Md. Code, Public Utilities § 7-307.4

§7–307.4.

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) “Eligible residential customer” means a residential electric or gas customer who is:

(i) employed by the federal or State government or a local government in the State; and

(ii) involuntarily furloughed from work without pay because of a government shutdown, regardless of whether the employee is required to report to work during the furlough.

(3) “Government shutdown” means a government shutdown that:

(i) occurs when government funding is unavailable to operate the governmental activities due to the lack of a legislative appropriation or a continuing resolution; and

(ii) lasts for a period that exceeds 7 consecutive days.

(b) A public service company may not terminate electric or gas service to an eligible residential customer for nonpayment on a day that a government shutdown is in effect and for 7 days after the government shutdown has ended if the customer contacts the public service company before the date of termination to:

(1) provide verification that the customer is an employee of the federal, State, or local government affected by the government shutdown; and

(2) enter into a payment plan to pay any outstanding amount on the customer’s account after the government shutdown ends.

(c) The Commission may adopt regulations to implement this section.