MARIJUANA TRI-LEVEL EFFORT TARGETS GROW-OPS' POWER SOURCE

It's lights out for grow ops in Surrey.

The province, city and B.C. Hydro are set to announce a new initiative that
could shut power down to homes with marijuana grow ops in Surrey.

In the works for some time, city crews-including fire and electrical
inspectors-will perform preliminary inspections regarding power consumption,
electrical permits and exterior improvements.

If a grow op is suspected, RCMP, the fire department and an electrical
inspector will knock on the door.

If there's no answer (as will be the case in most grow ops) a 72-hour notice
will be placed on the door demanding inspection, and if one isn't allowed,
power to the home will be cut off.

The result will be the same if inspectors do gain access and discover a grow
op, as indoor pot operations always require rewiring that violate electrical
code.

The 90-day trial is a first in Canada and it will be tested exclusively in
Surrey.

Privacy issues have prevented B.C. Hydro from reporting power spikes in
order to prompt police action, and there's no indication that will change.

What's new is the power authority will respond to safety complaints and cut
off the power to the home.

Mayor Doug McCallum is thrilled with the initiative.

"It will just give us another huge tool" to tackle grow operations in
Surrey, McCallum said Thursday.

"It's really exciting to finally get a real hammer against any grow ops."

He said there will be a "number" of city staff involved in a team approach
to shutting down the power at grow operations.

It's been estimated there are up to 4,500 grow operations in Surrey, a
figure McCallum considers high.

"We have a lot of grow ops in Surrey," he said, adding police shut down 250
last year alone.

"When you take down 250 a year, it's a lot."

He thinks the initiative will put tremendous pressure on people who grow
marijuana.

"I firmly believe it's the only way to address it," McCallum said.

"If you've got a grow op in Surrey, you better look out, because we're going
to shut you down."

McCallum said the initiative is the brainchild of Surrey Fire Chief Len
Garis.

Garis declined comment.

An announcement was expected Friday and the "demonstration" project to begin
in the several weeks.