HYDRO BILLS EYED FOR GROW-OPS?

Richmond fire inspectors want to take a peek at your next hydro bill.

It's part of a trial strategy meant to sniff out the city's grow-ops.
City council is being asked to give the idea the thumbs up at a meeting today.

If approved, the plan would see the creation of an electrical safety
inspection program targeting grow-ops. B.C. Hydro would be asked to
reveal the names and addresses of residents who use at least triple
the average electricity consumption rate, and a five-person team
would be charged with investigating unusually high usage.

The model is based on a recent pilot program in Surrey, which is
credited with busting 118 grow ops over a three-month period. Over
the same stretch, Surrey RCMP took down 75 grow-ops.

It could represent an apparent shift towards addressing the public
safety concerns of grow-ops, as opposed to criminal prosecution.

In Surrey, a report from fire chief Len Garis notes law enforcement
has been steadily leaning towards dismantling grow-ops without
necessarily pursuing criminal prosecution, because prosecution
requirements have become more stringent.

"This is coupled with the seeming reluctance of the courts to address
the burgeoning marijuana trade through increased penalties," Garis writes.

B.C. municipalities are allowed to ask B.C. Hydro for reports on
suspiciously high-consumption patterns after the province made
changes to its Safety Standards Act earlier this year.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Just how many grow-ops are there in B.C.?

- - According to the Fraser Institute: 7,000 - 17,550 grow-ops in 2004,
a $2 billion value.

- - According to the RCMP:

20,000 grow-ops in 2005

$7 billion value