Terms as used in this section and, §§ 49-34-19 to 49-34-21, inclusive, and sections 2 and 3 of this Act mean: (1) "Bypassing," the act of attaching, connecting, or in any manner affixing any wire, cord, socket, motor or other instrument, device, or contrivance to the utility supply system or any part thereof in a manner as to transmit, supply, or use any utility service without passing through an authorized meter for measuring or registering the amount of utility service; (2) "Customer," the person responsible for payment for utility services for the premises. The term includes employees and agents of the customer; (3) "Smart meter," an electronic or digital device that records usage data of the utility service and communicates the data to a utility; (4) "Tampering," damaging, altering, adjusting, or in any manner interfering with or obstructing the action or operation of any meter provided for measuring or registering the amount of utility service passing through the meter, or any valve provided by the utility for preventing back flow of water into the supply lines, or any other devices owned and maintained by the utility; (4)(5) "Unauthorized metering," removing, moving, installing, connecting, reconnecting, or disconnecting any meter or metering device for utility service by a person other than an authorized employee or agent of a utility; (5)(6) "Utility," any public utility, municipally owned utility, rural water system, or cooperative utility, which provides electricity, gas, or water for sale to consumers; 25 (6)(7) "Utility service," the provision of electricity, gas, water, or any other service or commodity customarily furnished by the utility for compensation; and (7)(8) "Utility supply system," includes all wire, conduits, pipes, cords, sockets, motors, meters, instruments, and all other devices used by the utility for the purpose of providing a utility service.