§ 7-102. Gas companies -- Powers

   (a) Manufacture, sale, and distribution of gas. -- A gas company incorporated in Maryland may:

   (1) manufacture artificial gas;

   (2) sell or furnish any quantity of natural gas or artificial gas that may be required in any municipal corporation or county of the State;

   (3) lay pipe under the roadways or other public ways of any county or municipal corporation of the State to transmit natural gas or artificial gas; and

   (4) connect the pipe from the place of supply to any structure or object.

(b) Laying of gas pipes -- Consent of local government required. --

   (1) A gas company must have the consent of the governing body of the municipal corporation or county before laying any gas pipe in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.

   (2) The governing body of the municipal corporation or county may adopt reasonable regulations and conditions for the laying of a gas pipe, including regulations requiring the gas company to refill and repave any roadway or other public way under which the pipe is laid.

(c) Gas transmission. -- A gas company, whether incorporated in Maryland or another state, that is authorized by a governing body of a municipal corporation or county to lay or maintain pipe or other structures in a roadway or other public way or place shall obtain consent from the Commission before using the pipe or other structure to transmit and supply natural gas, artificial gas, or a mixture of natural gas and artificial gas.

(d) Effect on franchise. -- This section does not:

   (1) extend the duration of a franchise granted by the governing body of a municipal corporation or county; or

   (2) except as provided in this section, change the terms or conditions of the franchise.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 23, § 166; 1998, ch. 8, § 2.