Tampered meter

Tampered meter "Can a person be penalized for using a tampered electric meter that effectively reads a reduced amount of electric usage and fees?RonaDear Rona,The answer to your question is yes. For your guidance, Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) 7832, otherwise known as the ""Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994,"" defines and penalizes the following act of illegal use of electricity, viz:""Section 2. Illegal Use of Electricity. - It is hereby declared unlawful for any person, whether natural or juridical, public or private, to: (a) Tap, make or cause to be made any connection with overhead lines, service drops, or other electric service wires, without previous authority or consent of the private electric utility or rural electric cooperative concerned(b) Tap, make or cause to be made any connection to the existing electric service facilities of any duly registered consumer without the latter's or the electric utility's consent or authority (c) Tamper, install or use a tampered electrical meter, jumper, current reversing transformer, shorting or shunting wire, loop connection or any other device which interferes with the proper or accurate registry or metering of electric current or otherwise results in its diversion in a manner whereby electricity is stolen or wasted(d) Damage or destroy an electric meter, equipment, wire or conduit or allow any of them to be so damaged or destroyed as to interfere with the proper or accurate metering of electric current and (e) Knowingly use or receive the direct benefit of electric service obtained through any of the acts mentioned in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) above."" (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)Applying the foregoing, it is clear that the use of a tampered electric meter is deemed as an illegal use of electricity. Consequently, for any person found guilty of the above-cited provision, Section 7 of the same law dictates the penalty of prision mayor or an imprisonment of six years and one day to twelve years, thus: ""Section 7. Penalties. - (a) Violation of Section 2. - The penalty of prision mayor or a fine ranging from Ten thousand pesos (P10,000) to Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) or both, at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed on any person found guilty of violating Section 2 hereof. X x x."" (Emphasis and underscoring supplied)We hope that we were able to answer your queries. Please be reminded that this advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.Editor's note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney's Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net" - https://www.affordablecebu.com/