Maryland Criminal Law Section 6-303

      (a)      In this section, "electric company" has the meaning stated in § 1-101 of the Public Utility Companies 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.