<section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="13-101" title_number="13" title_name="Prohibited Acts; Penalties" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Criminal Liability"> <level label="a"> <text>This section does not apply to a violation of the following provisions of this article:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Title 5, Subtitle 4;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Title 7, Subtitle 1;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Title 8, Subtitles 1 and 3; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Title 9, Subtitle 3.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person may not fail, neglect, or refuse to comply with any provision of this division or any effective and outstanding direction, ruling, order, rule, regulation, or decision of the Commission.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>An individual who knowingly violates or knowingly aids or abets a public service company in the violation of subsection (b) of this section or any provision of this division:</text> <level label="1"> <text>is guilty of a misdemeanor; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>unless a different punishment is specifically provided by law, on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 for a first offense and not exceeding $5,000 for each additional or subsequent offense.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="13-201" title_number="13" title_name="Prohibited Acts; Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Civil Liability"> <level label="a"> <text>This section does not apply to a violation of the following provisions of this article:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Title 5, Subtitle 4;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Title 7, Subtitle 1;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>§ 7–213 as it applies to electric cooperatives;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Title 8, Subtitles 1 and 3;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>Title 9, Subtitle 3; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>Title 8, Subtitle 4.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commission may impose a civil penalty not exceeding $25,000 against a person who violates a provision of this division, or an effective and outstanding direction, ruling, order, rule, or regulation of the Commission.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The civil penalty that the Commission may impose on a common carrier for each violation may not exceed $2,500.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>A civil penalty may be imposed in addition to any other penalty authorized by this division.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Each violation is a separate offense.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Each day or part of a day the violation continues is a separate offense.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Commission shall determine the amount of any civil penalty after considering:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the number of previous violations of any provision of this article;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the gravity of the current violation;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the good faith efforts of the violator in attempting to achieve compliance after notification of the violation; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>any other matter that the Commission considers appropriate and relevant.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a civil penalty collected under this section shall be paid into the Resiliency Hub Grant Program Fund established under § 9–2011 of the State Government Article.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A civil penalty assessed for a violation of a service quality and reliability standard under § 7–213 of this article shall be paid into the Electric Reliability Remediation Fund under § 7–213(j) of this article.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>A civil penalty assessed for a violation of § 7–317, § 7–318, § 7–505(b)(7), § 7–507, § 7–603, § 7–603.1, § 7–604, § 7–606, or § 7–707 of this article, or a rule, an order, or a regulation adopted under any of those sections, shall be paid into the Education and Protection Fund under § 7–310 of this article.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="13-202" title_number="13" title_name="Prohibited Acts; Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Civil Liability"> <level label="a"> <text>In this section, “safety violation” means a condition or activity likely to cause injury or harm to an individual or property.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>This section does not apply to a safety violation by a gas company that is subject to § 13–203 of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a public service company that violates a provision of this division that relates to safety is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $25,000 for each violation for each day that the violation persists.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>For a common carrier, the maximum civil penalty may not exceed $500 for each violation or related series of violations stemming from a single safety inspection.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>In determining the amount of a civil penalty imposed under this section, the Commission shall consider the:</text> <level label="1"> <text>appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the public service company;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>number of previous violations of this article by the public service company;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>gravity of the current violation; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>good faith of the public service company in attempting to achieve compliance after notification of the violation.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The public service company involved may request reconsideration of a penalty imposed under this section within 30 days after the date of notification of the determination.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="13-203" title_number="13" title_name="Prohibited Acts; Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Civil Liability"> <level label="a"> <text>A gas company or gas master meter operator that violates any of the Commission’s standards of safe service or other regulation related to safety adopted under § 5-101 of this article is subject to a civil penalty determined by the Commission that does not exceed the maximum penalties provided in Title 49, Chapter 601 of the U.S. Code (Federal Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act):</text> <level label="1"> <text>for each violation for each day or part of a day that the violation continues; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>for a related series of violations.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Within 30 days after the date of notification of the determination, the gas company or gas master meter operator involved may request reconsideration to obtain a compromise.