An Act To Allow Civil Penalties for Damaging Utility Property or for Theft of Utility Services
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §2705, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6, is amended to read:
2. Repair. The cost of equipment repair or replacement, as necessary; and
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §2705, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6, is amended to read:
3. Other costs. All other reasonable costs to the utility, including attorney fees and costs of undertaking and completing the investigation resulting in a determination of liability . ; and
Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §2705, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4. Penalty. A fine of $2,500 due and payable to the utility for each offense of utility services wrongfully obtained or each offense of damaging, destroying or tampering with utility property.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a civil penalty of $2,500 per offense for theft of utility services or for damaging or tampering with utility property. The penalty may be assessed only following a successful civil action by the utility in a court of competent jurisdiction.