Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
A person may not obtain utility services by deception, threat or force or any other means designed to avoid due payment for the services that the person knows are available only for compensation and a person may not, having control over the disposition of utility services of another to which the person knows the person is not entitled, divert such utility services to the person's own benefit or to the benefit of some other person who the person knows is not entitled to the utility services. A person who violates this section is liable in a civil action to the utility providing the service for:
1. Cost of service. The cost of the utility services wrongfully obtained or diverted plus interest on the value of those services based on an annual interest rate of 5%;
2. Other costs. All other reasonable costs to the utility, including attorney's fees and costs of undertaking and completing the investigation resulting in a determination of liability under this section; and
3. Civil penalty. A civil penalty not to exceed $3,000 due and payable to the utility for each violation of this section.
A person who is liable under this section may not pass on the cost of that liability, including any civil penalty assessed, to any tenants of that person who received diverted or wrongfully obtained utility services due to the actions of the liable person.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A. Public Utilities § 2706. Civil liability for utility services wrongfully obtained - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/me/title-35-a-public-utilities/me-rev-st-tit-35-a-sect-2706/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)