§ 7-304. Energy allocation equipment -- Apartments

   (a) Definitions. --

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

   (2) "Apartment house" has the meaning stated in § 7-303(a) of this subtitle.

   (3) "Dwelling unit" has the meaning stated in § 7-303(a) of this subtitle.

   (4) "Energy allocation system" means a method of determining the approximate energy use within an individual dwelling unit by a measuring device that the Commission approves.

(b) Approval required. --

   (1) Approval from the Commission is required before energy allocation equipment and procedures may be used by the owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house to determine the amount of gas or electricity used by an individual dwelling unit, if the amount of gas or electricity is determined by means other than by actual measurement of fuel or electric power consumed by the unit.

   (2) An energy allocation system may not be used for direct billing of energy costs to the tenant of an individual dwelling unit unless the Commission approves the system in accordance with this subsection.

(c) Adoption of regulations. --

   (1) The Commission shall adopt regulations that specify the conditions under which the energy allocation equipment and procedures approved by it under subsection (b) of this section may be implemented.

   (2) The regulations shall include requirements that the owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house shall use to inform consumers about estimated energy costs.

(d) Complaints. -- The Commission shall send any complaint it receives about an individual dwelling unit's gas or electric power consumption to the Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, if the dwelling unit's gas or electric power consumption is determined by the use of energy allocation equipment and procedures approved by the Commission under subsection (b) of this section.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 78, § 54H; 1998, ch. 8, § 2.