Pubdate: Mon, 21 Mar 2005
Source: Nelson Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Nelson Daily News
Contact:  http://www.nelsondailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/288
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

B.C. HYDRO COULD HELP BUST GROW-OPS

MLA Suffredine Supports Solicitor General's Push To Have Utility Help In 
Cracking Down On Pot Growers

The number of marijuana grow-ops in the province could be reduced if BC 
Hydro was enabled to share their customers' billing information with 
police, says local MLA Blair Suffredine.

Last week, Solicitor General Rich Coleman urged BC Hydro to help police in 
their battle against drugs.  He asked the Crown corporation to turn 
information over to the authorities when customers have unusually high 
power bills, which may indicate a possible grow operation in the residence.

Suffredine said he's generally supportive of Coleman's request, but says it 
would first require legislative changes.  BC Hydro is bound by the 
Information and Protection of Personal Privacy Act not to divulge 
customer's billing information with anyone.

"I recognize that BC Hydro is in a difficult position to release the 
information voluntarily," he said.

Suffredine said similar provisions to what is included under the Income Tax 
Act could be applied to this case.  By doing so, police would be able to 
access billing information as part of their investigative process.  If the 
information provided to police would be kept confidential if it didn't 
result in a charge.

The MLA says if BC Hydro could come on board, it would be an effective way 
to crack down on grows.

"Grow-ops are often easily detected by the patterns in the power," said 
Suffredine.

When the MLA was formerly a narcotic prosecution agent, Suffredine said 
they would often use power consumption records in support of search warrant 
application because they could show dramatic increases in power at times of 
the year when there was no logical basis for it.

"There's certainly reasonable evidence that we can get from them," he said.

Suffredine said the solicitor general is considering legislative changes to 
enable BC Hydro to divulge information with authorities as a tool to reduce 
the number of grow operations in the province.

When the local MLA was asked whether or not the Nelson-Creston riding has a 
problem with grows in his area he responded; "There's a problem with 
marijuana grow-ops all through British Columbia."

Suffredine said it's "hard to tell" if the local area has more operations 
than in other areas.

"We certainly have the reputation that we do," he said.  "But I'm not able 
to go out there and say I've seen them.  I haven't."

The Nelson Daily News could not reach the Nelson City Police for comment.
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