3272

JOINT RESOLUTIONS

FOR the purpose of requesting the Public Service Commission
to prohibit certain public service companies from
terminating certain service to certain customers during
certain periods; and generally relating to the
termination of certain services by certain public
service companies.

WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes that a
continuing source of gas and electricity service is
indispensable to protect life and health; and

WHEREAS, The denial of such services may constitute a
serious disruption to the normal pattern of daily life to
which citizens of Maryland have become accustomed; and

WHEREAS, Recent substantial increases in all energy
costs for household purposes have made it more difficult for
Maryland citizens with low or fixed incomes to afford these
services; and

WHEREAS, The circumstances under which gas and electric
services may be terminated during colder months should be
closely regulated by the Public Service Commission; and

WHEREAS, As part of its regulations, the Public Service
Commission should establish notification and appeal
procedures for customers threatened with termination; and

WHEREAS, These regulations should not, however, provide
protection against termination for persons who have obtained
or who are utilizing gas and electric service by fraudulent
means; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Maryland Public Service Commission is requested to establish
regulations to provide that, during the period November 15
through April 1 of each year, a gas company, an electric
company, or a gas and electric company shall not terminate
service to residential occupants for nonpayment of bills,
unless the company first certifies to the Public Service
Commission, by affidavit filed at least 24 hours prior to
the service termination, that termination will not
constitute a threat to the life or health of the residential
occupants; and be it further

RESOLVED, That these regulations shall require that the
company personally notify the residential occupant of its
intent to terminate service for nonpayment of bills and
require that the company certify to the Commission that the
personal notification was made a reasonable time prior to
the service termination; and be it further

RESOLVED, That these regulations require, that the
company provide as part of the termination notice a
statement that the customer has a right to contest the
service termination, and that it provide customers with a
reasonable opportunity to contest the termination; and be it
further