Pubdate: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 Source: Oak Bay News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Oak Bay News Contact: http://www.oakbaynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1346 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) HYDRO WILL HELP HUNT 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. "With these amendments, municipalities will now be able to obtain information from electricity companies about residences with unusual power consumption," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday. 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. It's the latest tool in a new program first used by the Surrey and Abbotsford fire departments. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom