Nonresidential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.01.05 - Refund of Deposit

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Discontinuance of Service. Upon discontinuance of service, the utility, within 45 days, shall automatically refund the customer's deposit plus accrued interest, or the balance, if any, in excess of the unpaid bills including any penalties assessed for service furnished by the utility. A transfer of service from one premises to another within the service area of the utility may not be deemed a discontinuance of service within the meaning of these regulations.
B. Good Payment Record.
(1) The utility shall promptly and automatically refund the deposit plus accrued interest under the following conditions:
(a) The customer has paid bills for service for the first 4 years of service following payment of his deposit without having had service discontinued for nonpayment of bills within the last 2 years;
(b) The customer has paid all bills without having had more than two occasions within the last 12 months in which a bill was not paid in a reasonable period after it became due;
(c) The customer is not presently delinquent in the payment of his bills;
(d) The customer has not presented a bad check in payment of his bills within the last 2 years; and
(e) Detrimental credit information has not been recorded against the customer within the last 2 years.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.01 - Nonresidential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.01.05-1 - Use of Deposit

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A utility may apply a nonresidential customer deposit plus accrued interest, first against any unpaid balance due the utility for nonresidential service as determined by the final bill issued to the customer, and then against any unpaid balance due the utility on any other nonresidential account of that customer.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.01 - Nonresidential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.01.06 - Appeal by Applicant or Customer

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Appeal to Utility Supervisory Personnel. Each utility shall direct its personnel engaged in initial contact with an applicant for service, or customer seeking to establish or reestablish credit under the provisions of these regulations, to refer the applicant or customer, at his request, to supervisory personnel for further consideration of his problem.
B. Appeal to Commission Personnel. Each utility shall further direct this supervisory personnel to inform the applicant or customer who expresses dissatisfaction with the decision of the supervisory personnel, of his right to have the problem reviewed by the Commission, and shall furnish him with the business address and telephone number of the Commission.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.01 - Nonresidential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.01.07 - Information to Customers

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
Each utility, upon request, shall furnish a copy of these regulations to the applicant for service or customer from whom a deposit is required. This copy shall contain the name, address, and telephone number of the Commission.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.02 - Residential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.02.01 - Declaration of Public Policy

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. The Public Service Commission of Maryland, in these regulations referred to as the "Commission," declares that it is in the public interest for each utility to fairly and without discrimination administer a reasonable policy reflected by written regulations, in accord with these regulations, which will permit an applicant for permanent residential service to establish, or an existing residence customer to re-establish, credit with the utility for the use of its service.
B. The Commission further declares that when it is necessary for an applicant or customer to make a cash deposit to establish or re-establish credit in accord with these regulations, the making of the deposit is in the public interest because it avoids, to the extent practicable, the creation of a burden arising from uncollectible bills which would have to be borne ultimately by all the utility's rate payers.
C. The Commission further declares that the essential ingredient in each utility's administration of its deposit policy, as expressed by these regulations, is the equitable and indiscriminate application of that policy to all applicants for service and customers throughout its service area without regard to the economic character of the area or any part of it, and that this deposit policy shall be predicated upon the credit risk of the individual without regard to the collective credit reputation of the area in which he lives.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.02 - Residential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.02.02 - Establishment of Credit

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Except as provided in §C of this regulation, a utility may require each applicant for residential service to establish credit in compliance with the methods and procedures listed in §B of this regulation.
B. Methods of Establishing Credit.
(1) In order to establish credit, a utility may require an applicant for residential service to demonstrate good paying habits by showing that the applicant:
(a) Was a customer of a Maryland utility within the preceding 2 years;
(b) Does not currently owe any outstanding bills for utility service to a utility doing business in Maryland;
(c) Did not have service discontinued for non-payment of a utility bill during the last 12 months that service was provided; and
(d) Did not on more than two occasions during the last 12 months that service was provided, fail to pay a utility bill when it became due.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.02 - Residential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.02.03 - Reestablishment of Credit

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. A utility may require an applicant for residential service who is a present or former residential customer of that utility to reestablish credit under Regulation .02 of this chapter at the time of the application if one of the following exists:
(1) Customer owes an outstanding bill for a prior residential service;
(2) Customer's residential account had been terminated by the utility during the last 12 months of prior service because of nonpayment of bills;
(3) Customer failed to pay a bill when it became due on more than two occasions in the last 12 months of prior service;
(4) Customer's residential account is more than 2 months in arrears; or
(5) Conditions of service or the basis on which the customer's credit was originally established have materially changed.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.02 - Residential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.02.04 - Deposit

