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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 20.31.01.02" title_num="20" subtitle_num="31" chapter_num="01" heading="Definitions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Terms Defined.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Certified nurse practitioner” means an individual certified by the State Board of Nursing under COMAR 10.27.07.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Commission” means the Public Service Commission of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Customer” means a person receiving service from a utility, in whose name the account is maintained, for use in the premises.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Disputed bill” means a bill which is the subject of a bona fide controversy between a customer and the utility regarding any billing error, including, but not limited to, matters such as errors in computation, failure of the bill to reflect a payment or other credit, and billing for service which the customer alleges was not used or was used by another person.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Dwelling unit” means a room or rooms suitable for occupancy as a residence containing sanitary or kitchen facilities.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Elderly” means an individual 65 years old or older.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“Equipment” means any device or apparatus, including piping, electrical wires, and meters, which is used by a utility to provide service to a customer or used by a customer to receive service from a utility.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“EUSP” means Electric Universal Service Program established under Public Utilities Article, §7-512.1, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Extreme weather period” has the following two meanings:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Winter extreme weather period” means a period of 72 hours beginning at 6 a.m. on any given day comprised of three consecutive 24-hour segments during any one of which the temperature, as forecast, is not expected to exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit during the segments. Determination of the possible existence of a winter extreme weather period must be repeated every 24 hours at 6 a.m.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Summer extreme weather period” means a period of 72 hours beginning at 6 a.m. on any given day comprised of three consecutive 24-hour segments during any one of which the heat index, as forecast, is expected to be 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above, or the air temperature, as forecast, is expected to be 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above during the segments. Determination of the possible existence of a summer extreme weather period must be repeated every 24 hours at 6 a.m.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Handicapped” means an individual who:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Has any physical disability or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of the individual's life activities; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Is:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Receiving disability insurance payments from a government agency that requires certification of the disability, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Certified as being physically disabled by a licensed physician or mentally impaired by a licensed psychiatrist or registered psychologist.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>“Heat index” means the temperature when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature as calculated by the U.S. National Weather Service. Forecasts, calculation tables, and other material related to the calculation of Heat Index values are available on the National Weather Service website.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>“Life-support equipment” means any electric or gas energy-using device certified by a licensed physician, certified nurse practitioner, or physician assistant as being essential to prevent, or to provide relief from, a serious illness or to sustain the life of the customer or an occupant of the premises.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>“Local government” has the meaning stated in State Government Article, §11-101(g), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>Master-Metered Building.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>“Master-metered building” means, for purposes of COMAR 20.31.01, 20.31.02, and 20.31.03, a building with four or more dwelling units, where the customer buys electricity or gas from the utility and provides it to the occupants in the building either as a part of a rental agreement or lease, condominium fee, or other charge, or as charged under the authority of Public Utilities Article, §7-303, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>“Master-metered building” does not include transient facilities.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(15)">
      <text>“Occupant” means any individual who has a legal right to reside in the premises.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(16)">
      <text>“Person” has the meaning stated in Public Utilities Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(17)">
      <text>“Physician assistant” means an individual who is licensed under Health Occupations Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland, to practice medicine with physician supervision.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(18)">
      <text>“Premises” means a building, or portion of a building, that is receiving service from a utility for use in a dwelling unit or units.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(19)">
      <text>“Serious illness” means an illness certifiable by a licensed physician, certified nurse practitioner, or physician assistant to be such that termination of service during the period of time covered by the certificate would be especially dangerous to the health of the person certified to be seriously ill.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(20)">
      <text>“Service” means providing electricity or gas, or both, to a premises.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(21)">
      <text>“Termination” means to discontinue electric, gas, or electric and gas service to a premises by a utility.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(22)">
      <text>“Third person” means an individual, organization, or government agency designated by the customer to receive notices of termination.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(23)">
      <text>“USPP” means Utility Service Protection Program, established under COMAR 20.31.05.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(24)">
      <text>“Utility” has the same meaning as the terms “electric company” and “gas company” as defined by Public Utilities Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland, and includes a combination electric and gas company.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>