SMART METERS MEAN END OF GROW-OPS: FIRE CHIEF

New BC Hydro technology will enable cities to shut down every illegal
pot grow-op within their borders, according to Surrey's fire chief.

The province has ordered the installation of "smart meters" in every
home throughout B.C. The devices will show homeowners - and BC Hydro
- - their power usage in real time.

Under Bill 25, municipalities will also have access to that data.

Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis says that will mean an end to grow-ops in
this city and any other that chooses to use the data.

Garis is the architect of the Electrical Fire Safety Initiative
(EFSI), a team of firefighters, bylaw officers, city inspectors and
police officers that can place an order on homeowners to allow an
inspection of the residence within 72 hours.

If the homeowner doesn't comply, the city comes back with a warrant to enter.

The homes in question are flagged by high power usage - often caused
by hydroponic grow lamps that require a lot of energy.

However, if the power is bypassed or stolen, it is virtually
impossible to detect them through BC Hydro.

That will all come to an end with smart meters, Garis said.

Small clusters of homes will feed into a neighbourhood box which will
measure the power usage in that small area. Stolen power will be
detected in real time.

In addition, spikes in power theft will be detected instantly.

"If you buy or rent a home and turn on 10 or 15 (hydroponic) lights,
that data will basically be available to indicate that there's been
an increase in the power that's being consumed at this particular
residence," Garis said. "Why is that?"

BC Hydro is reporting that it is now losing $100 million annually
from stolen power. Garis notes that during his EFSI inspections, the
number of homes with stolen electricity has climbed from 30 per cent
a few years ago to 50 per cent this year.

"If there's anything that will have a single dramatic effect on
grow-ops in the province of British Columbia, it will be the
installation of smart metering on the grids and homes," Garis said.

He added Surrey would welcome becoming a test city for the use of
smart meters in tackling marijuana grow operations.

The smart meters are expected to be fully installed in 2012.