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<chapter num="09" heading="Issuance, Format, and Content of Bills for Supplier-Consolidated Billing" title_num="20" subtitle_num="59">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Scope.">
    <text>This section applies to suppliers licensed to issue supplier-consolidated bills.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Bill Content.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Bills shall include accurate and understandable information.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The supplier shall, at a minimum, include the following information on the bill:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The supplier’s name, address, website address, and license number;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The supplier’s toll-free telephone number and the hours the customer may make billing inquiries;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>The Commission’s toll-free telephone number and website address;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>The customer’s name, billing address, service address;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>The customer’s utility account number;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>The customer’s retail choice identification number, if applicable;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>The supplier account number if applicable;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(8)">
        <text>The service period for which the bill is rendered;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(9)">
        <text>The date on which the bill was issued;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(10)">
        <text>The meter number;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(11)">
        <text>The next meter reading date;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(12)">
        <text>The identification of regulated and nonregulated charges;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(13)">
        <text>The identification and itemization of noncommodity charges if sold separately from the commodity;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(14)">
        <text>Current gas charges pursuant to the supplier’s contract with the customer, labeled “current charges” and which include:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>If the supplier provides both gas and electric service to the customer, the supplier’s current electric charges, which shall be separated from gas charges if these charges appear on the same bill;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>To the extent applicable, an itemization of each charge, including the unit price for supply service, charges other than for gas service, applicable taxes and fees, and any other charges pursuant to the supplier’s contract with the customer;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Applicable billing determinants, such as beginning meter read, ending meter read, demand meter read, consumption, demand, meter reading date, and any conversion from meter reading units to billing units; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>A distinct marking to identify an estimated bill;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(15)">
        <text>Identification of transmission charges or a statement that the transmission charges are included within the supply charges;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(16)">
        <text>If the customer is on a budget billing plan with the supplier, the payment due under the plan, which shall be clearly shown in addition to the current charges;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(17)">
        <text>An itemization and amount of any nonrecurring charge, including late payment charges, returned check fees, or other fees pursuant to the supplier’s contract with the customer;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(18)">
        <text>If the charge is a late payment charge:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>An explanation of the calculation; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>The date of applicability of the late payment charge;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(19)">
        <text>Information received from the utility regarding the customer’s regulated gas utility charges including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Those prescribed in COMAR 20.55.04.03 with the exception of COMAR 20.55.04.03A(6)—(8);</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Universal service program charges;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>Customer charges;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(d)">
          <text>Taxes and fees;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(e)">
          <text>The utility’s toll-free telephone number that the customer may call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to report gas outages, leaks, odors, and concerns about the safety of the gas system, which shall be prominently displayed on the first page of the bill;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(f)">
          <text>The utility’s phone numbers necessary for the customer to make other inquiries, as necessary, unrelated to the utilities bill or outage and safety concerns;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(g)">
          <text>The utility’s correspondence address;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(h)">
          <text>The utility’s website; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Other information as the Commission may require;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(20)">
        <text>All surcharges and fees required by the Comptroller, Commission, and utilities;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(21)">
        <text>The total due, broken down by total utility and supply charges, including any prior unpaid amount but excluding the current late payment charge;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(22)">
        <text>The previous amount due to the supplier;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(23)">
        <text>The date by which payment from the customer must be received by the supplier to avoid a late payment charge;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(24)">
        <text>Information on how, and to whom, the customer may make payments;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(25)">
        <text>For a variable price product, information on how the customer may access the customer’s price for the next billing cycle in accordance with COMAR 20.59.07.13;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(26)">
        <text>Bill inserts as directed by the Commission;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(27)">
        <text>Information regarding:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>The utility’s supply price comparison information; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>The contract expiration date; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(28)">
        <text>Any other information as required by a governmental entity.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>A supplier may not be required to print a utility’s billing addresses as prescribed under COMAR 20.55.04.03A(11).</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Online Bills. A supplier issuing supplier-consolidated bills online shall comply with the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Supplier will obtain from the customer consent to use online billing;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The online billing statement shall include the requirements in §B of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>The supplier shall maintain a secure and encrypted site for accessing the customer’s account;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Any fees to accept online payments shall be clearly disclosed in a payment window; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>Any payment made online shall be credited to the customer’s account as of the day it is received by the supplier, and the time needed to post the payment shall be clearly stated.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </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: March 7, 2022 (49:5 Md. R. 367)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>