Title 7. Gas, Electric, and Water Companies — Subtitle 3. Consumer Relations

a new residential multiple occupancy building;

a new shopping center; or

a new housing unit that is constructed, managed, operated, developed, or subsidized by a local housing authority established under Division II of the Housing and Community Development Article.

If the test indicates that the meter is within the percentage tolerance limit set by the Commission under subsection (b)(1) of this section, the consumer shall pay the test fee.

If the test indicates that the meter is not within the percentage tolerance limit set by the Commission, the Commission shall refund the fee.

“Apartment house” means one or more buildings that each contain more than two dwelling units and in which all the dwelling units are occupied primarily for nontransient use with rent paid at intervals of 1 week or longer.

“Apartment house” includes a residential condominium or cooperative, whether the units are rented or owner occupied.

residential unit in an apartment house; or

commercial rental unit in an office building or shopping center.

by which an owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house, office building, or shopping center may install submetering equipment for each dwelling unit or commercial rental unit that is not individually metered for gas or electricity; and

to allocate fairly the cost of each unit’s gas or electrical consumption.

An owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house, office building, or shopping center who installs submetering equipment under this section to provide bulk metered service may not impose on a unit in the facility any utility cost except the charges that the Commission authorizes and that the gas company or electric company actually imposes on the owner, operator, or manager.

The charges imposed under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be allocated among the units in proportion to the actual usage of cubic feet or kilowatt hours by the unit.

The owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house, office building, or shopping center may collect an additional service charge not exceeding $1 per unit per month to cover administrative costs and billing.

The requirements of this paragraph do not apply to units constructed, managed, operated, developed, or subsidized by a local housing authority established under Division II of the Housing and Community Development Article.

If the owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house, office building, or shopping center installs submeters during the term of a lease or agreement that includes the cost of gas or electricity consumed for the unit, the owner, operator, or manager shall:

the regulations and standards that the Commission adopts for the accuracy, testing, and record keeping of meters that gas companies or electric companies install; and

the meter requirements of §§ 7-301 and 7-302 of this subtitle.

maintain adequate records regarding submetering; and

allow the occupant of the unit to inspect the records during reasonable business hours.

the landlord-tenant commission, if one exists, of the county or municipal corporation;

the consumer protection agency, if one exists, of the county or municipal corporation if there is not a landlord-tenant commission in the county or municipal corporation;

the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General, if there is not a consumer protection agency in the county or municipal corporation; or

any other State or local government unit or office designated to handle tenants’ complaints.

within 20 days for a residential customer or residential cooperative; or

within 15 days for any other customer.

The additional charge that is applied by a gas company or electric company under this subsection may not exceed 5% of the net bill or part of the bill.

Unless the Commission approves the imposition of different charges on different classes of customers, any additional charges applied by a gas company or electric company under this subsection shall be uniform for all customers.

generates electricity within existing piping or limited adjacent piping of a potable water supply system;

is owned or operated by a municipal corporation or public water authority; and

is designed to produce less energy than is consumed to operate the water supply system.

is located on the customer’s premises or contiguous property;

is interconnected and operated in parallel with an electric company’s transmission and distribution facilities; and

is intended primarily to offset all or part of the customer’s own electricity requirements.

includes integrated power plant systems containing a stack, tubular array, or other functionally similar configuration used to electrochemically convert fuel to electric energy; and

may include:

“Repowered” means a solar energy generating system owned by an eligible customer–generator or a community solar energy generating system that, through a single action or a series of actions, has had replaced more than 80% of the direct current nameplate capacity of the photovoltaic modules at the system as of the date the system was originally placed in service under this section.

“Repowered” does not include:

the date on which the rated generating capacity owned and operated by eligible customer–generators in the State reaches 3,000 megawatts; or

July 1, 2027.

the system:

the electric company in whose service territory the community solar energy generating system is located has not met the net energy metering capacity limit under paragraph (3)(i) of this subsection.

Subject to subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph, for an electric company with a 2025 annual peak demand of 2,500 megawatts or less, the net energy metering capacity limit for community solar energy generating systems that are placed in service in the electric company’s service territory on or after April 1, 2026, shall be 150% of the total combined rated generating capacity of community solar energy generating systems that had not been placed in service but hold queue positions in a community solar energy generating system program in the electric company’s service territory on April 1, 2026.