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>In determining the amount of a civil penalty or compromise, the Commission shall consider the:</text> <level label="1"> <text>appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the gas company or gas master meter operator;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>gravity of the current violation; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>good faith of the gas company or gas master meter operator in attempting to achieve compliance after notification of the violation.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The amount of the penalty, when finally determined or agreed on in compromise, may be:</text> <level label="1"> <text>deducted from any amount that the State owes to the gas company or gas master meter operator; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>recovered in a civil action in State court.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="13-204" title_number="13" title_name="Prohibited Acts; Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Civil Liability"> <text>Personnel of the Commission or Office of People’s Counsel who are convicted of violating Title 2, Subtitle 3 of this article shall, in addition to any other penalties, be removed or discharged from office.</text> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="13-205" title_number="13" title_name="Prohibited Acts; Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Civil Liability"> <text>A public service company is subject to a fine of $100 for each day beyond 30 days after the deadline set by the Commission that the public service company fails to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>file its annual report with the Commission in accordance with Title 6, Subtitle 2 of this article;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>make a report or furnish information that the Commission requests or requires; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>fails to give a full, specific, and responsive answer to any question reasonably directed to it by the Commission.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="13-206" title_number="13" title_name="Prohibited Acts; Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Civil Liability"> <text>An individual who violates a provision of this division concerning for–hire driving services is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $50 for a first offense and not exceeding $100 for each additional or subsequent offense.</text> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="13-207" title_number="13" title_name="Prohibited Acts; Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Civil Liability"> <text>A contract, assignment, or transfer in violation of this division is void.</text> </section> <section article="gpu" article_name="Public Utilities" number="13-208" title_number="13" title_name="Prohibited Acts; Penalties" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Civil Liability"> <level label="a"> <text>In addition to any otherwise available remedy, the Commission may summarily order a person who is subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission to cease and desist from an act or practice if the Commission determines from specific facts shown by affidavit or other statement made under oath that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the person has engaged in an act or practice that constitutes a violation of any provision of this division or any order or regulation adopted under this division that directly concerns consumer protection or public safety;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>immediate, substantial, and irreparable harm will result before the affected person could have an opportunity to respond to the facts alleged;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the need for the immediate issuance of a summary cease and desist order outweighs the affected person’s right to receive notice and be heard before issuance of the order; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>issuance of the summary cease and desist order is in the public interest.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A summary cease and desist order issued by the Commission under subsection (a) of this section shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>be personally and promptly served on the affected person or the person’s legal representative;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>be effective only after it is served under item (1) of this subsection;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>identify the date and hour of issuance;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>define the harm that the Commission finds will result if the summary cease and desist order is not issued;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>state the basis for the Commission’s finding that the harm will be immediate, substantial, and irreparable;</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>state that any person affected by the summary cease and desist order may immediately apply to have the order modified or vacated by the Commission;</text> </level> <level label="7"> <text>state that the Commission may modify or vacate the summary cease and desist order as requested or may set the matter for hearing under subsection (c) of this section; and</text> </level> <level label="8"> <text>provide notice of the opportunity for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the summary cease and desist order should be modified, vacated, or entered as final.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Within 15 calendar days after the date and hour of successful service of the summary cease and desist order, the affected person may file a request for an evidentiary hearing with the Commission on the propriety of a final order.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If the Commission receives a request for an evidentiary hearing on the propriety of a final order from the affected person within the time limit in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Commission shall complete the evidentiary hearing within 15 calendar days after the date and hour when the request is received.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Within 48 hours after completing the evidentiary hearing requested under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Commission shall issue a final order in which it shall determine whether the affected person has engaged in an act or practice that is in violation of any provision of this division or any order or regulation adopted under this division that directly concerns consumer protection or public safety.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>If the Commission does not receive a request for an evidentiary hearing on the propriety of a final order from the affected person within the time limit in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the summary cease and desist order shall become final.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>If the Commission fails to comply with subsection (c)(2) or (3) of this section, the summary cease and desist order is void from the time of issuance.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>The Commission may not impose a penalty for a violation of a summary cease and desist order that is void under subsection (d) of this section.</text> </level> </section>