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From Notice: 

Senate Bill 1 (“SB 1”), enacted after the 2024 Session of the General Assembly and effective July 1, 2024, revises Title 7, Subtitle 5 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Utilities Article (“PUA”) to add several provisions, including the establishment of a Do Not Transfer List for residential electric supply customers, under new § 7-510(f)(2). This provision permits the above-referenced customers to request placement on Standard Offer Service (“SOS”) for electricity and not receive marketing contacts from residential retail electric suppliers. This placement would be indefinite. A similar provision, enacted under a new section, PUA § 7- 604.2(d)(1), establishes a Do Not Transfer List for residential gas supply customers. Residential gas supply customers who request to be placed on the gas Do Not Transfer list also would remain on Default Gas Service indefinitely, and retail gas suppliers may not initiate marketing contacts with those on the list. Fines for non-compliance are up to $25,000 per day per customer.

Also effective July 1, 2024, under new PUA § 7-510(g), electric utilities or entities that bill residential electric supply customers are required to report monthly to the Commission the prices paid by electric retail supply customers, and compare those prices to SOS. A similar provision, under new PUA § 7-604.2(e), requires gas utilities or entities that bill residential gas supply customers to submit monthly reports specifying prices paid by residential gas retail supply customers and comparing them to Default Gas Service.

The Commission directs regulated gas and electric utilities, and retail suppliers of gas and electric, to adhere to the above-described requirements as specified in the PUA, and to also comply with the following by August 15, 2024:

(1) Gas and electric utilities are directed to conduct customer education regarding the Do Not Transfer Lists, including posting information prominently on their websites for customers explaining the Do Not Transfer Lists and how to request placement on the list(s). This information shall be posted on the portions of the websites that educate customers about retail choice in their service territory as well as webpages that educate customers about SOS and Default Gas Service. The utilities shall file with the Commission a summary of what they are communicating to customers and how they intend to accomplish this educational requirement.

(2) Each gas and electric utility with retail supply shall submit detailed reports to the Commission describing their processes for compliance with the Do Not Transfer List requirements.

(3) Each electric and gas utility with retail supply shall inform the Commission of the processes they will use to comply with the monthly reporting requirements of SB 1 and sign an affidavit of compliance.

(4) Each utility offering both electric and gas service shall inform the Commission of the extent of any dual billing by retail suppliers covered by SB 1’s reporting requirements, and provide proposals for how to address reporting for dual billing customers and future supplier consolidated billing customers. (5) Each gas and electric utility with retail supply shall submit all required reporting via PDF documents as well as digital spreadsheets, directly to the Commission, Commission Staff and the Office of People’s Counsel.

Notice (ML# 310977) (07/19/2024)