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Amount of Deposit. The deposit required by the utility may not be less than $5 or more in amount than 2/12 of the estimated charges for service for the ensuing 12 months, except that an amount equal to 3/12 of the estimated charge for service for the ensuing 12 months will be permitted for those utilities which bill quarterly. If the actual billing is substantially different from the estimated charge for service, then the amount of the deposit may be adjusted to the applicable proportion of the actual billing.
B. Deposit Receipt. Each utility shall issue a receipt of deposit to each customer from whom a deposit is received, and shall provide means by which a depositor may establish his claim if his receipt is lost.
C. Interest on Deposits.
(1) Each utility shall pay simple per annum interest on a deposit from the date of receipt by the utility.
(2) The rate in §C(1) of this regulation shall be a weighted monthly average of calendar year rates appropriate to the holding period.
(3) Calendar Year Rates.
(a) The calendar year rates shall be established in December of each year to be effective January 1 of the following year.
(b) The rate shall be equal to the average of the percent yields of 1-year treasury constant maturities for September, October, and November of the preceding year.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.02 - Residential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.02.04-1 - Use of Deposit

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A utility may apply a residential customer deposit plus accrued interest, first against any unpaid balance due the utility for that service as determined by the final bill issued to the customer, and then against any unpaid balance due the utility on any other residential account of that customer.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.02 - Residential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.02.05 - Refund of Deposit

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Discontinuance of Service. Upon discontinuance of service, the utility shall promptly and automatically refund the customer's deposit plus accrued interest, or the balance, if any, in excess of the unpaid bills for service furnished by the utility. A transfer of service from one premises to another within the service area of the utility may not be deemed a discontinuance of service within the meaning of these regulations.
B. Good Payment Record. If the customer has paid bills for service for the first 12 months of service following payment of his deposit without having had service discontinued for non-payment of bill or without having had more than two occasions in which a bill was not paid when it became due, and the customer is not then delinquent in the payment of his bills, the utility shall promptly and automatically refund the deposit plus accrued interest. If the customer has had service terminated for non-payment of his bill or had more than two past due bills for the period, the utility shall thereafter review the account every 12 months and shall promptly and automatically refund the deposit plus accrued interest after the customer has not had service terminated for non-payment of bill or bill or had more than two past due bills during the 12 months before any review and is not then delinquent in the payment of his bills.
C. Establishment of Credit. The utility shall promptly return the deposit plus accrued interest at any time upon request if the customer's credit has been established in accordance with the methods specified in Regulation .02B, provided the customer owes no outstanding bills for the service and during the last 12 consecutive months that service was provided has not had more than two occasions in which a bill was not paid within a reasonable period after it became due or had service terminated for non-payment of the bill.
D. Customers 60 Years Old or Older. A utility shall promptly refund the deposit plus interest of a present customer who is 60 years old or older provided the customer:
(1) Requests refund of the deposit;
(2) Presents satisfactory proof of age; and
(3) Does not have a past due or uncollected bill owing to the utility.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.02 - Residential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.02.06 - Appeal by Applicant or Customer

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Appeal to Utility Supervisory Personnel. Each utility shall direct its personnel engaged in initial contact with an applicant for service, or customer seeking to establish or re-establish credit under the provisions of these regulations to refer the applicant or customer, at his request, to supervisory personnel for further consideration of his problem.
B. Appeal to Commission Personnel. Each utility shall further direct the supervisory personnel to inform the applicant or customer who expresses dissatisfaction with the decision of the supervisory personnel, of his right to have the problem reviewed by the Commission and shall furnish him with the business address and telephone number of the Commission.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.02 - Residential Customer Deposits › Section 20.30.02.07 - Information to Customers

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
Each utility, upon request, shall furnish a copy of these regulations to the applicant for service or customer from whom a deposit is required and the copy shall contain the name, address, and telephone number of the Commission.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.03 - Late Payment Charges › Section 20.30.03.01 - Authorization to Impose Late Payment Charges

