CHAPTER 3
(Senate Bill 300)

AN ACT concerning

Electric Utility Industry Restructuring

FOR the purpose of enabling the restructuring of the electric utility industry of the
State in a certain manner, subject to oversight of the Public Service Commission;
stating the findings and declaration of intent of the General Assembly; requiring
the Commission to require certain consumer education programs, customer
information, nondiscrimination policies, and operational requirements;
requiring the Commission, in consultation with the Maryland Energy.
Administration to report by a certain date on certain programs; requiring the
Commission to issue certain orders or adopt certain regulations, before the
implementation of customer choice; prohibiting the disclosure of certain
information; prohibiting certain actions by electricity suppliers; providing that
this Act may not be construed as preventing the application of certain protections
and laws; requiring certain electric companies to provide certain information to
the Department of the Environment and the Commission by a certain date;
requiring the Department of the Environment, in consultation with the
Commission, to study a certain environmental surcharge under certain
circumstances; requiring the Commission, in consultation with the Department
of the Environment, to adopt certain measures regarding certain environmental
programs; requiring the Commission to reduce certain rates for a certain time
under certain circumstances; requiring the Commission to consult with the
Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General before issuing
certain regulations; allowing municipal electric utilities to elect to make their
service territory available for customer choice; requiring municipal electric
utilities to file a certain plan and report by a certain date on a certain status;
providing that certain persons may not engage in the business of competitive
billing services in certain local jurisdictions unless the person holds a certain
license; providing for certain licensure requirements; prohibiting the recovery of
consumer education costs under certain circumstances; requiring the
Commission to establish a certain universal service program; requiring all
customers of electric companies in the State to contribute to the funding of a
universal service program; requiring the Commission to report on a universal
service program and make a certain recommendation; providing for certain
funding of a universal service program; requiring certain actions by the General
Assembly regarding certain funding of the universal service program; requiring
the Commission to consider certain evidence in determining certain costs or
benefits; requiring the Commission to cooperate with and share information with
the Antitrust Division of the Office of the Attorney General; requiring certain
electric companies to continue purchasing electricity under certain contracts
under certain circumstances; prohibiting electricity suppliers and electric
companies from terminating certain customers under certain circumstances;
requiring the Commission, in consultation with the Maryland Energy
Administration, to report by a certain date on the feasibility of requiring a