(b) (1) (i) Before each State fiscal year, the Chairman of the Commission
shall estimate the Commission's total costs and expenses, including:

1. the compensation and expenses of the Commission, its
officers, agents, and personnel;

2. the cost of retirement contributions, Social Security, health
insurance, and other benefits required to be paid by the State for the personnel of the
Commission;

3. all other maintenance and operation expenses; and

4. all other direct and indirect costs.

(ii) The estimate shall exclude the costs of maintaining testing
equipment reimbursable under § 2-111(a) of this subtitle.

(2) Based on the estimate, the Chairman shall determine the amount to be
paid by each public service company.

(3) The Commission shall send a bill to each public service company on or
before May 1st of each year.

(4) The bill shall equal the product of:

(i) the estimated total costs and expenses of the Commission during
the next fiscal year; multiplied by

(ii) the ratio of the gross operating revenues for the public service
company derived from intrastate utility operations in the preceding calendar year, or
other 12-month period as the Chairman determines, to the total of the gross operating
revenues derived from intrastate utility operations for all public service companies
that are billed under this section over that period.

(5) The minimum bill for a public service company shall be $10.

(6) The public service company:

(i) shall pay the bill on or before the next July 15th; or

(ii) may elect to make partial payments on the 15th days of July,
October, January, and April.

(7) A partial payment shall equal 25% of the bill and may not be less than

$10.

(8) During any State fiscal year, the Chairman may change the estimate
of costs and expenses of the Commission.

(9) (i) If the estimate is changed, the Commission shall send a revised
bill to each public service company that has elected to. make partial payments.

(ii) The change shall be apportioned equally against the remaining
payments for the fiscal year.