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Residential Customers and Residential Cooperatives.
(1) Each gas, electric, gas and electric, or telephone company using late payment charge provisions, policies, or practices for residential customers and residential cooperatives, may be authorized to apply to bills not paid within 20 days after the date of rendition up to 1-1/2 percent of the net bill, and at the end of the first nominal billing interval after that, an additional charge to be made equal to 1-1/2 percent of any portion of the original amount which remains unpaid at the time, and at the end of the second nominal billing interval, an additional charge to be made equal to 2 percent of any portion of the original amount which remains unpaid at the time. The total of the charges should not exceed 5 percent of the original unpaid amount.
(2) For residential customers and residential cooperatives, each gas, electric, gas and electric, or telephone company utilizing late payment provisions, policies, or practices authorized by this Commission shall apply the late payment charges to any bill or part of a bill not paid within 20 days calculated upon the net total cost less applicable taxes and, when applicable, the environmental surcharge.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.03 - Late Payment Charges › Section 20.30.03.03 - Tariff Provisions and Regulations Control

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
Each gas, electric, gas and electric, or telephone company utilizing late payment charge provisions, policies, or practices shall pursue the collection of these charges consistent with the tariff provisions of the respective utility and the regulations of this Commission.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.03 - Late Payment Charges › Section 20.30.03.04 - Practices to be Extended to Customers

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
Each gas, electric, gas and electric, or telephone company utilizing late payment charge provisions, policies, or practices shall extend to its customers the following practices in relation to the application of late payment charges:
A. An allowance shall be made for conflicting governmental and company holidays;
B. Consideration shall be given by the utilities for an extension of the due date when, within the discretion of the company, conditions warrant, such as hardship, claims of late delivery of bill, etc.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.03 - Late Payment Charges › Section 20.30.03.05 - Revised Tariff Pages

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
Each gas, electric, gas and electric, or telephone company shall file, when necessary, revised tariff pages implementing the provisions of this regulation.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.04 - Customers' Rights Pamphlet › Section 20.30.04.01 - Customers' Rights Pamphlet

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
Each gas, electric and combination gas and electric utility shall prepare a pamphlet in accordance with this chapter, subject to the Commission's approval, summarizing the rights and responsibilities of their customers, consistent with the utilities' tariff provisions and the Commission's regulations.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.04 - Customers' Rights Pamphlet › Section 20.30.04.02 - Contents of Pamphlet

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
The pamphlet shall contain, at a minimum, a statement or description of the following information:
A. Service application procedures including a provision permitting more than one individual in a dwelling unit to request classification as a customer and to be listed on the service account;
B. Billing procedures, including the late payment charges;
C. Methods for customers to verify billing accuracy;
D. Explanation of the utility's fuel adjustment clause, or purchased gas clause, or both;
E. Explanation of seasonal rate differentials;
F. Customer payment policies, including a general summary of alternate payment plans and the Winter Heating Protection Program;
G. Security deposit policies;
H. The Termination Policy Statement as set forth in COMAR 20.31.01.06A;
I. Inquiry, service, and complaint procedures;
J. Information on the Maryland Energy Assistance Program and on access to other programs to assist low-income customers;
K. Other pertinent information including the telephone number of the Office of External Relations;
L. Information on the utility's bill extender plan;
M. The residential rate schedules available; and
N. For electric utilities and combination electric and gas utilities only:
(1) A summary of the reports required by COMAR 20.50.07.06A, including explanations of the reliability indices; and
(2) Instructions for how customers can request reliability indices for their electric service.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 30 - CUSTOMER DEPOSITS, LATE PAYMENT CHARGES, AND CUSTOMERS' RIGHTS PAMPHLETS › Chapter 20.30.04 - Customers' Rights Pamphlet › Section 20.30.04.03 - Delivery to Customer

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
This pamphlet shall:
A. Be mailed or, at the option of the utility and upon request by the customer, delivered by electronic means to each customer of the utility once each year during the month of August, September, or October;
B. Be delivered or mailed to each new customer of the utility when the new customer initiates service;
C. Be available at all times upon request; and
D. Indicate that it is being provided in accordance with the Commission's regulations.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.01 - General Regulations › Section 20.31.01.01 - Applicability

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. This subtitle applies to all electric utilities, gas utilities, and combination electric and gas utilities, as defined in this subtitle, under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission.
B. COMAR 20.31.02, 20.31.03, and 20.32.01 govern all terminations of electric service, gas service, or both, as the case may be, where the service, in whole or in part, is for use in a dwelling unit or units, except for those terminations governed by COMAR 20.31.05.
C. If unreasonable hardship to a utility or to a customer results from the application of any of the regulations of this subtitle, applications may be made by the affected person to the Commission for the modification of the regulation or regulations or for a temporary or permanent exemption from its requirements.
D. This subtitle does not relieve any utility to which it applies of any of its duties under the laws and regulations of Maryland or the United States.
E. This subtitle is not intended to discourage utilities from working with local, State, or federal agencies to create or implement energy assistance programs.
F. All references to the masculine gender in this subtitle include the feminine gender.
G. All references to "days" in this subtitle refer to calendar days unless otherwise specified.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.01 - General Regulations › Section 20.31.01.03 - Customer Responsibilities

