Pubdate: Mon, 16 Jan 2012
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html
Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Bill Penhale
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n038/a03.html

POWER COMPANIES SHOULD REPORT THEIR SUSPICIONS ABOUT GROW OPS

Re: "Time to take drug growers' power theft seriously,"  Diane 
Colley-Urquhart, Opinion, Jan. 13.

Thank you for this great column - from all the right perspectives! 
The only thing is that it shouldn't have been happening in the first 
place. I think we need a law to hold power distribution companies 
responsible to monitor usage, within some reasonable limits, and to 
inform the police of suspected or probable theft so that swift action 
can be taken and marijuana production reduced, at least.

The apparent practice of power generation companies maximizing their 
gross revenues at the expense of the public interest is egregious, 
and strong corrective action should be taken at the board and senior 
management levels of such organizations.

Even if there is an added cost to install suitable distribution 
detection equipment, these companies have a fundamental 
responsibility to serve the public interest in exchange for the 
privilege of being in business and the special protection they 
receive from competition as utilities.

It sounds to me as though our laws may be deficient and, if so, this 
should be made public and quickly corrected.

Bill Penhale,

Calgary
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom