Maryland § 6-303

§ 6-303.

    (a)    In this section, “electric company” has the meaning stated in § 1–101 of the Public Utilities Article.

    (b)    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)    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 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)    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.