Electricity Supply Industry Act 1995

A person must not, without proper authority, take or divert electricity. For a body corporate a fine not exceeding 1 000 penalty units and for a natural person a fine not exceeding 500 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year, or both.

In proceedings for an offence against subsection (1) – evidence of the finding of a device that would have enabled the unlawful taking or diversion of electricity by the defendant; or evidence of tampering by the defendant or someone acting with the defendant's authority with a meter for recording consumption of electricity supplied to the defendant's premises – establishes, in the absence of proof to the contrary, the unlawful taking or diversion of electricity by the defendant.

A person must not run a line capable of carrying an electricity supply beyond the boundaries of property occupied by the person unless – the person is an electricity entity; or the electricity supply line is authorised under the regulations. For a body corporate a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units and for a natural person a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.