§ 14-151.1. Interfering with electric, gas or water meters; prima facie evidence of intent to alter, tamper with or bypass electric, gas or water meters; unlawful reconnection of electricity, gas, or
§14‑151.1. Interfering with electric, gas or water meters; prima facieevidence of intent to alter, tamper with or bypass electric, gas or watermeters; unlawful reconnection of electricity, gas, or water; civil liability.
(a) It shall beunlawful for any unauthorized person to alter, tamper with or bypass a meterwhich has been installed for the purpose of measuring the use of electricity,gas or water or knowingly to use electricity, gas or water passing through anysuch tampered meter or use electricity, gas or water bypassing a meter providedby an electric, gas or water supplier for the purpose of measuring andregistering the quantity of electricity, gas or water consumed.
(b) Any meter orservice entrance facility found to have been altered, tampered with, orbypassed in a manner that would cause such meter to inaccurately measure andregister the electricity, gas or water consumed or which would cause theelectricity, gas or water to be diverted from the recording apparatus of themeter shall be prima facie evidence of intent to violate and of the violationof this section by the person in whose name such meter is installed or theperson or persons so using or receiving the benefits of such unmetered,unregistered or diverted electricity, gas or water.
(b1) It is unlawful forany unauthorized person to reconnect electricity, gas, or water connections orotherwise turn back on one or more of those utilities when they have beenlawfully disconnected or turned off by the provider of the utility.
(b2) It is unlawful forany unauthorized person to alter, bypass, interfere with, or cut off any loadmanagement device, equipment, or system which has been installed by theelectricity supplier for the purpose of limiting the use of electricity at peak‑loadperiods, provided, however, if there has been a written request to remove theload management device, equipment or system to the electric supplier and theelectric supplier has not removed the device within two working days, thereshall be no violation of this section.
(c) Any personviolating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1misdemeanor.
(d) Whoever is found ina civil action to have violated any provision hereof shall be liable to theelectric, gas or water supplier in triple the amount of losses and damagessustained or five hundred dollars ($500.00), whichever is greater.
(e) Nothing in thissection shall be construed to apply to licensed contractors while performingusual and ordinary services in accordance with recognized customs andstandards. (1977, c. 735, s. 1; 1983, c. 508, ss. 1, 2; 1989, c.119; 1993, c. 539, s. 89; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)