HYDRO WILL LEND HELPING HAND TO BUST GROW-OPS

Acquiring as many tools as possible to deal with Nanaimo's marijuana
grow-op problem is important to Randy Churchill.

Nanaimo's bylaw manager said he's waiting for more information from
B.C. Hydro and the provincial government about a new program that
allows municipalities to request information about customers who are
using excessive energy.

"We haven't seen anything yet and, when we do receive more information
on the program, we'll have to report to council on what it's about and
the cost implications if the city chooses to participate," he said.

Churchill said, if council chooses to take part in the program, it
would go a long way to better ensure the safety and security of the
citizens of Nanaimo.

He said fires caused by grow-ops is just one of the issues because
there is also a criminal element to these operations.

"They exist right in the middle of our neighbourhoods and the homes
where they operate are known to be often broken into by other
criminals," he said.

"We don't want to see criminals chasing each other with guns and
knives in our neighbourhoods."

B.C. Hydro's Elisha Moreno said the new program allows municipalities
to request information from B.C. Hydro about the energy consumption of
customers in specific areas.

She said B.C. Hydro will provide the municipalities a list of those
using an unusual amount of electricity in the targeted areas.

The lists will not be made public.