BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Public Utility Companies
Section 13-203
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1998 Volume)

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

Article - Public Utility Companies

13-203.

(a) A gas company or gas master meter operator that violates any of the
Commission's standards of safe service or other regulation related to safety adopted
under § 5-101 of this article is subject to a civil penalty determined by the
Commission that does not exceed THE MAXIMUM PENALTIES PROVIDED IN TITLE 49,
CHAPTER 601 OF THE U.S. CODE (FEDERAL NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SAFETY ACT):

(1) [$10,000] $25,000 for each violation for each day or part of a day that
the violation continues; and

(2) $500,000 for a related series of violations.

(b) Within 30 days after the date of notification of the determination, the gas
company or gas master meter operator involved may request reconsideration to
obtain a compromise.

(c) In determining the amount of a civil penalty or compromise, the
Commission shall consider the:

(1) appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the gas company or gas
master meter operator;

(2) gravity of the current violation; and

(3) good faith of the gas company or gas master meter operator in
attempting to achieve compliance after notification of the violation.

(d) The amount of the penalty, when finally determined or agreed on in
compromise, may be:

(1) deducted from any amount that the State owes to the gas company or
gas master meter operator; or

(2) recovered in a civil action in State court.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1999.