HYDRO CAN'T POINT OUT SUSPECTED GROW OPS

Even if electrical bills show consumption rates suggestive of a marijuana
grow op, it's beyond the legal rights of BC Hydro to report that information.

While most pot grow operators steal the electricity by rewiring power
lines, some legally use the power to the home, and pay the bills. Because
of the grow lights and fans required, the cost is usually eight to 10 times
that of a typical home and therefore easy to identify.

The provincial power authority does report thefts of electricity to police,
which often results in the bust of a marijuana grow operation. However,
officials with Hydro say they can't become more involved, and that's drawn
criticism from the public, particularly residents of neighbourhoods plagued
by pot operations.

Carman Hutmacher, BC Hydro's manager of security services, said or a
variety of reasons, the company is restricted in what it can do.

"We're confined by the Freedom of Information Act," he said. "We're not
allowed to report that information unless police request that information
(through the Act.)"

In addition, customers enter into an agreement with the electrical
authority that guarantees client confidentiality.

"We can't violate that without legal implications," says Elisha Odowichuk,
media relations manager for BC Hydro.

Odowichuk and Hutmacher are also concerned about becoming an enforcement
arm for the police.

"We have to be cautious - we don't have the same powers as the police,"
Hutmacher said. "The grow op, per se, is nothing that BC Hydro can do
anything about - it's a police matter."

Hydro investigated about 600 homes province-wide last year for the theft of
electricity. How many of those are in the Surrey area are not known.

Const. Tim Shields said Monday the Surrey RCMP enjoy a close working
relationship with BC Hydro, within the confines of the authority's legal
ability.

Any amount of help is welcome, Shields said.

The local RCMP's drug squad recently reported that there are between 3,500
and 4,500 marijuana grow operations in the city.