ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                           H.B. 797

Sincerely,

Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

Governor

House Bill No. 797

AN ACT concerning

Electricity - Universal Service Program - Extension and Funding

FOR the purpose of continuing a certain electric universal service charge at a certain
level for certain purposes; providing assistance for the retirement of certain
arrearages for certain electric customers, subject to a certain limitation;
authorizing the waiver of a certain income eligibility limitation for certain
electric customers under certain circumstances; requiring the Public Service
Commission to make certain recommendations based on certain factors in a
report each year to the General Assembly; repealing a provision providing for
the determination of a certain charge for certain purposes only after
recommendation by the Commission and enactment of legislation; requiring the
Office of Home Energy Programs to report certain information to the
Commission; requiring the Office of Legislative Audits to perform certain audits
of the universal service program at certain intervals; providing for the funding
of the audits; requiring the initial audit to be completed on or before a certain
date; providing for the retention of certain funds in the universal service
program fund for certain purposes for certain periods; providing for the return of
certain funds to certain electric customer classes in a certain proportion and a
certain manner after a certain period; making stylistic changes; providing for
the effective date of a portion of this Act; and generally relating to the electric
universal service program and the universal service program fund.

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article - Public Utility Companies
Section 7-512.1(g) and (h)(1) through (4)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1998 Volume and 2002 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Public Utility Companies
Section 7-512.1(a), (b), (c), (d), and (h)(5)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1998 Volume and 2002 Supplement)

BY repealing

Article - Public Utility Companies
Section 7-512.1(e) and (f)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1998 Volume and 2002 Supplement)

- 3791 -