<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" citation="COMAR 20.62.05.08" title_num="20" subtitle_num="62" chapter_num="05" heading="Contracts for Customer Subscription in a Community Solar Energy Generation System.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Minimum Contract Requirements.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A subscribing organization’s subscription contract shall contain all material terms and conditions, including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A plain language disclosure of the subscription, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The terms under which the pricing will be calculated over the life of the contract and a good faith estimate of the subscription price expressed as a flat monthly rate or on a per-kilowatt-hour basis; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Whether any charges may increase during the course of service, and, if so, how much advance notice is provided to the subscriber;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Contract provisions regulating the disposition or transfer of a subscription to the CSEGS, as well as the costs or potential costs associated with such a disposition or transfer;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>All nonrecurring (one-time) charges;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>All recurring (monthly, yearly) charges;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A statement of contract duration, including the initial time period and any rollover provision;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Terms and conditions for early termination, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Any penalties that the subscriber organization may charge to the subscriber; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The process for unsubscribing and any associated costs;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>If a security deposit is required:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The amount of the security deposit;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>A description of when and under what circumstances the security deposit will be returned;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>A description of how the security deposit may be used; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>A description of how the security deposit will be protected;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>A description of any fee or charge and the circumstances under which a customer may incur a fee or charge;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>A statement that the subscriber organization may terminate the contract early, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Circumstances under which early cancellation by the subscriber organization may occur;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Manner in which the subscriber organization shall notify the customer of the early cancellation of the contract;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Duration of the notice period before early cancellation; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Remedies available to the customer if early cancellation occurs;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>A statement that the customer may terminate the contract early, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Circumstances under which early cancellation by the customer may occur;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Manner in which the customer shall notify the subscriber organization of the early cancellation of the contract;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Duration of the notice period before early cancellation;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Remedies available to the subscriber organization if early cancellation occurs; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Amount of any early cancellation fee;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(k)">
        <text>A statement describing contract renewal procedures, if any;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(l)">
        <text>A dispute procedure;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(m)">
        <text>The Commission’s toll-free number and Internet address;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(n)">
        <text>A notice that the contract does not include utility charges;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(o)">
        <text>A billing procedure description;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(p)">
        <text>The data privacy policies of the subscriber organization;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(q)">
        <text>A description of any compensation to be paid for underperformance;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(r)">
        <text>Evidence of insurance;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(s)">
        <text>A long-term maintenance plan;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(t)">
        <text>Current production projections and a description of the methodology used to develop production projections;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(u)">
        <text>Contact information for the subscriber organization for questions and complaints;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(v)">
        <text>A statement that the subscriber organization and electric company do not make representations or warranties concerning the tax implications of any bill credits provided to the subscriber;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(w)">
        <text>The method of providing notice to the subscribers when the CSEGS is out of service for more than 3 business days, including notice of:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The estimated duration of the outage; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The estimated production that will be lost due to the outage;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(x)">
        <text>An explanation of how unsubscribed production of the CSEGS will be allocated; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(y)">
        <text>Any other terms and conditions of service.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A residential customer may downsize the allocation of solar kilowatt hours under an existing CSEGS Subscription.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A subscriber organization may charge or collect no more than a reasonable fee for the downsizing of a subscriber’s allocation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A subscription coordinator may not charge or collect a termination fee for the downsizing or cancellation of a subscriber’s allocation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>A subscription coordinator may only enroll subscribers in CSEGS contracts that guarantee financial savings for the subscriber.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Methods of Contracting.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A subscriber organization may not subscribe a residential customer using a process that does not require the customer’s consent.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A subscriber organization that contracts with a customer by means of the Internet shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Confirm the identity of the person making the contract;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Comply with applicable Maryland and federal law; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Take appropriate steps to safeguard customer privacy.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A subscriber organization that sends a contract over the Internet to a valid email address of the contracting customer is considered to have complied with §B(2)(a) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Evergreen Contracts.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A subscriber organization shall provide a customer with a notice of the pending renewal of an evergreen contract 30 days before the automatic renewal is scheduled to occur.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The subscriber organization notice required under §C(1) of this regulation shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Provide a clearly stated and highlighted notice to a customer of any changes in the material terms and conditions of the agreement; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Inform the customer how to terminate the contract without penalty.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>