Public Law, Chapter 553, 123rd Legislature, Second Regular Session

Chapter 553 H.P. 1552 - L.D. 2182

An Act To Allow Civil Penalties for Damaging Utility Property or for Theft of Utility Services

Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas, theft of utility services and property is a significant and growing problem in the State; and

Whereas, theft of utility services and property imposes costs on all users of utility services and endangers the health and safety of utility workers and the general public; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §2705, as amended by PL 1993, c. 106, §3, is repealed.

Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §2706 is enacted to read:

§ 2706. Civil liability for utility services wrongfully obtained

A person may not obtain utility services by deception, threat or force or any other means designed to avoid due payment for the services that the person knows are available only for compensation and a person may not, having control over the disposition of utility services of another to which the person knows the person is not entitled, divert such utility services to the person's own benefit or to the benefit of some other person who the person knows is not entitled to the utility services. A person who violates this section is liable in a civil action to the utility providing the service for:

1. Cost of service. The cost of the utility services wrongfully obtained or diverted plus interest on the value of those services based on an annual interest rate of 5%;

2. Other costs. All other reasonable costs to the utility, including attorney's fees and costs of undertaking and completing the investigation resulting in a determination of liability under this section; and

3. Civil penalty. A civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 due and payable to the utility for each violation of this section.

A person who is liable under this section may not pass on the cost of that liability, including any civil penalty assessed, to any tenants of that person who received diverted or wrongfully obtained utility services due to the actions of the liable person.

Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §2707 is enacted to read:

§ 2707. Civil liability for damages to utility property

A person may not intentionally, knowingly or recklessly damage, destroy or tamper with property of a utility having no reasonable grounds to believe that the person has a right to do so if such conduct creates a risk of interruption or impairment of services rendered to the public or causes a substantial interruption or impairment of services rendered to the public. A person who violates this section is liable in a civil action to the utility owning the property affected for:

1. Cost of repair or replacement. The cost of repair or replacement of the utility property, as necessary;

3. Civil penalty. A civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 due and payable to the utility for each violation of this section.

Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §2708 is enacted to read:

§ 2708. Civil liability for utility property wrongfully obtained

A person may not obtain or exercise unauthorized control over the property of a utility with intent to deprive the utility of the property. A person who violates this section is liable in a civil action to the utility owning the property affected for:

1. Cost of replacement. The cost of replacement of the utility property, as necessary;

2. Other costs. All other reasonable costs to the utility, including attorney's fees and costs of undertaking and completing the investigation resulting in a determination of liability; and

3. Civil penalty. A civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 due and payable to the utility for each violation of this section.

Sec. 5. Maine Revised Statutes headnote amended; revision clause. In the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, chapter 27, in the chapter headnote, the words "inspection of meters" are amended to read "inspection of meters and civil liability" and the Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or republishing the statutes.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

Effective April 3, 2008.

Public Laws

123rd Legislature

Second Regular Session

Chapter 553

H.P. 1552 - L.D. 2182