If the 150% net energy metering capacity limit established under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph in an electric company’s service territory is reached, the electric company shall:

A community solar energy generating system holding a queue position in a community solar energy generating system program in the electric company’s service territory that is placed in service on or after April 1, 2026, shall continue to count toward the 150% net energy metering capacity limit established under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.

If the Commission does not implement a successor program under § 7–306.4 of this subtitle by July 1, 2027, a community solar energy generating system that has not been placed in service by July 1, 2027, but meets the requirements of paragraph (2)(i)1 and (ii) of this subsection shall be eligible for net energy metering under this section if it is placed in service on or before 3 years after the date that the successor program is implemented.

The Commission may grant an extension to the deadlines under paragraph (2)(i) of this subsection and subparagraph (i) of this paragraph if the community solar energy generating system was unable to meet the deadline, including inability to meet the deadline due to any of the following reasons:

the system is decommissioned in accordance with § 7–218(g) of this title;

the system is modified to increase:

the system enters into a new interconnection agreement; or

the system is repowered.

A net energy metering contract or tariff may not include charges that would raise the eligible customer–generator’s minimum monthly charge above that of customers of the rate class to which the eligible customer–generator would otherwise be assigned.

Charges prohibited by this paragraph include new or additional demand charges, standby charges, customer charges, and minimum monthly charges.

An eligible customer–generator under paragraph (4) of this subsection may:

The electric company shall carry forward net excess generation until:

If an eligible customer–generator elects to accrue net excess generation for an indefinite period under subparagraph (i)2 of this paragraph:

The Commission shall establish a method for calculating the value of any accrued net excess generation that a customer–generator elects to accrue for an indefinite period under subparagraph (i)2 of this paragraph.

If an eligible customer–generator elects to accrue net excess generation under paragraph (5)(i)1 of this subsection, on or before 30 days after the billing cycle that is complete immediately prior to the end of April of each year, the electric company shall pay the eligible customer–generator for the dollar value of any accrued net excess generation remaining at the end of the previous 12–month period ending with the billing cycle that is complete immediately before the end of April.

Within 15 days after the date an eligible customer–generator that elects to accrue net excess generation under paragraph (5)(i)1 of this subsection closes the eligible customer–generator’s account, the electric company shall pay the eligible customer–generator for the dollar value of any accrued net excess generation remaining at the time the eligible customer–generator closes the account.

Notwithstanding paragraphs (5) and (6) of this subsection, an eligible customer–generator served by an electric cooperative that serves a population of less than 250,000 in its distribution territory may choose to be paid for the dollar value of net excess generation remaining at the end of each month instead of at the end of the accrual period specified under paragraph (5)(i)1 of this subsection.

If an eligible customer–generator chooses to be paid for the dollar value of net excess generation remaining at the end of each month:

install additional controls;

perform or pay for additional tests; or

purchase additional liability insurance.

the net metered solar energy generating facilities are intended to be used solely for the benefit of the local government;

the total capacity of the net metered solar energy generating facilities on the contiguous lots does not exceed 5 megawatts;

the contiguous lots were not subdivided for the purpose of circumventing the limit established under paragraph (1) of this subsection; and

the utility serving the net metered solar energy generating facilities is not an electric cooperative or municipal electric utility.

may accept payment from the customer–generator in connection with the contract; but

may not begin installation of the solar electric generating facility on the customer–generator’s property;

an approved application submitted under subsection (a)(1) of this section;

completion of the installation of the customer–generator’s solar electric generating facility and any required electric distribution system upgrades; and

completion of all necessary paperwork and documentation, including a signed interconnection agreement, certificate of completion, and an inspection certificate.

Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, an electric company shall issue acceptance and final approval to operate a customer–generator’s solar electric generating facility on the electric company’s distribution facilities within 20 business days after the completion of the installation process and receipt of the paperwork and documentation set forth in paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection.

An electric company shall complete the interconnection requirements under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph for at least 90% of installation processes completed during the year in the electric company’s service territory.

