988

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 313

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

Section 54C

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1975 Replacement Volume and 1978 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be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows: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

54C.

All gas and electric companies shall bill their
customers for gas, electricity or any service rendered, on
the basis of the net total cost of the service under the
filed rate applicable thereto. The Public Service
Commission may authorize an additional charge, over the net
total cost, to be applied to any bill or part of a bill not
paid within [fifteen (15)] 20 days; provided, however, that
fifteen (15) DAYS. WITH RESPECT TO RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
AND RESIDENTIAL COOPERATIVES ONLY, THE COMMISSION MAY
AUTHORIZE AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE, OVER THE NET TOTAL COST, TO
BE APPLIED TO ANY BILL OR PART OF A BILL NOT PAID WITHIN 20
DAYS. HOWEVER, any additional charge shall not exceed five
percent (5%) of the net bill or part of the bill and shall
be uniform for all customers, except that different charges
may be imposed on different classes of customers if approved
by the Public Service Commission. Any existing rates in
excess of those as specified above shall be revised by July
1, 1973, or by such earlier date as may be designated by the
Public Service Commission.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1979.

Approved May 14, 1979.

CHAPTER 314

(House Bill 152)

AN ACT concerning

Real Property Assessments

FOR the purpose of providing that assessments of real
property be adjusted by an inflation factor; defining

certain terms establishing the procedure for

determining the inflation factor; providing for the
statewide applicability of the inflation factor;