determinations of any transition costs or any transition benefits for the various electric
companies; and (2) the status of the Public Service Commission's considerations
regarding the functional, operational, structural, or legal separation between electric
companies' regulated businesses and their nonregulated businesses or nonregulated
affiliates.

SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED. That if any provision of this
Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any
reason in a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not affect other
provisions or any other application of this Act which can be given effect without the
invalid provision or application, and for this purpose the provisions of this Act are
declared severable.

SECTION 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall
take effect on the later of July 1, 2000, and the initial implementation date that the
Public Service Commission determines for investor-owned utilities under § 7-510(b)(1)
of the Public Utility Companies Article, as enacted by this Act.

SECTION 9. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in
Sections 4 and 8 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 1999.

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

Article—Public-Utility Companies

1-101.

(a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated.

(B) (1) "AGGREGATOR" MEANS AN ENTITY OR INDIVIDUAL INCLUDING A
COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, OTHER THAN A MUNICIPAL UTILITY, THAT
ACTS ON BEHALF OF A CUSTOMER TO PURCHASE ELECTRICITY.

(2) "AGGREGATOR" DOES NOT INCLUDE AN ENTITY OR INDIVIDUAL
THAT PURCHASES ELECTRICITY FOR ITS OWN USE OR FOR THE USE OF ITS
SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES.

(C) "BILLING AGENT" MEANS AN ENTITY THAT PROVIDES BILLING AND
COLLECTION SERVICES AND DISTRIBUTION OF RECEIPTS TO UNITS COVERED IN THE
BILLING.

(C) (D) "BROKER" MEANS AN ENTITY OR INDIVIDUAL THAT ACTS AS AN
AGENT OR INTERMEDIARY IN THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY BUT DOES
NOT TAKE TITLE TO ELECTRICITY.

[(b)](D) (E) "Commission" means the Public Service Commission.

[(e)](E) (F) (1) "Common carrier" means a person, public authority, or
federal, State, district, or municipal transportation unit that is engaged in the public
transportation of persons for hire, by land, water, air, or any combination of them.

(2) "Common carrier" includes: