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§ 5-501. Protections for surviving spouses of account holders

West's Annotated Code of MarylandPublic UtilitiesEffective: October 1, 2020

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 5. Miscellaneous (Refs & Annos)
Effective: October 1, 2020
MD Code, Public Utilities, § 5-501
§ 5-501. Protections for surviving spouses of account holders
Currentness
Definitions
(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Account holder” means the individual in whose name a utility account is established.
(3) “Utility” means an electric company, an electricity supplier, a gas company, a gas supplier, a sewage disposal company, a water company, or any combination of these companies.
Duties of utility to surviving spouses of account holders
(b) If an account holder's surviving spouse presents to a utility the account holder's death certificate and their marriage certificate or a State or federal tax return filed jointly by the account holder and the surviving spouse in the immediately preceding year, the utility shall, without requiring any further information, other than updated contact information, or imposing any fee or penalty:
(1) temporarily keep the account open for a period of not less than 6 months and, during that time, treat the surviving spouse as a joint holder of the account; or
(2) transfer the account to the surviving spouse.
Fee or penalty for nonpayment; close account at request of surviving spouse
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b)(1) of this section, a utility may:
(1) in accordance with any other applicable law, impose a fee or penalty or terminate an account for nonpayment; or
(2) at the request of the surviving spouse, close the account.

Credits

Added by Acts 2020, c. 570, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2020.
MD Code, Public Utilities, § 5-501, MD PUBLIC UTIL § 5-501
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