# Public Utilities (GPU)

## Title 7. Gas, Electric, and Water Companies

### Subtitle 3. Consumer Relations

#### Section 7-307.4

(a)

  (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

  (2) "Eligible residential customer" means a residential electric or gas customer who is:

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

    (ii) 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.

  (3) "Government shutdown" means a government shutdown that:

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

    (ii) lasts for a period that exceeds 7 consecutive days.

(b) A public service company may not terminate electric or gas service to an eligible residential customer for nonpayment on a day that a government shutdown is in effect and for 7 days after the government shutdown has ended if the customer contacts the public service company before the date of termination to:

  (1) provide verification that the customer is an employee of the federal, State, or local government affected by the government shutdown; and

  (2) enter into a payment plan to pay any outstanding amount on the customer's account after the government shutdown ends.

(c) The Commission may adopt regulations to implement this section.

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Md. Code Ann., Pub. Util. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)