§ 40-491 — Definitions

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Customer" means the person in whose name a utility service is provided.

2. "Person" means an individual, partnership, firm, association or corporation.

3. "Reconnection" means the restoration of utility service to a customer or other person after service has been legally disconnected by the utility.

4. "Tamper" or "tampering" means any of the following if committed against property that is owned or operated by the utility for transmission or distribution:

(a) Rearranging, damaging, altering, interfering with or otherwise preventing the performance of a normal or customary function of utility property.

(b) Connecting any wire, conduit or device to any utility property.

(c) Defacing, puncturing, removing, reversing or altering any utility property.

(d) Preventing any meter from properly measuring or registering.

(e) Knowingly taking, receiving, using or converting to personal use or the use of another any utility service that has not been measured or authorized.

(f) Diverting or changing the intended course or path of the utility service without the authorization or consent of the utility.

(g) Causing, procuring, permitting, aiding or abetting any person to do any of the acts listed in this paragraph.

5. "Utility" means any public service corporation, licensed cable television system or video service network, telephone line or telegraph line corporation or person engaged in the generation, transmission or delivery of electricity, gas, telephone, cable television, telegraph or water service, including this state or any political subdivision or agency of this state.

6. "Utility service" means the provision of services or commodities by the utility for compensation.