Code of Maryland Regulations (Last Updated: April 6, 2021) |
Title 20. Public Service Commission |
Subtitle 70. SERVICE SUPPLIED BY WATER COMPANIES |
Chapter 20.70.04. Customer Relations |
Sec. 20.70.04.09. Insufficient Reasons for Denial of Service
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A. The following may not constitute sufficient cause for refusal of service to a present or prospective customer:
(1) Failure of a prior customer to pay for service at the premises to be served;
(2) Failure to pay for merchandise purchased from the utility;
(3) Failure to pay for a public utility service other than water service;
(4) Failure to pay for a different class of service;
(5) Failure to pay the bill of another customer as guarantor of the customer;
(6) Failure to pay the undercharge for the period in excess of 4 months as described in Regulation .06E of this chapter; or
(7) Failure to pay an outstanding bill that is over 7 years old, unless the:
(a) Customer signed an agreement to pay the outstanding bill before the expiration of this period;
(b) Outstanding bill is for service obtained by the customer by means of tampering with equipment furnished and owned by the utility or by unauthorized use of service by any method; or
(c) Outstanding bill is for service obtained by the customer by means of an application made:
(i) In a fictitious name,
(ii) In the name of an individual who is not an occupant of the dwelling unit, without disclosure of the individual's actual address,
(iii) In the name of a third party without disclosing that fact or without bona fide authority from the third party, or
(iv) Without disclosure of a material fact or by misrepresentation of a material fact.
B. This regulation applies to both residential and nonresidential classes of service.