Md. Code, Pub. Util. § 12-112

(a) To enforce this subtitle, the Authority: (1) shall accept and review complaints for violations of this subtitle; and (2) may recommend necessary enforcement actions. (b) (1) The Authority shall: (i) hear complaints for violations of this subtitle: 1. at the request of a probable violator; or 2. after notifying a probable violator that the Authority has scheduled a hearing on its own motion; and (ii) after a hearing, assess a civil penalty under § 12–135 of this subtitle. (2) The Authority may reach a settlement instead of assessing a civil penalty. (3) If a probable violator fails to appear at a scheduled hearing, the Authority may vote to proceed to hear the complaint against the probable violator in the absence of the probable violator. (c) (1) The Authority may: (i) establish reasonable complaint filing fees and administrative fees for complaints heard by the Authority; and (ii) use the services of a third party to collect civil penalties. (2) If the Authority determines that an individual cannot afford to pay a fee established under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection, the Authority may exempt the individual wholly or partly from the fee. (d) The Authority may not assess a civil penalty against a person unless the person: (1) receives reasonable prior notice of the complaint; and (2) has an opportunity to be heard under § 12–113 of this subtitle.