1. A. Electric service, gas service, or both, may be terminated in accordance with this regulation, if service at a dwelling unit has been secured in any manner described below:

   1. (1) Application was made in a fictitious name;
   2. (2) Application was made in the name of an individual who is not an occupant of the dwelling unit, without disclosure of the individual's actual address;
   3. (3) Application was made in the name of a third party without disclosing that fact or without bona fide authority from the third party;
   4. (4) Application was made without disclosure of a material fact or by misrepresentation of a material fact;
   5. (5) Application was made for connection of service to a dwelling where there are co-occupants, if a service account for that dwelling unit was previously maintained in a current co-occupant's name during a period of co-occupancy with the applicant and the co-occupant has failed to pay or make satisfactory arrangements to pay an outstanding bill or undisputed portion of a disputed bill for service at the dwelling unit, the collection of which is not barred under applicable State or federal law;
   6. (6) Application was made for connection of service to a dwelling unit where there are co-occupants, if the service account at a prior dwelling unit of the applicant was listed in a current co-occupant's name, and the co-occupant has failed to pay or to make satisfactory arrangement to pay an outstanding bill or undisputed portion of a disputed bill for service at the prior dwelling unit, the collection of which is not barred under applicable State or federal law; or
   7. (7) Application was made by an individual for the purpose of assisting another occupant of a dwelling unit to avoid payment of that occupant's prior outstanding bill.
2. B. For purposes of this regulation, “co-occupants” means two or more adults who occupy the same dwelling unit as their primary domicile or legal residence within the State.

3. C. If service at a dwelling unit was secured in any manner described in §A of this regulation, the utility may give 7 days notice that the service will be terminated, and may then proceed to terminate service subject to the provisions of §E of this regulation. The notice shall state:

   1. (1) The manner in which service was secured;
   2. (2) The approximate time period during which the service was used;
   3. (3) A summary of the facts or circumstances upon which the utility bases its determination that a termination is warranted; and
   4. (4) The amount of any outstanding bill.
4. D. If a bona fide occupant of the premises subject to termination under this regulation is seriously ill, the provisions of COMAR 20.31.03.01 Restrictions for Serious Illness and Life-Support Equipment, shall supersede the provisions of this regulation.
5. E. If a customer disputes the proposed termination, the customer shall do so in accordance with the provisions of COMAR 20.32.01.

Authority: Public Utilities Article, §§2-113, 2-121, and 5-101, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: October 12, 1981 (8:20 Md. R. 1637)

Regulation .01 amended effective November 18, 1985 (12:23 Md. R. 2224)

Regulation .01B amended effective October 22, 1984 (11:21 Md. R. 1815); May 10, 1993 (20:9 Md. R. 780)

Regulation .01B amended as an emergency provision effective January 1, 2002 (29:3 Md. R. 215); emergency status expired June 30, 2002

Regulation .01B amended as an emergency provision effective January 1, 2003 (30:5 Md. R. 364); amended permanently effective January 20, 2003 (30:1 Md. R. 29)

Regulation .03 amended effective August 29, 2016 (43:17 Md. R. 957)

Regulation .04 amended effective April 21, 1986 (13:8 Md. R. 904); July 28, 1986 (13:15 Md. R. 1736)

Regulation .04A amended effective May 10, 1993 (20:9 Md. R. 780)

Regulation .04E amended effective August 6, 1990 (17:15 Md. R. 1862)

Regulations .05A, C, F and .06E amended effective October 22, 1984 (11:21 Md. R. 1815)

Regulation .05F and G amended effective August 6, 1990 (17:15 Md. R. 1862)

Regulation .05H amended effective May 24, 1982 (9:10 Md. R. 1023)

Regulation .06H amended effective August 6, 1990 (17:15 Md. R. 1862)

Regulation .07 adopted effective August 29, 2016 (43:17 Md. R. 957)