1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Administration” means the Family Investment Administration of the Department of Human Services.
   2. (2) “All-electric residence” means a dwelling that uses electricity as its primary source of heat.
   3. (3) “Annual consumption” means the amount of electricity, stated in kilowatt hours as reported by the customer's electric company, an electric customer uses in a 12-month period.
   4. (4) “Applicant” means an electric customer for whom EUSP assistance is being requested.
   5. (5) “Arrearage” means the amount of money owed by an electric customer to an electric company which is 21 days or more past due.
   6. (6) “Assisted living facility” means an institution that admits elderly or disabled individuals and provides a protective institutional or home-type environment for a fee.
   7. (7) “Benefit” means cash assistance or other EUSP service that is provided on behalf of an eligible applicant.
   8. (8) “Department” means the Maryland Department of Human Services.
   9. (9) “Disabled” means an individual who has a physical or mental impairment that interferes with one or more of life's major activities, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, working, or learning.
   10. (10) “Elderly” means an individual 60 years old or older.
   11. (11) “Electric company” means the company that provides electric distribution services to an electric customer.

   12. (12) “Electric customer” means an individual:

       1. (a) With an active retail electric service account in the individual's name; or
       2. (b) Who is applying for retail electric service in the individual's name.
   13. (13) “Household” means an individual or group of individuals who are living together as one unit and for whom residential electric service is purchased in common.
   14. (14) “Income” means gross income unless otherwise specified in Regulation .04 of this chapter.
   15. (15) “Landlord” means the owner of the property who leases or rents the property to the household.
   16. (16) “Local agency” means an agency with which the Department has contracted to administer a component or components of the EUSP.
   17. (17) “Low-income weatherization” means cost effective measures that reduce electric energy consumption.

   18. (18) “Non-all-electric residence” means a dwelling that:

       1. (a) Does not use electricity as its primary source of heat; and
       2. (b) Is equipped with fossil fuel-burning heating equipment for oil, gas, propane, kerosene, or coal.
   19. (19) “Off-service applicant” means an EUSP applicant who does not have an active retail electric service account.
   20. (20) “On-service applicant” means an EUSP applicant who has an active account for electric service.
   21. (21) “Program year” means July 1 through June 30.

   22. (22) “Proxy” means an individual 18 years old or older who is authorized by signature of the applicant to:

       1. (a) Participate in the intake interview; and
       2. (b) Provide information and documentation on behalf of the applicant.

   23. (23) “Public housing” means a dwelling complex owned and operated by a local government whose:

       1. (a) Residents are determined eligible based on income; and
       2. (b) Rental fees are subsidized by local or federal funding.
   24. (24) “Qualified alien” has the meaning stated in 8 U.S.C. §1641.
   25. (25) “Renter” means an individual who rents or leases a residential dwelling from a landlord.

   26. (26) Subsidized Housing.

       1. (a) “Subsidized housing” means a public or privately owned dwelling where:

          1. (i) Eligibility for residency is based on income; and
          2. (ii) The rental fees are subsidized by federal or local funding.

       2. (b) “Subsidized housing” does not include a dwelling funded under the following programs of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development:

          1. (i) Below Market Interest Rate Program; or
          2. (ii) Rental Assistance Program.
   27. (27) “Verification” means documentation or proof of accuracy of statements made by the applicant, proxy, or recipient of EUSP benefits.

Authority: Human Services Article, §§2-209 and Title 5, Subtitle 5A; Public Utilities Article, §7-512.1; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.11 adopted as an emergency provision effective July 1, 2000 (27:15 Md. R. 1391)

Regulations .01—.11 adopted effective December 11, 2000 (27:24 Md. R. 2199)

Chapter revised effective June 4, 2007 (34:11 Md. R. 971)

Chapter recodified from COMAR 07.06.22 to COMAR 07.03.22, effective June, 2009

Regulation .02B amended effective November 16, 2009 (36:23 Md. R. 1816)

Regulation .03A, B amended effective November 16, 2009 (36:23 Md. R. 1816)

Regulation .04E amended effective November 16, 2009 (36:23 Md. R. 1816)

Regulation .10B, C amended effective May 22, 2017 (44:10 Md. R. 470)