Md. Code, Public Utilities § 5-103
This is the official text of Md. Code, Public Utilities § 5-103, part of Maryland’s Code, Public Utilities — regulates utility companies.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§5–103.
Official statutory text
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Maryland?
Find a Maryland lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.