Section 37-12-402 - Civil action allowed(a) In addition to any applicable criminal penalties, a utility may bring a civil action for damages against any person who: (i) Commits, authorizes, solicits, aids, abets or attempts any act of bypassing, tampering, or unauthorized metering resulting in damages to the utility; (ii) Knowingly receives utility service through bypassing, tampering or unauthorized metering. (b) Any action brought under this section shall be commenced within three (3) years after the cause of action accrues. (c) In any civil action brought under this section, the utility, upon proof of willful or intentional bypassing, tampering or unauthorized metering, may recover as damages two (2) times the amount of its actual damages plus all reasonable expenses incurred because of the bypassing, tampering or unauthorized metering, including expenses for investigation, disconnection, reconnection, service calls, employees and equipment, expert witnesses, costs of the suit and reasonable attorney fees.