AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE TAMPERING OF ELECTRIC METERS

Section 1 – Tampering with Electric Meters

1. No person, without the consent of the City, shall intentionally:
2. convert to his or her use or the use of another person from any wire or conductor of the City any portion of the electric current or electricity distributed by the City, or
3. prevent such current, or any portion thereof, from passing through any meter provided for measuring the same, or
4. prevent such meter from registering correctly the current passing through the city-provided meter, or
5. aid in any manner the conversion to his or her use or the use of another:
6. any portion of electric current that should pass through a meter, but has been diverted therefrom, or
7. prevent electric current from being correctly registered by a meter provided therefore, or

iii.        divert electric current from the wires or conductors of the City.

 

2. The presence at any time on or about the meters, wires or conductors of any device whatsoever that affects the diversion of electric current without the electric current being measured or registered by the City shall constitute evidence of
3. knowledge on the part of the person, who as owner or lessee or otherwise at the time has the use, custody or control of the room or building where such device exists, of the existence and effect of such device, and
4. the intention on the part of such person to tamper with, defraud or steal electricity.

 

3. The City may install a check meter at the customer’s site, and in the event the check meter registers more current than is registered by the meter installed at the customer’s site, such condition shall constitute evidence that unregistered current has been wrongfully diverted by the customer, and shall further constitute evidence of the intention on the part of such customer to tamper with, defraud and/or steal electricity.

 

Section 2 – Penalty provision; restitution and denial of services

1. Any person who connects or disconnects or in any way molests or tampers with any electric wire or electric meter in the City without submitting an application to the City Clerk and receiving approval from the City Superintendent, upon a finding of guilty is subject to a fine not to exceed $500.00 or by imprisonment in jail for a term not to exceed 90 days or a combination of fine and imprisonment.

 

2. Restitution:
3. A person found to be guilty of tampering, fraud or theft of electricity shall also pay for electric service received during the period of time in question based on the average electric usage for the previous three months at that site. In the event that the usage from the previous three months is not available, usage shall be obtained by installation of a check meter for two weeks.
4. If the identity of the person who has tampered with a seal, a meter or a wire is not otherwise proven or known, then the person who received the electric service shall pay for electric service received during the period of time in question based on the average electric usage for the previous three months at that site. In the event that the usage from the previous three months is not available, usage shall be obtained by installation of a check meter for two weeks.

 

3. Denial of services:

The City reserves the right to deny services to any individual who has been convicted of violating the provisions of this ordinance.  Furthermore, the City shall turn repeat offenders over to the Bates County Prosecuting Attorney for the possibility of charges with the State of Missouri.

 

 

 

First read on this the 8^th day of February 2016.

Second reading on this the 8^th day of February 2016.

 

READ TWO TIMES AND PASSED THIS 8^th  DAY OF FEBRUARY 2005.

 

_____________________________

Jennifer Perkey-Ewing, Mayor

 

ATTEST:

 

_____________________________

Racheal Epperson, City Clerk

 

Ayes: Kassner, Pilcher, Dahman

Nays: None