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§ 5-103. Discontinuance or abandonment of franchises, rights, or permits

West's Annotated Code of MarylandPublic Utilities

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Public Utilities (Refs & Annos)
Division I. Public Services and Utilities [Titles 1-15] (Refs & Annos)
Title 5. Powers, Duties, and Prohibitions (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 1. Powers and Duties of the Commission (Refs & Annos)
MD Code, Public Utilities, § 5-103
Formerly cited as MD PUBLIC UTIL COMP § 5-103
§ 5-103. Discontinuance or abandonment of franchises, rights, or permits
Currentness
Continuation of services
(a)(1) The Commission may require a public service company to continue any service that the public service company renders to the public under any franchise, right, or permit, after any applicable expiration date.
(2) Unless authorized by the Commission, a public service company may not discontinue or abandon a service under a franchise, right, or permit.
(3) The Commission may authorize a public service company to discontinue or abandon a service under a franchise, right, or permit if the Commission finds that the present or future public convenience and necessity allows the discontinuance or abandonment.
(4) Denial of authorization to discontinue or abandon a service under a franchise, right, or permit does not preclude subsequent reapplication.
Abandoned franchises, rights, or permits
(b)(1) Whenever the Commission authorizes the abandonment or discontinuance of a franchise, right, or permit, as a whole or in part, that involves any service to or from a suburban community, the Commission:
(i) shall consider all applications to acquire the franchise, right, or permit to render the service; and
(ii) shall grant the application to the best qualified applicant.
(2) An abandoned or discontinued right that extends between mid-city and suburban termini shall continue to extend between the mid-city and suburban termini if the abandoned or discontinued right:
(i) as acquired by the abandoning or discontinuing public service company or its predecessor, extended from mid-city to suburban termini; or
(ii) was operated between the mid-city and suburban termini during most of its existence or for an aggregate of at least 15 years.

Credits

Added by Acts 1998, c. 8, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 1998.
Formerly Art. 78, § 75.
MD Code, Public Utilities, § 5-103, MD PUBLIC UTIL § 5-103
Current with legislation effective through July 1, 2023, from the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document