The Public Utilities Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, provides that the Commission shall have the power to make such reasonable regulations as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this law and any other law relating to the Commission. Application. These regulations apply to any water utility operating within the State, under the jurisdiction of the Commission. Purpose. These regulations are intended to promote safe and adequate service to the public, to provide standards for uniform and reasonable practices by utilities, and to outline the responsibility of the public in requesting and receiving service from the utilities. Exemption. If unreasonable hardship to a utility or to a customer results from the application of any of these regulations, application may be made to the Commission for the modification of the regulation or for temporary or permanent exemption from its requirements. Modification. The adoption of these regulations does not preclude the Commission from altering or amending them, or from making such modifications with respect to their application as may be found necessary to meet exceptional conditions. Duties Under Other Statutes. These regulations do not relieve any utility from any of its duties under the laws of this State. In this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Commission” means the Public Service Commission of Maryland. “Customer” means a person, partnership, association, corporation, or governmental agency being provided with water service by a utility. “Main” means a water pipe, owned, operated, or maintained by a water company, which is used for the transmission or distribution of water, but does not include “service pipe.” “Meter”, without other qualification, means a device or instrument which is used by a utility in measuring a quantity of water for billing purposes. “Premises” means a tract of land or real estate, including buildings and other appurtenances on it. “Service pipe” means the pipe which runs from the main to the customer's premises. “Utility” means a “water company” as defined in Public Utilities Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland. “Water plant” means plant and property owned by a water utility, used in its business operations of providing water service to its customers. Public Utilities Article, §§2-113, 2-121, 5-101, and 5-308, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: July 1, 1968 (Order No. 57171)