Louisiana Theft of Utility Property Law

A.  Theft of utility property valued in excess of one hundred dollars is the misappropriation or taking of  any utility property belonging to another without the consent of the owner to the misappropriation or taking.  An intent to deprive the owner permanently of whatever may have been the subject of the misappropriation or taking is an essential element of this offense.

B.  As used in this Section:

(1)  "Utility" means any person or entity providing to the public gas, electricity, water, sewer, telephone, telegraph, radio, radio common carrier, railway, railroad, cable and broadcast television, video, or Internet services.

(2)  "Utility property" means any component which is reasonably necessary to provide utility services, including but not limited to any wire, pole, facility, machinery, tool, equipment, cable, insulator, switch, signal, duct, fiber optic cable, conduit, plant, work, system, substation, transmission and distribution structures, line, street lighting fixture, generating plant, equipment, pipe, mains, transformer, underground line, gas compressor, meter, or any other building or structure or part of a structure that a utility uses in the production or use of its services.

C.  Whoever commits the crime of theft of utility property shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or imprisonment, with or without  hard labor, for not less than two years nor more than ten years, or both.