1766                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 542

AN ACT concerning

Public Service Commission - Proceedings on
Proposed New Rates

FOR the purpose of clarifying existing language concerning
proceedings upon suspension of proposed new rates of
public service companies.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

Section 69B(a)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1975 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

593.

(a) Upon the suspension of a proposed new rate for a
gas, electric, or telephone company which is based upon the
existing authorized fair rate of return, the Commission
shall promptly institute proceedings to determine [the] IF
ADDITIONAL revenues ARE required to provide the company the
opportunity to earn the existing authorized fair rate of
return. The Commission shall serve each of the parties to
the last preceding case with a copy of the suspension order
and shall order the applicant to have published a display
advertisement in newspapers of general circulation in its
service area advising of the proposal. These proceedings
shall account for revenues, expenses, and rate base in a
manner identical to that employed by the Commission in
determining the justice and reasonableness of rates in the
last preceding base rate proceeding, and shall exclude
consideration of any increase in the rate of return, any
alteration in the rate structure, or an accounting approach
to any item pertaining to revenues, expenses, or rate base
inconsistent with that employed by the Commission in
determining the justice and reasonableness of rates in the
last preceding base rate proceeding, except that the
Commission may use a more recent past test period- The
Commission shall enter a final order as to the revenue
requirement determined pursuant to this section within 90
days of the filing of the proposed new rate. The final
order entered shall authorize a new rate distributing any
change in the revenue requirement proportionally among the
ratepayers without change in the rate structure.

SECTION 2. AND BE II FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1978.