President Mirziyoyev approved amendments to the Code of Administrative Responsibility and the Criminal Code on Monday, the Ministry of Justice said.
According to the amendments, unauthorized connection to public electricity, heat, gas or water supply networks for commercial purposes or deliberate damage to electricity, natural gas, cold or hot water meters, including their seals, or interference with them work from outside to change the readings would qualify as theft.
The punishment for this is 5 years in prison.
Small fines for such an offense have been introduced into the Code of Administrative Liability, from 10 to 20 basic settlement units (from 3 to 6 million soums) or administrative arrest for up to 15 days can be applied.
