Pubdate: Wed, 19 Apr 2006
Source: Sooke News Mirror (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Sooke News Mirror
Contact:  http://www.sookenewsmirror.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2142
Author: Kevin Diakiw
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

HYDRO WILL TARGET SUSPECTED B.C. GROW OPS

Heavy Users Of Electricity Will Be Reported To Police Under New B.C. 
Legislation.

Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records 
on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine 
whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow operation.

Marijuana grow ops require high power consumption, typically three to 
10 times the amount used by a normal home.

"This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down 
marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," 
Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, 
as he introduced Bill 25. "With these amendments, municipalities will 
now be able to obtain information from electricity companies about 
residences with unusual power consumption."

The names and addresses of the account holders will now be given to 
local authorities to investigate whether their homes contain a grow 
operation, he said.

One of the main impediments to the program, investigators say, has 
been the time-consuming process of acquiring BC Hydro information 
through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act 
(FOI). To obtain an FOI request, the city first had to have tips from 
neighbours. Now the investigation process will be reversed: power 
records first, then assessment.

Launched last year, the Electrical Fire Safety Initiative (EFSI) 
involved fire, police, bylaw and building inspectors tracking high 
energy use and posting a notice that the home will be inspected in 48 hours.

Len Garis, Surrey Fire Chief, acknowledges the new legislation will 
be controversial.

"The new program may be viewed by some as an infringement of privacy, 
however it is believed that the public's safety is more compelling 
and outweighs any privacy rights," Garis said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom