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<chapter num="03" heading="Gas Supplier License Requirements" title_num="20" subtitle_num="54">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Licensee's Updated Information.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Material Changes.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Within 30 days of a material change, a licensed gas supplier shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Update or supplement the information required in the application under COMAR 20.54.02.02 B(1), (4), (5), and (8) and COMAR 20.54.02.02C; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>File a copy of the updated or supplemental information with the Commission.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>A supplier providing supplier-consolidated billing shall, in addition to §A(1) of this regulation, also update or supplement the following material changes:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>The transfer of the conduct of supplier-consolidated billing services from the 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>The cancellation of the bond or collateral guaranteeing protection of customers participating in supplier-consolidated billing required under COMAR 20.54.02.08C.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A licensee shall provide to the Commission annual updates of the information required in the application under COMAR 20.51.02, including the information provided under §A of this regulation. 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="C.">
      <text>A licensed gas supplier shall provide additional information as may be required by the Commission.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Required Filing — Gas Company Service Agreement.">
    <text>A gas supplier shall file with the Commission a copy of every service agreement entered into with a gas 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 a gas supplier who collects a deposit or prepayment for gas 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 gas 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 amount of deposits or prepayments exceed the initial bond required by this regulation, whichever is earlier, a gas 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 a gas 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 use is expected to or does exceed 625 dekatherms during any month of the previous 12-month period; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Received in advance of service from a customer that 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 20.54.02.08 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 (gas supplier name) is financially insolvent or unable to meet their obligations as a licensed gas 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="Gas Supplier License — Cessation of Business.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A licensee shall provide 60 days prior written notice to the Commission of an intention to cease providing service in the State to all customers:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>In a specified gas company service area;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Within a specified customer class; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <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 customer's current billing service will cease and the new billing service will begin.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>If the 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 20.59.05.06.</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 gas supply for a customer without first obtaining the customer's permission;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Fails to provide gas 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 Public Utilities Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, or any State or federal 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, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Public Utilities Article, §§2-113, 2-121, 5-101, 7-507, 7-511, and 7-601—7-606, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: August 18, 2003 (30:16 Md. R. 1076)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01A amended effective March 7, 2022 (49:5 Md. R. 367)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03C amended effective March 7, 2022 (49:5 Md. R. 367)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .05A amended effective March 7, 2022 (49:5 Md. R. 367)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .05C, D adopted effective March 7, 2022 (49:5 Md. R. 367)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>