CRIME STOPPERS AND HYDRO TEAM UP TO STOP GROW OPS

BC Hydro is partnering with the British Columbia Crime Stoppers
Association to encourage people to report suspected marijuana grow
operations, BC Hydro and the Ministry of Public Safety and the
Solicitor General announced Friday.

BC Hydro's energy diversion investigators will now be able to receive
addresses of suspected grow-ops reported to the Crime Stoppers' Tip
Line. This new information will assist the investigators in confirming
energy thefts and recovering funds. Where evidence of thefts is found,
BC Hydro lays complaints with law enforcement agencies, which in turn
obtain search warrants and recommend charging suspects.

"We believe that the partnership will increase identification of
electricity theft and ultimately assist police in shutting down
grow-ops in B.C.," said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor
General John Les.

"Our government is working to put a stop to marijuana grow-ops by
improving links between BC Hydro, local governments, and safety and
law enforcement agencies."

"BC Hydro takes the issue of energy diversion very seriously," said
Bob Elton, BC Hydro's president and CEO. "Energy diversions and
marijuana grow-ops create safety risks for BC Hydro employees, first
responders and the public. Illegitimate consumption of electricity by
marijuana grow-ops is also a waste of electricity and an affront to
the efforts of legitimate customers to conserve."

Anyone who knows of a suspected marijuana grow operation can call the
Crime Stoppers tip line from anywhere in
British Columbia. Or you can leave a secure tip online.
The organization will then refer those tips
to the police and advise BC Hydro of the addresses.