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 - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom