Ch. 101

2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

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 of the
Commission; and

4.       all other direct and indirect costs of the Commission.

(ii) The estimate shall exclude the expenses associated with
services performed by the Commission for which the Commission is reimbursed under
this article.

(iii) The estimate shall include, as provided by the Office of People's
Counsel:

1.       the compensation and expenses of the Office of People's
Counsel, 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 Office of People's Counsel;

3.       all other maintenance and operation expenses of the Office
of People's Counsel; and

4.       all other direct and indirect costs of the Office of People's
Counsel.

(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)     (I) The bill shall equal the product of:

[(i)] 1. the estimated total costs and expenses of the Commission
and the Office of People's Counsel during the next fiscal year; multiplied by

[(ii)] 2. the ratio of the gross operating revenues for the public
service company derived from intrastate utility and electricity supplier 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 and
electricity supplier operations for all public service companies that are billed under
this section over that period.

(II) TO THE EXTENT THAT THE COMMISSION REQUIRES AN
ELECTRIC COMPANY TO REPORT THE GROSS OPERATING REVENUE DERIVED FROM
INTRASTATE UTILITY AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIER OPERATION IN ORDER TO
CALCULATE THE BILL UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, A SMALL
RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE DESCRIBED IN § 7-502(A) OF THIS ARTICLE MAY
SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT BY SUBMITTING TO THE COMMISSION A COPY OF A

- 1238 -