§ 37-12-402 — Civil action allowed

(a) In addition to any applicable criminal penalties, a
utility may bring a civil action for damages against any person
who:
(i) Commits, authorizes, solicits, aids, abets or
attempts any act of bypassing, tampering, or unauthorized
metering resulting in damages to the utility;
(ii) Knowingly receives utility service through
bypassing, tampering or unauthorized metering.
(b) Any action brought under this section shall be
commenced within three (3) years after the cause of action
accrues.
(c) In any civil action brought under this section, the
utility, upon proof of willful or intentional bypassing,
tampering or unauthorized metering, may recover as damages two
(2) times the amount of its actual damages plus all reasonable
expenses incurred because of the bypassing, tampering or
unauthorized metering, including expenses for investigation,
disconnection, reconnection, service calls, employees and
equipment, expert witnesses, costs of the suit and reasonable
attorney fees.