<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" citation="COMAR 20.40.02.01" title_num="20" subtitle_num="40" chapter_num="02" heading="Prohibited Utility Conduct with Affiliate.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>This regulation does not apply to the practice of a utility holding company advertising companies within the utility holding company corporate family.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Services Generally. A utility may not:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Represent to a customer or potential customer that any advantage or superior service will accrue because of the relationship between the utility and a core service affiliate or non-core service affiliate;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Give any preference to a core service affiliate, or non-core service affiliate, or a customer of either in providing regulated utility service;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Condition or tie the provision of regulated utility service to any other product or service;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Except as provided in Regulation .02 of this chapter, engage in promotions, marketing, or advertising with a core or non-core service affiliate;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Except with the informed consent of the customer and in compliance with the Commission's consumer protection regulations, disclose any customer-specific information obtained in connection with the provision of regulated utility service;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Offer discounts, rebates, fee waivers, penalty waivers, or other special provisions for a tariff service to an affiliate or a customer of an affiliate, unless it makes the offer available to all similarly situated persons, and makes the offer in a manner designed to allow all an equal ability to utilize the offering;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Except as provided in Regulation .02 of this chapter, market or promote its standard offer service;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Provide sales leads to its core or non-core service affiliate; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Circumvent the provisions of this subtitle through the use of an affiliate as a conduit between the utility and its core service affiliate.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Core Service. A utility may not:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Initiate a joint sales call with its core service affiliate, except when requested by a customer or when the customer has a contractual relationship with the utility and its core service affiliate;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Operate from the same physical location used by a core service affiliate;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Share core service information with a core service affiliate that could provide a competitive advantage in a discriminatory manner;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Unless a utility has sufficient safeguards in place to prevent a core service employee from gaining access to utility information that it is prohibited from sharing under this subtitle, share electronic databases or electronic files with its core service affiliate; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Speak or appear to speak on behalf of its core service affiliate.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>