LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW HYDRO TO PINPOINT GROW OPS

Legislation that could allow BC Hydro to release information that
could help police uncover marijuana grow operations is expected to be
introduced in the legislature next spring.

Changes to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
could allow the utility company to pass on to police information about
residences legally using an inordinately high amount of
electricity.

Police currently receive tips from BC Hydro if electricity is being
stolen using an electrical bypass, but under the act, BC Hydro is
unable to provide information about customers' high (or low) use of
electricity unless the information is sought by police as part of a
criminal investigation.

The legislation is the latest in a long list of ideas to help
municipalities stamp out grow ops, including pilot projects like that
unveiled in Surrey earlier this year.

There, a team of firefighters, police and electrical inspectors
investigated homes with unusually high electrical power consumption.
If the residence was found to be a hazard, or an inspection was not
permitted in a reasonable time, power was shut down. A permit and an
inspection by the Surrey electrical inspector was then required before
power was restored.

Statistics show that a house with a grow op is 25 times more likely to
go up in flames.

- - With files from the Vancouver Sun