§ 750.282Offenses against water, steam, electric, or gas companies, or propane gas dealers

or distributors, and boards or municipalities owning or operating plants; misdemeanor;
 felony; civil action not impaired by criminal prosecution; presumption; prima facie
 evidence of violation.
 Sec. 282.
    (1) A person shall not do any of the following:
    (a) Willfully or fraudulently injure, or fraudulently allow to be injured, a meter, wire, line,
 pipe, or appliance belonging to a water, steam, electric, or gas company, or propane gas dealer
 or distributor.
    (b) Willfully or fraudulently prevent a water, steam, electric, gas, or propane gas meter
 belonging to a water, steam, electric, or gas company, or propane gas dealer or distributor from
 duly registering the quantity of water, steam, electric current, gas, or propane gas measured


                                                                   Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 91 of 2026
Rendered Sunday, September 6, 2026            Page 248 of 465                               Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov

 through the meter, or in any way hinder or interfere with the meter's proper action or just
 registration.
    (c) Attach a line, wire, or pipe to a line, wire, pipe, or main belonging to a water, steam,
 electric, or gas company, or propane gas dealer or distributor. This subdivision does not apply
 to the use of a ground wire to ground an electrical system.
    (d) Willfully or fraudulently interfere with a pressure regulator device on a propane gas tank
 or incorporated into a propane gas system.
    (e) Use or burn or cause to be used or burned any water, steam, electric current, gas, or
 propane gas supplied by a water, steam, electric, or gas company, or propane gas dealer or
 distributor, without the written consent of the company or the propane gas dealer or
 distributor, or the authorized agent or officer of the company or the propane gas dealer or
 distributor, unless the water, steam, electric current, gas, or propane gas passes through a meter
 or is measured by a meter set by the company or the propane gas dealer or distributor;
 fraudulently use the water, steam, electric current, gas, or propane gas, or fraudulently waste
 the water, steam, electric current, gas, or propane gas supplied by a water, steam, electric, or
 gas company, or propane gas dealer or distributor.
    (2) A person who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor if the value of the
 water, steam, electric current, gas, or propane gas used, burned, or wasted, or the damage
 caused, as a result of the violation, is not more than $500.00. A person who violates subsection
 (1) is guilty of a felony if the value of the water, steam, electric current, gas, or propane gas
 used, burned, or wasted, or the damage caused, as a result of the violation, is more than
 $500.00.
    (3) A criminal prosecution under this section shall not in any way impair the right of the
 company or the propane gas dealer or distributor to full compensation in damages by civil
 action.
    (4) The provisions of this section shall extend and apply to all offenses against all water,
 steam, electric, or gas companies, or propane gas dealers or distributors, and boards or
 municipalities owning or operating plants for producing, manufacturing, furnishing,
 transmitting, or conducting water, steam, electricity, or gas, either natural, liquefied, or
 artificial.
    (5) A person who attaches any line, wire, or pipe or any other device or process to any line,
 wire, or pipe of a water, steam, electric, or gas company, or propane gas dealer or distributor
 which interferes with the proper operation and just registration of a meter within the meaning
 of this section, or who interferes with a pressure regulator device on a propane gas tank or
 incorporated into a propane gas system, is presumed to do so with intent to avoid, or to enable
 another to avoid, payment for the service involved.
    (6) In all prosecutions under this section, proof that the defendant, other than a lessor, had
 control of or occupied the premises where the offense was committed, or received the benefit
 of the water, steam, electric current, gas, or propane gas used or consumed, shall be prima
 facie evidence of a violation of this section.