§ 37-12-401 — Definitions

(a) As used in this article:
(i) "Bypassing" means the act of attaching,
connecting or in any manner affixing any wire, cord, socket,
motor, pipe or other instrument, device or contrivance to the
utility supply system or any part thereof in such a manner as to
transmit, supply or use any utility service without passing
through an authorized meter or other device provided for
measuring, registering, determining or limiting the amount of
electricity, gas, steam or water consumed;
(ii) "Customer" means the person responsible for
payment for utility services and includes employees and agents
of the customer;
(iii) "Tampering" means the act of damaging,
altering, adjusting or in any manner interfering with or
obstructing the action or operation of any meter or other device
provided for measuring, registering, determining or limiting the
amount of electricity, gas, steam or water consumed;
(iv) "Unauthorized metering" means the act of
removing, moving, installing, connecting, reconnecting or
disconnecting any meter or metering device for utility service
by a person other than an authorized contractor, employee or
agent of the utility;
(v) "Utility" means any pipeline corporation, gas
corporation, electrical corporation, water corporation,
irrigation system, cooperative association, nonprofit
corporation, nonprofit association, municipality or person
operating in whole or in part for the purpose of supplying
electricity, gas, steam or nonagricultural water, or any
combination thereof, to the public or to any person;
(vi) "Utility service" means the provision of
electricity, gas, steam, water or any other service or commodity
furnished by the utility for compensation;
(vii) "Utility supply system" means all wires,
conduits, pipes, cords, sockets, motors, meters, instruments,
pumps and any other material and equipment the utility uses to
provide utility services;
(viii) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 186, § 2.