(a)    Except for electric cooperatives and municipal electric utilities:

(1)    competitive billing shall begin on July 1, 2000;

(2)    competitive metering for large customers shall begin on January 1, 2002; and

(3)    competitive metering for all other customers shall begin on April 1, 2002, or earlier if requested by the electric company.

(b)    The Commission shall adopt regulations or issue orders to implement this section.

(c)    (1)    A person other than an electric company or a municipal electric utility may not engage in the business of competitive billing services in a local jurisdiction that assesses a local energy tax, unless the person holds a license issued by that jurisdiction.

(2)    An application for a local competitive billing services license shall be made in accordance with the requirements of the local jurisdiction.

(3)    (i)    A local jurisdiction may require an applicant or licensee to:

1.    hold a license issued by the Commission, as provided under § 7-507 of this subtitle;

2.    post a bond or other similar instrument in an amount equal to 15% of the bond required under § 7-507 of this subtitle; and

3.    have a resident agent in the State.

(ii)    A local jurisdiction may not require an applicant or licensee to pay a fee or other charge for the local license.

(d)    (1)    A local jurisdiction may revoke or suspend the local license if the licensee fails, within 15 days of the due date established by the local jurisdiction, to pay or remit all of the applicable local energy taxes on services.

(2)    A local jurisdiction may reinstate the license after payment of all local energy taxes due.

(3)    A local jurisdiction may choose not to reinstate a license that has been revoked or suspended 3 times in a 12-month period.

(4)    A local jurisdiction shall report any revocation or suspension of a license to the Commission.

(e)    The Commission shall adopt regulations or issue an order to establish procedures for the assumption of billing responsibilities by the electric company that distributes electricity in the relevant service territory if a local license is revoked or suspended.