HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2559

AN ACT concerning

Energy - Power Plant Siting and Research Program -
Environmental Surcharge

FOR the purpose of altering by a certain amount the maximum
surcharge that may be imposed per kilowatt hour of
energy generated in this State; and generally relating
to the environmental surcharge under the Power Plant
Siting and Research Program.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Natural Resources

Section 3-302

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1974 Volume and 1981 Supplement)

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

Article - Natural Resources

3-302.

(a)  There is an Environmental Trust Fund. For the
purpose of this subtitle, there is established as an added
cost of generation, an environmental surcharge per kilowatt
hour of electric energy generated in the State to be paid by
any electric company as defined in the Public Service
Commission Law. This surcharge initially shall be assessed
at 0.1 mill per kilowatt hour as of January 1, 1972. The
Public Service Commission shall impose the surcharge per
kilowatt hour of electric energy generated within the State
and shall authorize the electric companies to add the full
amount of the surcharge to customers' bills. To the extent
that the surcharge is not collected from customers, the
surcharge shall be deemed a cost of generation and shall be
allowed and computed as such, together with other allowable
expenses, for rate-making purposes. Revenues from the
surcharge shall be collected by the Comptroller and placed
in the Fund.

(b)  The Secretary annually shall coordinate the
preparation of a budget required to carry out the provisions
of this subtitle. Upon approval of the budget by the General
Assembly, the Public Service Commission shall establish the
amount of the surcharge per kilowatt hour for the fiscal
year beginning July 1, 1972, and for each subsequent fiscal
year. The surcharge may not continue beyond 1985 nor may it
ever exceed [0.3 mill] 0.15 0.2 MILL per kilowatt hour. The
Comptroller shall maintain the method of collection of the
surcharge from the companies and the collections shall