# COMAR Title 20 — Public Service Commission

## Subtitle 70 — Service Supplied by Water Companies

### Chapter 04 — Customer Relations

#### Regulation .09 Insufficient Reasons for Denial of Service.

*COMAR 20.70.04.09*

A. The following may not constitute sufficient cause for refusal of service to a present or prospective customer:

  (1) Failure of a prior customer to pay for service at the premises to be served;

  (2) Failure to pay for merchandise purchased from the utility;

  (3) Failure to pay for a public utility service other than water service;

  (4) Failure to pay for a different class of service;

  (5) Failure to pay the bill of another customer as guarantor of the customer;

  (6) Failure to pay the undercharge for the period in excess of 4 months as described in Regulation .06E of this chapter; or

  (7) Failure to pay an outstanding bill that is over 7 years old, unless the:

    (a) Customer signed an agreement to pay the outstanding bill before the expiration of this period;

    (b) Outstanding bill is for service obtained by the customer by means of tampering with equipment furnished and owned by the utility or by unauthorized use of service by any method; or

    (c) Outstanding bill is for service obtained by the customer by means of an application made:

      (i) In a fictitious name,

      (ii) In the name of an individual who is not an occupant of the dwelling unit, without disclosure of the individual's actual address,

      (iii) In the name of a third party without disclosing that fact or without bona fide authority from the third party, or

      (iv) Without disclosure of a material fact or by misrepresentation of a material fact.

B. This regulation applies to both residential and nonresidential classes of service.