HYDRO RECORDS SHOW DROP IN GROW OPS

Electrical records show a dramatic drop in marijuana grow operations
among cities participating in a safety initiative designed to shut
down indoor pot plantations.

But the initiatives are also having an effect on municipalities that
aren't participating, the figures show.

Through a Freedom of Information request, The Leader has obtained
electrical usage summaries from B.C. Hydro of unusually high
electrical consumers.

The document shows nearly a 20 per cent drop in high consumption rates
among the six cities involved in the Electrical Fire Safety
Initiative, a program started by Surrey's fire chief in 2005 to shut
down marijuana grow operations.

He was moved to start the program after reading about the dangers of
grow operations in a criminology report prepared by the University
College of the Fraser Valley.

The records show there were 4,583 homes with high consumption in
August 2006 and 3,678 a year later.

There was also a 5.6 per cent drop in high consumption rates
throughout the rest of the Lower Mainland, and 6.4 per cent in all
other areas of B.C.

Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis says the numbers say two things: the grow
op initiative is working, and word is getting out to non-participating
municipalities that their day will soon come.

He said much of that is due to provincial legislation passed in 2006
giving municipalities access to high consumption records kept by B.C.
Hydro.

High consumption is defined as a home that uses more than 93
kilowatt-hours of electricity per day, three times the average.

High power use is often accompanied with marijuana grow
operations.

"I would say that Bill 25 sends a strong message to individuals who
are contemplating altering their electrical systems and creating
public safety issues associated with marijuana grow operations," Garis
said Friday.

A representative from B.C. Hydro said analysts with the power company
agree with Garis' explanation.

"It's their opinion that likely some of the decrease is still
attributable to (people responsible for) grow ops learning about the
legislation and anticipating that local governments in these areas...
could launch a safety inspection team," said Hydro spokesperson Susan
Danard.

The civic program isn't without challenges, and is currently facing a
court challenge, which may result in the law being found
unconstitutional.

A judicial decision is expected on the bylaw sometime before September
of this year.