“Agrivoltaics” means the simultaneous use of areas of land:

“Agrivoltaics” does not include the simultaneous use of areas of land for both solar power generation and:

a subscriber’s accumulated electricity use in kilowatt–hours for the 12 months before the subscriber’s most recent subscription; or

for a subscriber that does not have a record of 12 months of electricity use at the time of the subscriber’s most recent subscription, an estimate of the subscriber’s accumulated 12 months of electricity use in kilowatt–hours, determined in a manner the Commission approves.

is connected to the electric distribution system serving the State;

is located in the same electric service territory as its subscribers;

is attached to the electric meter of a subscriber or is a separate facility with its own electric meter;

credits its generated electricity, or the value of its generated electricity, to the bills of the subscribers to that system through virtual net energy metering;

has at least two subscribers but no limit to the maximum number of subscribers;

does not have subscriptions larger than 200 kilowatts constituting more than 60% of its kilowatt–hour output;

has a generating capacity that does not exceed 5 megawatts as measured by the alternating current rating of the system’s inverter;

may be owned by any person; and

with respect to community solar energy generating systems constructed under the Program, serves at least 40% of its kilowatt–hour output to LMI subscribers unless the solar energy system is wholly owned by the subscribers to the solar energy system.

include the monthly subscription charge of a subscriber organization or subscription coordinator on the monthly bills rendered by the electric company for electric service and supply to subscribers; and

remit payment for those charges to the subscriber organization or subscription coordinator.

is low–income;

is moderate–income; or

resides in a census tract that is:

having an annual household income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level; or

being certified as eligible for any federal, State, or local assistance program that limits participation to households whose income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

the pilot program queue an electric company is required to maintain under COMAR 20.62.03.04; and

a queue an electric company may be required to maintain under the Program.

holds a subscription to a community solar energy generating system; and

has identified one or more individual meters or accounts to which the subscription shall be attributed.

a person that owns or operates a community solar energy generating system; or

the collective group of subscribers of a community solar energy generating system.

markets community solar energy generating systems or otherwise provides services related to community solar energy generating systems under its own brand name;

performs any administrative action to allocate subscriptions, connect subscribers with community solar energy generating systems, or enroll customers in the Program; or

manages interactions between a subscriber organization and an electric company or electricity supplier relating to subscribers.

provide residents and businesses, including those that lease property, increased access to local solar electricity while encouraging private investment in solar resources;

enhance continued diversification of the State’s energy resource mix to achieve the State’s renewable energy portfolio standard and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act goals; and

provide electric companies and ratepayers the opportunity to realize the many benefits associated with distributed energy; and

allow renters and low–income and moderate–income retail electric customers to own an interest in a community solar energy generating system;

facilitate market entry for all potential subscribers while giving priority to subscribers who are the most sensitive to market barriers; and

encourage developers to promote participation by renters and low–income and moderate–income retail electric customers.

the generating capacity of the community solar energy generating system does not exceed 2 megawatts; or

the community solar energy generating system is located on the rooftop of a building.

The Commission shall establish and maintain a Community Solar Energy Generating Systems Program.

The structure of the Program is as provided in this subsection.

determine how to allocate subscriptions to subscribers; and

notify an electric company and, if applicable, a relevant electricity supplier about the allocation of subscriptions in accordance with the regulations the Commission adopts under subsection (e) of this section.

receive credit for virtual net excess generation; and

accrue virtual net excess generation in the same manner as an eligible customer–generator under § 7–306(f) of this subtitle.

Any unsubscribed energy generated by a community solar energy generating system that is not owned by an electric company shall create banked bill credits tracked by the electric company that, within 1 year after the date that the banked bill credit was created, may be allocated to one or more subscribers by the subscriber organization or subscription coordinator associated with the community solar energy generating system.

The generation associated with a banked bill credit not allocated to a subscriber within 1 year after the date that the banked bill credit was created shall be purchased under the electric company’s process for purchasing the output from qualifying facilities at the amount it would have cost the electric company to procure the energy.

Except as provided in subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph, a community solar energy generating system may not be located on the same or an adjacent parcel of land as an existing or proposed community solar energy generating system if the total installed capacity of all community solar energy generating systems on the same or adjacent parcel would exceed 5 megawatts.

The prohibition under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph does not apply to projects constructed:

The prohibition under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph does not apply to projects constructed in any location if the combined capacity of all community solar energy generating systems does not exceed:

An electric company may require a reasonable fee for subscriber organizations or subscription coordinators that use consolidated billing.

The fee under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph may not exceed 1% of the bill credit value to the subscriber unless the Commission determines a higher fee is just and reasonable based on substantial evidence presented by the electric company.

An electric company may adjust the fee under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph not more than once per year.

