Md. Code Regs. 20.59.07.12

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 12, June 14, 2024

Section 20.59.07.12 - Assignment of Contract

A. At least 30 days prior to the effective date of any assignment or transfer of a supplier contract from one supplier to another, the suppliers shall jointly provide written notice to the customers of the supplier, the Commission, the utility and the Office of People's Counsel of the assignment or transfer.

(1) Notice to Customer. The suppliers shall jointly send a letter to the customer informing them of the assignment or transfer. The letter shall include:

(a) A description of the transaction in clear and concise language including the effective date of the assignment or transfer; and

(b) Customer service contact information for the assignee.

(2) The terms and conditions of the customer's contract at the time of assignment shall remain the same for the remainder of the contract term; and

(3) The suppliers shall file a notice with the Commission, with a copy to the Office of People's Counsel and the utility, of the assignment or transfer of the customer contracts and include a copy of the letter sent to customers.

B. Upon request by the Commission, the assignee shall be responsible for providing documents and records related to the assigned contracts. Records shall be maintained for a period of three years or until the contracts are expired, whichever is longer.

C. An assignment or transfer of a supplier contract from one supplier to another is not an enrollment or drop.

D. Notice of Assignment or Transfer from One Supplier-Consolidated Biller to Another. If the supplier's notice in §A of this regulation is to a customer receiving supplier-consolidated billing services and the customer will continue to receive supplier-consolidated billing services from the new supplier, the notice shall include the requirements in §A of this regulation and also include:

(1) That the customer will receive bills from the new supplier that will include both the utility and supplier charges;

(2) Each method a customer may use to submit payment to the new gas supplier;

(3) The information necessary for the customer to submit payment to the new supplier; and

(4) A statement that the customer's previous billing provider may bill the customer for unpaid charges.

E. Notice of Assignment or Transfer that Changes a Billing Method.

(1) The suppliers may not change a customer billing method through an assignment or transfer of contract unless permitted by the customer's contract with the assignor or transferor.

(2) If the assignment or transfer will result in a change in billing method, the suppliers shall follow all requirements to change a customer's billing method in COMAR 20.59.05.06 in addition to the requirements in §A of this regulation.

F. The suppliers may not transfer a customer with a contract for energy assistance households unless the receiving supplier has a Commission-approved contract for energy assistance households.

Md. Code Regs. 20.59.07.12

Regulation .12 adopted effective 43:5 Md. R. 387, eff.3/14/2016; amended effective 49:5 Md. R.367, eff. 3/7/2022; amended effective 50:13 Md. R. 513, eff. 7/10/2023