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| MEMBER INFORMATION & CUSTOMER CHOICE |
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Customer Choice
What is deregulation?
The Maryland Electric Customer Choice and Competition Act of 1999 gives
consumers the opportunity to shop for the best deal on electricity
generation. Consumers are able to choose the company that supplies the
power to their homes and businesses. The system used to deliver the
power will remain the same, and will remain regulated by state and
federal authorities.
What are some important provisions of the Act?
- A licensing process for new electricity providers
that gives the Public Service Commission the authority to
suspend or revoke an electricity provider license and/or
impose a fine if a provider violates consumer protection
provisions.
- Changing a customer's electricity supplier without
their specific written permission is illegal.
- Investor Owned Utilities must participate in
competitive billing; Electric co-ops retain metering and billing
because members own these functions.
- Energy charges are "unbundled" or split into
charges for transmission and distribution, universal service,
customer education, conservation tax and energy, on the electric
bill.
- A statewide Universal Service Fund for low-income
assistance for customers at or below 50 percent of the
federal poverty level was established.
- Customers who do not want to switch electric
suppliers will receive Standard Offer Service. Co-ops and municipal
utilities may remain Standard Offer Suppliers until they
decide otherwise. This protects co-op members' right
to "choose not to choose."
- Reliability is guaranteed by continuing the regulation of
the transmission and delivery systems. Your current company
will continue to deliver electricity over its power lines,
maintain the delivery system and answer customer inquiries.
Where can I get more information?
Please call the Maryland Public Service Commission's answer center
at 1-800-800-4491 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-735-2258) or go to their
web site at www.md-electric-info.com.
The Maryland Public Service Commission also has a list of
power suppliers
licensed in the state.
Go to
Maryland Office of the People's Counsel for information for
residential consumers on shopping for electricity supply and standard
offer service.
Choptank Electric Cooperative, Inc., Route 404 & Route 328,
Denton, Maryland 21629 Toll Free: 877-892-0001
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