After providing notice and an opportunity for interested parties to be heard, the Commission may adopt regulations that prescribe standards for safe, adequate, reasonable, and proper service for any class of public service company or gas master meter operator. The standards adopted under subsection (a) of this section shall best promote, in the opinion of the Commission, the security or convenience of: the public; those employed in furnishing services; and those to whom services are rendered. The Commission may: enforce the standards adopted under this section; and by order, as the Commission considers necessary, require changes and additions in the service of any public service company or gas master meter operator, including: repairs or improvements in plant; increase in motive power; and change in schedule or manner of operations.

The Commission may: as it considers reasonable and proper, order a common carrier to issue mileage, excursion, school commuter, passenger commuter, or joint interchangeable mile tickets for all or part of the common carrier’s route in the State; and require any two or more common carriers, whose lines form a continuous line of transportation or whose lines could form a continuous line of transportation by means of switch connection, to: establish through routes and joint rates; provide for the manner of securing the through routes or paying the joint rates; and apportion the through routes and joint rates between the affected common carriers. This section: is subject to § 7-208(f) of the Transportation Article; and does not limit § 5-101 of this subtitle.

The Commission may require a public service company to continue any service that the public service company renders to the public under any franchise, right, or permit, after any applicable expiration date. Unless authorized by the Commission, a public service company may not discontinue or abandon a service under a franchise, right, or permit. The Commission may authorize a public service company to discontinue or abandon a service under a franchise, right, or permit if the Commission finds that the present or future public convenience and necessity allows the discontinuance or abandonment. Denial of authorization to discontinue or abandon a service under a franchise, right, or permit does not preclude subsequent reapplication. Whenever the Commission authorizes the abandonment or discontinuance of a franchise, right, or permit, as a whole or in part, that involves any service to or from a suburban community, the Commission: shall consider all applications to acquire the franchise, right, or permit to render the service; and shall grant the application to the best qualified applicant. An abandoned or discontinued right that extends between mid-city and suburban termini shall continue to extend between the mid-city and suburban termini if the abandoned or discontinued right: as acquired by the abandoning or discontinuing public service company or its predecessor, extended from mid-city to suburban termini; or was operated between the mid-city and suburban termini during most of its existence or for an aggregate of at least 15 years.

The Commission may authorize the acts described in §§ 5-202, 5-203, and 5-205 of this title and § 6-101(a) of this article if it finds that the authorization is consistent with the public convenience and necessity. Authority that the Commission grants under §§ 5-202 and 5-203 of this title does not: revive a lapsed franchise; validate an invalid franchise; enlarge or add to the powers and privileges of a franchise; or waive a forfeiture.

The Commission shall require each gas company, electric company, and telephone company to exempt the dwelling units of subscribing individuals who are at least 60 years old from any cash deposit requirement, if the subscriber does not owe any past-due bill to that public service company.

Before a license or permit may be issued under this article to an employer to engage in an activity in which the employer may employ a covered employee, as defined in § 9-101 of the Labor and Employment Article, the employer shall file with the issuing authority: a certificate of compliance with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Act; or the number of a workers’ compensation insurance policy or binder.