<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" citation="COMAR 07.03.25.08" title_num="07" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="25" heading="Arrearage Retirement.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Subject to Regulations .03—.05 of this chapter and the availability of funds, the Office may issue benefits for arrearage retirement to an electric and/or gas company in an applicant’s service area on behalf of an eligible applicant who owes an outstanding arrearage to the electric and/or gas company for service.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Arrearage retirement benefits:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Are available once every 7 years for past due bills greater than $300 and up to $2,000;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Shall be issued to assist an eligible electric and/or gas customer maintain or reestablish electric and/or gas service; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Are limited to arrearages owed to the applicant’s electric and/or gas company for service arrearages the applicant incurred, prior to the current monthly bill and which had been verified by the applicant’s electric and/or gas company during the application process.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The Office will grant waivers to allow households with a household member who is at least 65 years of age, under the age of 2, and/or medically fragile who received $800 or less within the previous 7 years to apply for additional arrearage funds, not to exceed the maximum allowable arrearage amount of $2,000.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The Office shall allow the applicant or navigator to review arrearage information provided by the applicant’s electric company during the application process.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Delivery of Arrearage Retirement Benefits. The Office shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Issue the arrearage retirement benefits within the minimum and the maximum amount; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Make a benefit payment on behalf of the applicant.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Amount of Benefits. Benefit levels for arrearage retirement shall be based on the applicant’s arrearage balance with a minimum and maximum amount, subject to §§A—E of this regulation, verified by the applicant’s electric and/or gas company.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Disputes Regarding Arrearage Data.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The local agency shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Forward an applicant dispute regarding arrearage data supplied by the applicant’s electric and/or gas company to the Public Service Commission for resolution; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Continue the application and payment process pending the Public Service Commission’s notification of the dispute resolution.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In disputed cases, the payment amount the local agency makes for the applicant’s arrearage retirement shall be the amount specified by the applicant’s electric company.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Following resolution of the dispute, the applicant’s electric and/or gas company shall refund to the local agency benefits received on behalf of the applicant in excess of the amount the Public Service Commission determines to be correct.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>