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Upon receiving a notice of termination, any customer may notify the utility either before the date on which the termination is scheduled or within 14 days of receiving the notice, whichever occurs first, that he or an occupant of the premises is elderly, handicapped, seriously ill, or relies upon life-support equipment. The customer shall obtain any necessary certification of status and shall inform the utility of this occupant's name and address, if different than the customer's, to prevent termination of service.
B. Notice to the utility includes sending to the utility a written statement of the status of the individual and sending to the utility the required certifications not later than the scheduled date of termination of service.
C. A customer who wishes to dispute the reasons for termination of his service or to dispute his bill shall first contact the utility and shall make every effort to resolve the dispute with the utility before contacting the Commission.
D. Customer Responsibility for Bills.
(1) A customer shall be responsible for all past-due, current, and future bills for service provided to the customer.
(2) A customer's failure to comply with the provisions of this subtitle may subject that customer to termination action by the utility.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.01 - General Regulations › Section 20.31.01.04 - Utility Responsibilities

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. A utility may terminate electric or gas service, or both, in accordance with the provisions of this subtitle. However, the utility shall use its discretion in unusual circumstances, including a situation involving a master-metered building, and may not terminate service if it has or is presented with reasonable grounds to believe that termination will endanger human health, life, or safety.
B. This subtitle contains minimum requirements, and a utility may expand upon these requirements so as to provide further protections for its customers, in a manner best suited to that utility's service area and other factors.
C. Each utility shall provide its customers with a reasonable opportunity to contest the proposed termination in accordance with the provisions of this subtitle.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.01 - General Regulations › Section 20.31.01.05 - Service Reconnection Charge

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
If a utility terminates service to a customer in compliance with this subtitle, and the customer requests reconnection, he shall be liable for the charge for reconnection of service contained in the utility's tariffs and the past-due amount except as provided in COMAR 20.31.05 of this subtitle.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.01 - General Regulations › Section 20.31.01.06 - Termination Policy Statement

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Each utility shall include a termination policy statement as a separately identified part of the Customer Rights Pamphlet required by COMAR 20.30.04 Customers' Rights Pamphlet.
B. This statement shall include, at a minimum, the following information:
(1) The permissible grounds for termination of service;
(2) A statement of the procedures for terminating and reconnecting a customer's service;
(3) A statement that the customer may designate a third party to receive termination notices;
(4) A statement that the customer may notify the utility if the customer or an occupant of the customer's residence is elderly, is handicapped, is seriously ill, relies upon life-support equipment, or has any existing condition for which a termination of service would be a threat to life, health, or safety.
(5) A statement of the customer's rights and remedies in termination proceedings, which shall include the information required by Regulation .06 Text of Notices of Termination under COMAR 20.31.02 Terminations;
(6) A statement that alternate payment plans are offered by the utility; and
(7) A statement describing the Utility Service Protection Program under COMAR 20.31.05.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.01 - General Regulations › Section 20.31.01.07 - Third-Party Notification

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Each utility shall inform its customers of the availability of third-party notification, by which the customer can designate a third person to receive notices of termination of service in addition to the customer. The third party designated and notified in accordance with these regulations is not liable for the account of the customer.
B. The designated third party may initiate appropriate action to prevent termination of the customer's service.
C. Each utility shall set up a procedure for handling this third-party notification process in a manner best suited to the circumstances of the particular utility.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.01 - General Regulations › Section 20.31.01.08 - Alternate Payment Plans

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Except as provided under §D of this regulation, if a low income customer is unable to pay the charges for service, the utility shall in good faith attempt to negotiate a reasonable alternate payment plan.
B. Except as provided under §§A and D of this regulation, if a customer is unable to pay the charges for service, the utility may in good faith attempt to negotiate a reasonable alternate payment plan.
C. For purposes of this regulation, "alternate payment plan" means a payment plan provided to avoid termination of service and retire all outstanding charges to the utility.
D. A utility may refuse to negotiate or offer an alternate payment plan to a customer receiving service, if the customer:
(1) Failed to meet the terms and conditions of any alternate payment plan during the past 18 months including:
(a) A USPP alternate payment plan; or
(b) A plan arranged under the EUSP;
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.02 - Terminations › Section 20.31.02.01 - Insufficient Reasons for Terminations

