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<chapter num="03" heading="Electricity Supplier License Requirements" title_num="20" subtitle_num="51">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Licensee's Updated Information.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, a material change means one or more of the following conditions:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>PJM Interconnection, LLC has reduced the licensee's unsecured credit allowance to a level below $2,000,000.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The licensee is denied credit by a Maryland electric company.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>At least two of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations have reduced the licensee's rating by two or more grades, or to a level below investment grade.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>The licensee has filed for bankruptcy protection or been subjected to involuntary bankruptcy proceedings.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>The licensee has had a license revoked, suspended, or restricted in another state.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>A parent corporation or other person who has undertaken to guarantee the licensee's financial integrity withdraws the guarantee.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>In addition to any of the conditions under §A(1)—(6) of this regulation, if a supplier provides supplier-consolidated billing, a material change includes:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>The transfer of supplier-consolidated billing services from a supplier to a third-party agent;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>The transfer of supplier-consolidated billing services from one third-party agent to another third-party agent; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Cancellation of the bonding or collateral for supplier-consolidated billing required under COMAR 20.51.02.08G.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Within 10 business days of a material change, a licensed electricity supplier shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Update or supplement the information required in the application under COMAR 20.51.02.02B(1), (4), and (5) and COMAR 20.51.02.02E; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>File a copy of the updated or supplemental information with the Commission.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Except for information pertaining to the financial integrity of the licensee, a licensee shall provide to the Commission annual updates of the information required in the application under COMAR 20.51.02. The annual update required by this section shall be filed within 120 days of the close of the fiscal year of the licensee.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>A licensed electricity supplier shall provide additional information as may be required by the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Required Filing — Electric Company Service Agreement.">
    <text>An electricity supplier shall file with the Commission a copy of every service agreement entered into with an electric company within 10 business days of the execution of the agreement.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Requirement — Collection of Prepayment or Deposit.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>An applicant who intends to collect or an electricity supplier who collects a deposit or prepayment for electric supply from a customer shall post a bond as required under this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The initial bond requirement for an applicant or electricity supplier who intends to collect a deposit or prepayment from a customer shall be $50,000.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Six months after the posting of the initial bond, or when the supplier's amount of deposits or prepayments exceeds its initial bond required by this regulation, whichever is earlier, an electricity supplier shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Conduct an audit, performed by an independent certified public accountant or a Commission auditor;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>If an independent certified public accountant is used, provide a copy to the Commission; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Comply with the bonding requirements in §§D and E of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Except as provided in §B of this regulation, the bond required under §A of this regulation shall equal or exceed the total amount of any deposits or prepayments an electricity supplier collects.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>In calculating the bonding requirement under §D of this regulation, prepayments or deposits do not include funds:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Collected from a customer whose metered demand is expected to or does exceed 1 MW during any month of the previous 12-month period; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Received in advance of service from a customer who voluntarily participates in a billing plan under which the customer's electric costs are averaged over a period of time.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>The bond required by §A of this regulation shall be obtained from a company licensed in the State to write surety types of insurance.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Form of Bond.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The bond required by COMAR 20.51.02.08 or Regulation .03 of this chapter shall be in the form required by the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The bond required by Regulation .03 of this chapter shall at a minimum:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Identify the Maryland Public Service Commission as the sole beneficiary;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Be continuous and subject to cancellation only after 60 days notice to the Commission;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Be in the amount determined under Regulation .03 of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Contain the following language or similar language acceptable to the Commission: “Payment under this bond shall be due in the event the Commission determines that the (electricity supplier name) is financially insolvent or unable to meet their obligations as a licensed electricity supplier in Maryland”; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>Permit the Commission to direct that the proceeds of the bond be paid or disbursed.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Electricity Supplier License — Cessation of Business.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A licensee shall provide 60 days prior written notice to the Commission and to the administrators appointed under COMAR 20.61.06.09 of an intention to cease providing services to all customers in:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The State;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>A specified electric company service area;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>A specified customer class; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>A specified type of billing.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Following receipt of the notice required by §A of this regulation, the Commission may require the licensee to provide notice to the public and take other appropriate action.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>If a supplier ceases providing a particular type of billing service, notice to customers, at a minimum, shall specify the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>That the supplier will no longer provide the specific type of billing service to customers in the State, service territory, or to a customer class, as applicable;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The billing method to which the customer will be subject after the supplier ceases to offer the current billing method it was providing; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>The date on which the customers current billing service will cease and the new billing service will begin.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>If a supplier that is ceasing a specific type of billing service intends to retain a customer on a different billing model, the supplier shall follow COMAR 20.53.05.08.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="License Revocation or Suspension.">
    <text>The Commission may revoke or suspend a license, if a licensee:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Intentionally provides false information;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Switches, or causes to be switched, the electricity supply for a customer without first obtaining the customer's permission;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Fails to provide electricity for its customers;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Commits fraud or engages in deceptive practices;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>Fails to maintain financial integrity;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>Violates any applicable provision of this title;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="G.">
      <text>Violates a Commission Order;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="H.">
      <text>Fails to comply with State or local tax laws;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="I.">
      <text>Violates any applicable provision of the Public Utilities Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, or any other State consumer protection law;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="J.">
      <text>Is convicted of, or has a principal who is convicted of, a felony or any crime involving fraud, theft, or deceit; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="K.">
      <text>Has a similar license issued by another state or the federal government suspended or revoked.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" heading="Enforcement.">
    <text>The Commission may enforce the regulations in this subtitle under the provisions of Public Utilities Article, §7-507, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Public Utilities Article, §§2-113, 2-121, and 7-507, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: September 1, 2003 (30:17 Md. R. 1204)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01 amended effective April 11, 2005 (32:7 Md. R. 683)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01A, B amended effective March 7, 2022 (49:5 Md. R. 366)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03C amended effective March 7, 2022 (49:5 Md. R. 366)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .05A amended effective September 15, 2014 (41:18 Md. R. 1010); March 7, 2022 (49:5 Md. R. 366)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .05C, D adopted effective March 7, 2022 (49:5 Md. R. 366)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>