HYDRO REVENUES GO TO POT

TORONTO--Hydroponic pot growing operations -- such as one broken up last
night in Greely -- are stealing as much as $500 million in electricity each
year at an estimated cost to provincial consumers of $3-5 a month on their
hydro bills.

Liberal MPP Michael Bryant yesterday called for the provincial government
to weed out these illegal pot labs.

"I think Ontarians would be rightly steamed to learn that while they're
being asked to conserve electricity, some pot-growing energy thief next
door is toking up all the electricity, causing brownouts and blackouts,
driving up electricity prices, and sending the neighbourhood up in smoke,"
Bryant.

Pot growers dig through the foundation of houses to tap directly into
electrical wires, giving them free power.

But their tampering can also create a dangerous fire hazard and a high risk
of a neighbourhood blackout.

In last night's bust, a house on Tommary Dr. in Greely had been rewired to
bypass meters. Hydro Ottawa workers had to be called in to help tactical
and drug squad officers.

Two men 22 and 33 and a woman 23 were arrested.

Sixty marijuarna plants and a quantity of other drugs were seized at the scene.

Police said the woman and the 33-year-old man were wanted on warrants for
similar activities in BC.

Bryant is asking the Ontario government to devote more police resources to
the problem and also allow electrical companies to place liens on houses
for unpaid bills.

Dope Dens Weeded Out

Some of the grow-ops recently busted by Ottawa police:

Thursday, June 13: A five-bedroom luxury home once raffled in CHEO's Dream
of a Lifetime lottery was raided by Ottawa drug squad officers. Officers
hauled away 465 plants.

Friday, May 24: Ottawa drug officers raid two Kanata homes that had been
converted into marijuana growing operations. They uncover about $900,000
worth of marijuana and arrested two people.

Between mid-April and early May: Police raid 12 homes and seize more than
$3,675,000 worth of pot plants.