Alaska Statutes
Alaska Stat. § 42.20.030 (2026)
Civil liability for taking utility service and for damages to or interference with a utility line
✓ current as of July 2026
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Sec. 42.20.030. Civil liability for taking utility service and for damages to or interference with a utility line.
(a) A person is civilly liable to the utility whose property is damaged in a sum equal to three times the amount of the actual damages sustained and three times the value of the service taken if the person intentionally or in the exercise of gross negligence
(1) damages a pole, tree, pipeline, or other object used in a utility line;
(2) damages an insulator in use in the line or damages or removes from its insulator any wire used in a utility line;
(3) damages the insulation of the line or interrupts the transmission of the service through it or damages the protective wrapping of a water, oil, or gas pipeline;
(4) damages property or materials belonging to a utility;
(5) interferes with the use of a utility line, or obstructs or postpones the transmission of service over a utility line;
(6) procures or advises damage to any utility line;
(7) interferes with or alters a meter or other device for the measuring of service from a utility; or
(8) without the permission of the utility takes service from the utility or taps a wire or line used for the transmission of service or procures or advises this to be done.
(b) A person is civilly liable to the utility whose property is negligently damaged under (a)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section in a sum equal to the amount of the damages sustained.
(a) A person is civilly liable to the utility whose property is damaged in a sum equal to three times the amount of the actual damages sustained and three times the value of the service taken if the person intentionally or in the exercise of gross negligence
(1) damages a pole, tree, pipeline, or other object used in a utility line;
(2) damages an insulator in use in the line or damages or removes from its insulator any wire used in a utility line;
(3) damages the insulation of the line or interrupts the transmission of the service through it or damages the protective wrapping of a water, oil, or gas pipeline;
(4) damages property or materials belonging to a utility;
(5) interferes with the use of a utility line, or obstructs or postpones the transmission of service over a utility line;
(6) procures or advises damage to any utility line;
(7) interferes with or alters a meter or other device for the measuring of service from a utility; or
(8) without the permission of the utility takes service from the utility or taps a wire or line used for the transmission of service or procures or advises this to be done.
(b) A person is civilly liable to the utility whose property is negligently damaged under (a)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section in a sum equal to the amount of the damages sustained.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases, 1965–1986 · leading case: Kenai Peninsula Borough Bd. of Educ. v. Brown, 691 P.2d 1034 (Alaska 1984).
Kenai Peninsula Borough Bd. of Educ. v. Brown, 691 P.2d 1034 (Alaska 1984). “In 1980 Brown was convicted of diverting electricity from the Homer Electric Association in violation of AS 42.20.030 (a misdemeanor statute concerned with obstruction of electric, gas, telegraph or telephone lines).”
Selman v. State, 406 P.2d 181 (Alaska 1965). “Diverting electric current in violation of AS 42.20.030(7) ; Count II. Larceny of electricity in violation of AS 11.”
Golden Valley Elec. Ass'n v. Revel, 719 P.2d 263 (Alaska 1986). “MEASURE OF DAMAGES UNDER AS 42.20.030(a) GVEA argues that Revel is civilly liable for its costs of investigating his theft of utility service.”
Fairbanks North Star Borough v. Roen Design Assocs., Inc., 727 P.2d 758 (Alaska 1986). “2d 263, 264 (Alaska 1986) (per curiam) (interpreting AS 42.20.030(a)); Kodiak Electric Ass'n v.”
Anniskette v. State, 489 P.2d 1012 (Alaska 1971). “035 (prohibiting vexatious anonymous telephone calls), and AS 42.20.030(5) (prohibiting wilful and malicious interference with telephone lines and messages).”
Alaska Stat. § 42.20.030(5): 1 case
Anniskette v. State, 489 P.2d 1012 (Alaska 1971). “035 (prohibiting vexatious anonymous telephone calls), and AS 42.20.030(5) (prohibiting wilful and malicious interference with telephone lines and messages).”
Alaska Stat. § 42.20.030(7): 2 cases
Kenai Peninsula Borough Bd. of Educ. v. Brown, 691 P.2d 1034 (Alaska 1984). “In 1980 Brown was convicted of diverting electricity from the Homer Electric Association in violation of AS 42.20.030 (a misdemeanor statute concerned with obstruction of electric, gas, telegraph or telephone lines).”
Selman v. State, 406 P.2d 181 (Alaska 1965). “Diverting electric current in violation of AS 42.20.030(7) ; Count II. Larceny of electricity in violation of AS 11.”
Alaska Stat. § 42.20.030(a): 2 cases
Golden Valley Elec. Ass'n v. Revel, 719 P.2d 263 (Alaska 1986). “MEASURE OF DAMAGES UNDER AS 42.20.030(a) GVEA argues that Revel is civilly liable for its costs of investigating his theft of utility service.”
Fairbanks North Star Borough v. Roen Design Assocs., Inc., 727 P.2d 758 (Alaska 1986). “2d 263, 264 (Alaska 1986) (per curiam) (interpreting AS 42.20.030(a)); Kodiak Electric Ass'n v.”
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