1. A. Except as prohibited by State or federal law, a utility may refuse to connect or may disconnect service for a former nonresidential customer unless the customer has paid or made satisfactory arrangements to pay any outstanding bill, or undisputed portion of a disputed bill, for prior nonresidential service.

2. B. A utility may not refuse service to a customer for nonpayment of an outstanding bill that is over 7 years old, unless the:

   1. (a) Customer signed an agreement to pay the outstanding bill before the expiration of this period; or
   2. (b) Outstanding bill is for service obtained by the customer in any manner described in COMAR 20.31.02.03D or COMAR 20.31.02.04A(1)—(4).

Authority: Public Utilities Article, §§2-113, 2-121, 4-503(a), 5-101, and 5-105, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: January 26, 1979 (6:2 Md. R. 75)

Regulations .02 and .03 repealed effective November 18, 1985 (12:23 Md. R. 2221)

Regulations .02, .03, .03-1, and .05-1 adopted effective November 18, 1985 (12:23 Md. R. 2221)

Regulation .03-1 amended effective May 10, 1993 (20:9 Md. R. 779)

Regulation .04D amended effective November 18, 1985 (12:23 Md. R. 2221); March 1, 1993 (20:4 Md. R. 372)

Regulation .04F amended effective November 18, 1985 (12:23 Md. R. 2221)

Regulation .04I amended effective September 21, 2009 (36:19 Md. R. 1438)

Regulation .05C amended effective November 18, 1985 (12:23 Md. R. 2221)