(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.