1. A. A supplier shall issue an identification badge to agents to be worn when conducting door-to-door activities or appearing at public events on behalf of a supplier. The badge shall:

   1. (1) Accurately identify the supplier, its trade name and logo;
   2. (2) Display the agent’s photograph;
   3. (3) Display the agent’s full name;
   4. (4) Be prominently displayed; and
   5. (5) Display a customer service phone number for the supplier.

2. B. Upon first contact with a customer, an agent shall:

   1. (1) Identify the supplier that he represents; and
   2. (2) State that he is not working for and is independent of the customer’s local distribution company.
3. C. When conducting door-to-door activities or appearing at a public event, an agent may not wear apparel or accessories or carry equipment that contains branding elements, including a logo, that suggests a relationship that does not exist with a utility, government agency, or another supplier.
4. D. A supplier may not use the name, bills, marketing materials, or consumer education materials of another supplier, regulated utility, or government agency in a way that suggests a relationship that does not exist.
5. E. A supplier or supplier agent may not say or suggest to a customer that a utility customer is required to choose a competitive energy supplier.

Authority: Public Utilities Article, §§2-113, 2-121, 5-101, 7-505, 7-507, 7-511, and 7-603, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.07 recodified from COMAR 20.53.08, Supplier-Agent Relations effective March 7, 2022 (49:5 Md. R. 367)

Regulation .04 amended effective March 7, 2022 (49:5 Md. R. 367)