<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<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>
