WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                   Ch. 147

CHAPTER 147

(Senate Bill 510)

AN ACT concerning

Public Service Commission - Utility Consumer Advisory Panel

FOR the purpose of repealing the provisions of law creating the
utility consumer advisory panel within the Public Service
Commission; and generally repealing certain provisions of
law relating to the utility consumer advisory panel of the
Public Service Commission.

BY repealing

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

Section 3A

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1980 Replacement Volume and 1987 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

[3A.

(a)  In this section the terms "utility" and "utility
company" mean any gas company, electric company, gas and electric
company, or telephone company.

(b)  The utility consumer advisory panel is created within
the Public Service Commission and shall advise the Commission on
general goals for the development of programs, undertake studies
and issue reports, and foster cooperation and understanding
regarding utility matters among federal, State, and local
agencies as well as private groups and consumers.

(c)  The utility consumer advisory panel shall advise the
people's counsel on general goals for the development of
programs, and shall also render advice on specific consumer goals
and objectives in order to assist the people's counsel in
formulating policy in rate cases, investigations, and other
matters in which the people's counsel may from time to time be
involved.

(d)  The utility consumer advisory panel may meet at times
as its members may decide. However, the panel shall meet at
least once every three months with the commissioners of the
Public Service Commission and the people's counsel to render
advice and assistance to them.

- 2135 -