Section 6-303 - Public utility interference - Electrical equipment. - Maryland Statutes

§ 6-303. Public utility interference - Electrical equipment.
 

(a)  "Electric company" defined.- In this section, "electric company" has the meaning stated in § 1-101 of the Public Utilities Article. 

(b)  Scope of section.- This section does not apply to: 

(1) an employee of or a person authorized by an electric company; and 

(2) supervision and control of an electric company and its material, equipment, or facilities by the political subdivision within which the electric company is doing business. 

(c)  Prohibited.- A person may not willfully: 

(1) tamper or interfere with the material, equipment, or facilities of an electric company; 

(2) make a connection with an electrical conductor to use the electricity; or 

(3) tamper with a meter used to register electricity consumed. 

(d)  Prima facie evidence of violation.- Prima facie evidence of intent to violate this section by a person who uses or directly benefits from the use or diversion of electricity includes: 

(1) a connection, wire, conductor, meter alteration, or other device that diverts electricity without the electric current being registered by the meter installed by the electric company that supplies the electricity; 

(2) the use of electricity supplied by an electric company without the electricity being registered on a meter that the electric company supplied; and 

(3) a showing by a check or test meter used by the electric company that a customer uses more electricity than is registered on the meter that the electric company supplied for the customer's premises. 

(e)  Penalty.- A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $500 or both. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 194; 2002, ch. 26, § 2; ch. 43; 2010, ch. 52.]