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
The following may not constitute sufficient cause for the utility to terminate service to an existing customer:
A. Failure of a previous customer to pay for service at the premises to be served, unless the current or prospective customer is in violation of one of the provisions of Regulation .04 of this chapter;
B. Failure of the customer to pay:
(1) For merchandise purchased from the utility;
(2) For a public utility service other than electric service, gas service, or electric and gas service, as the case may be;
(3) For service that is used in other than dwelling units;
(4) The bill of another customer as guarantor of that other customer;
(5) A bill which is delinquent for less than 3 months if the security deposit exceeds the amount of the estimated final bill for service;
(6) Any outstanding bill which is less than $100, and which is delinquent for less than 3 months;
(7) Any undercharge for the period in excess of 4 months as described in COMAR 20.50.04.05 a and 20.55.04.05 a; or
(8) An outstanding bill that is over 7 years old, unless the:
(a) Customer signed an agreement to pay the outstanding bill before the expiration of this period, or
(b) Outstanding bill is for service obtained by the customer in any manner described in COMAR 20.31.02.03DD or 20.31.02.04A(1)-(4)D(1)-(4).
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.02 - Terminations › Section 20.31.02.02 - Terminations Requiring Notice

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A utility may terminate service to a customer for any of the following reasons, if the utility complies with the provisions of this subtitle:
A. The customer's violation of or noncompliance with COMAR 20.50 Service Supplied by Electric Companies or COMAR 20.55 Service Supplied by Gas Companies, or for violation of or noncompliance with the utility's tariffs and rules on file with the Commission;
B. For failure of the customer to fulfill his contractual obligations for service or facilities subject to regulation by the Commission;
C. For failure of the customer to permit the utility or its agents to have reasonable access to its equipment located on or in the customer's premises;
D. For failure of the customer to provide the utility with a deposit as authorized in COMAR 20.30.02 Residential Customer Deposits;
E. For failure of the customer to furnish the service equipment, permits, certificates, or rights-of-way, as specified by the utility as a condition to obtaining service or if the equipment or permissions are withdrawn or terminated.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.02 - Terminations › Section 20.31.02.03 - Terminations Without Notice

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. A utility may terminate service without notice for any of the following reasons:
(1) A condition on the premises determined by the utility to be hazardous;
(2) The use of equipment in such a manner as to affect adversely the utility's equipment or the utility's service to others;
(3) Tampering with equipment furnished and owned by the utility; or
(4) Unauthorized use of service by any method, including diversion of gas or electricity around a meter.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.02 - Terminations › Section 20.31.02.04 - Termination with 7 Days Notice

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Electric service, gas service, or both, may be terminated in accordance with this regulation, if service at a dwelling unit has been secured in any manner described below:
(1) Application was made in a fictitious name;
(2) Application was made in the name of an individual who is not an occupant of the dwelling unit, without disclosure of the individual's actual address;
(3) Application was made in the name of a third party without disclosing that fact or without bona fide authority from the third party;
(4) Application was made without disclosure of a material fact or by misrepresentation of a material fact;
(5) Application was made for connection of service to a dwelling where there are co-occupants, if a service account for that dwelling unit was previously maintained in a current co-occupant's name during a period of co-occupancy with the applicant and the co-occupant has failed to pay or make satisfactory arrangements to pay an outstanding bill or undisputed portion of a disputed bill for service at the dwelling unit, the collection of which is not barred under applicable State or federal law;
(6) Application was made for connection of service to a dwelling unit where there are co-occupants, if the service account at a prior dwelling unit of the applicant was listed in a current co-occupant's name, and the co-occupant has failed to pay or to make satisfactory arrangement to pay an outstanding bill or undisputed portion of a disputed bill for service at the prior dwelling unit, the collection of which is not barred under applicable State or federal law; or
(7) Application was made by an individual for the purpose of assisting another occupant of a dwelling unit to avoid payment of that occupant's prior outstanding bill.
Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 20 - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Subtitle 31 - TERMINATIONS OF SERVICE › Chapter 20.31.02 - Terminations › Section 20.31.02.05 - Termination Procedures

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Except as provided by Regulations .03 and .04 of this chapter and by Chapters 03, 04, and 05 of this subtitle, a utility shall terminate service in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.
B. Commencing Termination Procedures.
(1) A utility may commence termination procedures only if it has made reasonable attempts to collect the past-due bills using normal collection procedures.
(2) "Normal collection procedures" shall include collection practices normally used by the utility and shall include at least one notice that the bill in question is past due.