The fee for consolidated billing assessed to a subscriber organization or subscription coordinator may not exceed the fee that was in effect when the subscriber organization or subscription coordinator elected for the community solar energy generating system represented by the subscriber organization or subscription coordinator to participate in consolidated billing.

the date of submission of the first petition of a subscriber organization under paragraph (10) of this subsection after the Commission adopts the regulations required under subsection (f) of this section; or

6 months after the Commission adopts those regulations.

remove all Program categories, project generating capacity limits, yearly programmatic and electric company–specific capacity limits, and sunset dates so that the total number and capacity of community solar energy generating systems is subject only to the overall limitation for all net metering projects established under § 7–306(d) of this subtitle;

authorize all community solar energy generating systems, including those constructed during the pilot program, to operate and generate subscription credits until the community solar energy generating system is decommissioned;

adjust co–location restrictions to comply with subsection (d)(13) of this section;

allow a subscriber organization or subscription coordinator to verify the income of a prospective subscriber for eligibility as an LMI subscriber under the Program by using one of the following methods:

require all electric companies to use:

establish procedures for the Commission to:

implement consolidated billing by electric companies that must be in effect by January 1, 2026, including protocols for purchase of receivables or net crediting;

require all electric companies to report billing and crediting errors to the Commission on a regular schedule;

impose specific timing requirements for application of bill credits to subscriber bills and application of rollover credits;

implement data exchange protocols for electric companies, subscriber organizations, and subscription coordinators, including required data fields for electric company allocation reports;

for subscribers enrolled in budget billing, require electric companies to apply community solar credits to the monthly amount due rather than the underlying balance;

require all electric companies to show applied and banked credits on each bill rendered to a subscriber; and

implement any additional changes the Commission determines will improve billing and crediting processes for subscribers, subscriber organizations, and subscription coordinators.

This paragraph applies to electric companies, electric cooperatives, and municipal utilities that participate in the Program.

A subscriber who has a change in the service address associated with the subscriber’s subscription may maintain the subscription for the new address if the new address is within the same electric territory as the old address.

An electric company or a subscriber organization may not terminate a subscriber’s subscription due to a change of address for the service address associated with the subscription if the requirements under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph are met.

An electric company shall make any changes necessary to accommodate a subscriber’s change of address on notification by a subscriber organization.

a subscriber organization may continue the operation of a community solar energy generating system that began operation during the pilot program, including the creation and trading of subscriptions; and

in accordance with the tariffs established under subsections (e)(2), (f)(2), and (g)(2) of this section, an electric company shall continue to facilitate the operation of a community solar energy generating system that began operation during the pilot program.

A subscriber organization or subscription coordinator may not require an LMI subscriber to undergo a credit check or pay a sign–up fee to subscribe to a community solar energy generating system.

A subscriber organization or subscription coordinator shall:

A community solar energy generating system constructed under the pilot program in a category requiring that at least 30% of its kilowatt–hour output serve low–income or moderate–income subscribers shall continue to serve at least 30% of its kilowatt–hour output to low–income or moderate–income subscribers.

A community solar energy generating system constructed under the pilot program in a category requiring that at least 51% of its kilowatt–hour output serve low–income or moderate–income subscribers shall continue to serve at least 51% of its kilowatt–hour output to low–income or moderate–income subscribers.

a residential subscriber who is not participating in consolidated billing a subscription rate that is more than the monetary value of the bill credit on a bill issued by the electric company to the subscriber for electric service; or

an LMI subscriber a subscription rate that is more than 90% of the monetary value of the bill credit on a bill issued by the electric company to the subscriber for electric service.

uses electrical service for agriculture;

is a nonprofit organization;

is a municipal or county government, or an organization affiliated with the municipal or county government;

is a unit of State government; or

is a public senior higher education institution, as defined in § 10–101 of the Education Article.

the circumstances under which service may and may not be limited or terminated;

the minimum heating levels required to maintain life, health, and safety;

the medical, age, disabling, or other individual characteristics that are relevant to a prohibition against or limitation on the termination of service;

the availability of and qualification for State and federal energy assistance;

the financial eligibility standards relevant to a prohibition against or limitation on the termination of service;

the availability and appropriateness of equipment designed to limit the flow of service for gas or electricity;

the short-term and long-term alternative payment plans, for appropriate customers whose accounts are in arrears, that are best designed:

the methods that a public service company might use before and during the heating season to anticipate customer nonpayment, to assist those customers, and to avoid termination of service;

the procedures that a public service company uses to mitigate the problems of termination of service to customers, including customer contact;

the procedure that a public service company shall follow before termination of service to a customer to avoid a threat to life, health, or safety;

the appropriate customer notice before the termination of service;

the appropriate opportunity and procedure for a customer to contest a proposed termination of service;

the existence of other circumstances that because of an emergency, might justify a prohibition against or a limitation on the termination of service; and

the economic implication of any restriction on termination of service.

