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

Utility companies in Maryland have the right to access your property to:

  • Read meters

  • Perform maintenance or test/inspect equipment

You must allow access to utility-owned equipment. If you refuse, the utility can shut off or deny service.

Safety tip: If someone comes to your home claiming to be from the utility company, and you're unsure if they’re legitimate, call the utility directly to confirm their identity. This helps protect you from scammers.

 

Utility Liability for Damage from Power Surges and Interruptions

Utilities are usually not responsible for damage caused by:

  • Power outages

  • Voltage surges

These events are often considered out of the utility’s control.

But the utility may be responsible if the damage was caused by the utility’s intentional failure to do its job or the utility showed conscious disregard for its duties to customers.

To hold the utility liable, you must prove that the utility acted on purpose or ignored a known responsibility and the damage or loss is directly linked to that action.

If you suffer damage due to a power surge or outage, contact your utility, but also consider filing a claim with your homeowner’s insurance.

 

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.