CORPORATIONS 979

of the electric incandescent lamp supply, or the regulation of the voltage
of the supply system used for incandescent lighting, or price of electricity
sold and delivered in such municipality or county, the commission shall
investigate as to the cause for such complaint. When such complaint is
made, the commission may, by its agents, examiners and inspectors, inspect
the works, system plant and methods used by such person or corporation in
manufacturing, transmitting and supplying such gas or electricity, and
may examine or cause to be examined the books and papers of such person
or corporation pertaining to the manufacture, sale, transmitting and sup-
plying of such gas and electricity. The form and contents of complaints
made as provided in this section shall be prescribed by the commission.
Such complaints shall be signed by the officers, or by the customers, pur-
chasers or subscribers making them, who must add to their signature their
places of residence, by street and number, if any.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 396. 1912, sec. 451. 1910, ch. 180, sec. 37 (p. 382).

407. Before proceeding under a complaint presented as provided in
this sub-title, the commission shall cause notice of such complaint, and
the purpose thereof, to be served upon the person or corporation affected
thereby. Such person or corporation shall have an opportunity to be heard
in respect to the matters complained of at a time and place to be specified
in such notice. If an investigation be instituted upon motion of the. com-
mission the person or corporation affected by the investigation may be
permitted to appear before the commission at a time and place specified
in the notice and answer all charges which may be preferred by the com-
mission. After a hearing and after such investigations as may have been
made by the commission or its officers, agents, examiners or inspectors, the
commission within lawful limits may, by order, fix the maximum price,
according to law, of gas and electricity to be charged by such corporation
or person, or may order such improvement in the manufacture or supply
of such gas, in the manufacture, transmission or supply of such electricity,
or in the methods employed by such person or corporation as will, in its
judgment, justly and lawfully improve the service. The price so fixed by
the commission shall be the maximum price to be charged by such person
or corporation for gas or electricity in such municipality or county until
the commission shall, upon complaint, as provided in this section, or by
the corporation interested, or upon its application for a new adjustment of
rates or upon an investigation conducted by the commission on its own
motion, again fix the maximum price according to law of such gas or
electricity. In determining the price to be charged for gas or electricity
the commission may consider all facts which, in its judgment, have any
bearing upon a proper determination of the question, although not set forth
in the complaint and not within the allegations contained therein.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 397. 1912, sec. 452. 1910, ch. 180, sec. 38 (p. 383).

408. Every gas corporation and electrical corporation and the officers,
agents or employees thereof shall obey, observe and comply with every
order made by the commission under authority of this sub-title, so long as
the same shall be and remain in force. Any such corporation, or any officer,
agent or employee thereof, who, knowingly, fails or neglects to obey or
comply with such order, or any provision of this sub-title, shall forfeit to
the State of Maryland not to exceed the sum of one thousand dollars for
each offense. Every distinct violation of any such order of this sub-title