Your Property
Vegetation Management
The electric utility company is responsible for:
Routine maintenance and trimming of trees to ensure service quality and reliability.
Removing fallen trees from power lines after an “act of nature”/ storms.
The property owner is responsible for:
Cleanup of fallen tree debris due to an “act of nature”/ storms.
The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC), through RM43, established the standards of vegetation management for MD electric companies under the PSC jurisdiction. Read more in COMAR 20.50.12.09.
Meter Access
Gas and electric companies in MD are granted permission to enter a customer's property to access meters and equipment to ensure safe and reliable utility service. You must allow a utility company access to its equipment for maintenance, readings, and testing purposes or you may be subject to termination/denial of service.
If you are unsure if the person is an actual utility company employee, please call your utility company to verify the representative’s ID to avoid a potential scammer.
Utility Liability for Damage from Power Surges and Interruptions
Utilities are generally not liable for any damage or financial loss associated with a power surge or failure in electricity supply.
However, a utility can be liable in situations where the damage or financial loss was caused by circumstances or events that are due to the utility's willful default or willful neglect. To hold a utility liable in these circumstances, the customer must show that the damage or financial loss is sourced to either (1) the utility's intentional omission or failure to perform some sort of legal duty, or (2) the utility's conscious disregard for a clear duty owed to customers.
If something like this has happened to you, check with your utility, but you may need to file a homeowner's insurance claim.
Putting Equipment on Your Property
If the utility company wants to put equipment like pipes or poles on your property, they must obtain an easement. An easement is the right to access and use property owned by another. If a property owner is unwilling to voluntarily grant the utility an easement, the utility may be able to obtain an easement through exercising eminent domain. In such circumstances, the utility would be required to pay the property owner for the right to access and use your property to install equipment (pipes, poles) that support the delivery of gas and electricity to customers.
There are further rules and restrictions on when/how eminent domain may be exercised. But, generally, if the equipment to be installed serves the public good, the utility likely can place the equipment on your property, even if you do not agree.