income levels;

geographic areas;

energy assistance recipients; and

any other category that the Commission determines is relevant to evaluate how the State may best address the problem of assuring adequate gas and electric service for low income residential customers.

employed by the federal or State government or a local government in the State; and

involuntarily furloughed from work without pay because of a government shutdown, regardless of whether the employee is required to report to work during the furlough.

occurs when government funding is unavailable to operate the governmental activities due to the lack of a legislative appropriation or a continuing resolution; and

lasts for a period that exceeds 7 consecutive days.

is in the landlord’s name;

is delivered through a single meter to a single dwelling unit; and

does not use a master meter.

has a valid oral or written lease to reside in the affected dwelling unit; and

is not a co–occupant with the landlord in the affected dwelling unit.

provides gas or electric service; and

is regulated by the Commission.

the earliest date that service will be terminated; and

the telephone number the tenant may call to obtain further information;

retail electric and gas choice; and

energy choices that help meet the State’s climate commitments under § 7–319 of this subtitle and § 2–1204.2 of the Environment Article;

the assessments collected in accordance with § 2–110 of this article; or

funds deposited into the Education and Protection Fund in accordance with § 7–310 of this subtitle.

is installed to a meter inlet to control the gas pressure being introduced into a structure; and

includes a relief valve to vent excess gas to the outside atmosphere if the pressure of the regulated gas exceeds a specified pressure.

an apartment house;

a boarding house;

a convent;

a dormitory;

a fraternity or sorority house;

a hotel or motel;

a monastery;

a vacation time–share property;

a condominium, as defined in § 11–101 of the Real Property Article; and

a cooperative project, as defined in § 5–6B–01 of the Corporations and Associations Article.

On or before January 1, 2023, the Commission shall issue a final order approving or disapproving a gas company’s plan submitted under paragraph (3) of this subsection to relocate any gas service regulator after considering:

whether granting the exemption is consistent with the public interest;

conflicts with federal, State, or local laws or regulations;

physical obstructions or space constraints;

any other factor identified by the Commission; and

whether the gas company has:

an electricity supplier that supplies electricity to residential retail electric customers;

a gas supplier that supplies gas to residential retail gas customers;

an energy salesperson; and

an energy vendor.

the Department of General Services when the Department of General Services sells energy under § 7–704.4 of this title;

a community choice aggregator under § 7–510.3 of this title;

an electricity supplier when supplying electricity to commercial retail electric customers; or

a gas supplier that supplies gas to commercial retail gas customers.

in a prominent location;

using at least a certain minimum font size; and

in a format approved by the Commission; and

be made to the Commission in writing on a form adopted by the Commission;

be verified by oath or affirmation; and

contain information that the Commission requires, including:

The term of an energy salesperson license is 3 years.

The terms of licenses may be staggered as determined by the Commission.

Subject to subparagraph (v) of this paragraph, unless a license is renewed for a 3–year term in accordance with this subsection, the license expires on the date that the Commission sets.

A licensee may renew a license for a 3–year term before the license expires if the licensee:

A licensee may continue to provide services as an energy salesperson after the licensee’s license expires if the licensee’s renewal application is submitted to the Commission before the license expires.

be made to the Commission in writing on a form adopted by the Commission;

be verified by oath or affirmation; and

contain information that the Commission requires, including payment of the applicable licensing fee.

The term of an energy vendor license is 3 years.

The terms of licenses may be staggered as determined by the Commission.

Unless a license is renewed for a 3–year term in accordance with this subsection, the license expires on the date that the Commission sets.

A licensee may renew a license for a 3–year term before the license expires if the licensee:

one representative of the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust;

one representative of the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative;

one representative of Maryland Energy Efficiency Advocates;

one member who is an expert in public health;

one member from a community concerned with environmental justice;

one member who owns or develops affordable housing;

one member who has received assistance from a low–income program that delivers energy efficiency measures; and

other members as determined by the chair of the Task Force.

obtain the electric company’s approval before installing or using the portable solar energy generating system;

pay any fee or charge related to the portable solar energy generating system’s ability to feed electricity back into the electric system; or

except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, install any additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the portable solar energy generating system; and