Got a grow-op? BC Hydro will shut you down!

[SCRawl]

From here

SURREY, British Columbia (AFP) - It's not hard for police to identify the pot growers in this western Canada town: They merely scan residents' utility bills to determine who is using a lot more power than the average homeowner.

Armed with that information, local authorities cut the power off to the home of the suspected offender, often leaving scores of pot growers without the artifical light and water needed to cultivate their home-grown cash crop.


British Columbia, with a population of four million, has an estimated 20,000 inhabitants who raise a potent local marijuana known here as "B.C. Bud."


The plants, collectively worth nearly seven billion dollars each year, account for a whopping six percent of this province's power consumption.


The labor-intensive crop is an energy sponge thanks in large part to the 1,000 watt halogen lights, fans, irrigation pumps and other equipment needed for their cultivation. As a result, the pot growers' energy bills are about three times that of the average consumer.


Those energy consumption patterns drew the notice of authorities, who have benefitted from a 2006 law allowing BC Hydro, the area's main power company, to share its residential power consumption records with local officials.


Armed with a list of likely offenders, a team of inspectors -- including a firefighter, an electrician, an admistrative employee and two policmen -- is dispatched to each suspect residence.


"We inspect between 70 and 80 homes a month, said Len Garis, head of firefighters in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver.


Inspectors are looking to verify, first and foremost, that the power lines' insulation coating is in good condition and that the circuit breakers are working properly.


About 90 percent of the time, this is not the case: Inspections often reveal serious problems in the electrical connections as a result of the high demands placed on them. According to the city, pot growers' homes have a 24 times greater chance than the average home of catching fire and burning down.


In the event of electrical problems, the current to the home is cut and cannot be reestablished until repairs are made.


The inspection team rarely sees the real target of the operation -- the pot plants -- because authorities are obliged by law to notify residents at least 48 hours prior to an inspection. The early tip usually gives the home pot grower more that adequate time to stow away his illicit crop.


"It's not about a criminal operation, but simply a means of insuring security for the people," said Joel Giebelhaus, an aide to Surrey's mayor.


Since the beginning of inspections in 2006, the number of home cannabis plantations has dropped by 65 percent in Surrey and 14 other towns in the province participating in the power-cutoff approach to the war on drugs.


"I'm afraid of these inspections," one local marijuana farmer told AFP, under condition of anonymity, acknowledging that without power, it would be impossible to operate the powerful lights he has going 18 hours a day to keep his pot plants growing.


It is not a one-sided battle however.


Marc Emery, who heads the "BC Marijuana Party," a small political group pushing for the legalization of pot, insisted that the province's offensive will prove futile, as growers figure out new methods to grow their crops without overtaxing the power infrastructure.


For example, one company selling hydroponic crop equipment also stocks a lamp that consumes 80 percent less energy than the traditional grow lamps.

In a counter-punch however, officials in some localities decided in late September to impose tighter restrictions on the companies selling hydroponic growing equipment.

You know, I'm certainly not in favour of the criminalization of marijuana -- though I do see some issues that would have to be worked out first -- but I have no sympathy for these assholes who turn houses into grow-ops, creating fire hazards and other problems for everyone else. I do think that this practice is a little too friendly to the pot-growers. Why not use these tools to target them for raids?

[General Zod]

I only have one problem with this. . . .

Armed with that information, local authorities cut the power off to the home of the suspected offender, often leaving scores of pot growers without the artifical light and water needed to cultivate their home-grown cash crop.

Shouldn't they wait until after they confirm they are in fact growing pot before cutting the power? Unless they're somehow in violation of their energy contract by using more power than average?

[SCRawl]

I only have one problem with this. . . .

Armed with that information, local authorities cut the power off to the home of the suspected offender, often leaving scores of pot growers without the artifical light and water needed to cultivate their home-grown cash crop.

Shouldn't they wait until after they confirm they are in fact growing pot before cutting the power? Unless they're somehow in violation of their energy contract by using more power than average?

If you look a little further down, the procedure appears to be:

- generate a list of suspected grow-ops
- investigate with the team, consisting of a firefighter, electrician and two cops
- make sure there aren't any electrical problems, and if there are, shut off the power

About 90% of the time, according to the article, there are problems serious enough to warrant the juice being turned off. I admit that the early tone of the article makes it look like Big Brother is looking to shut down power to grow-ops, and will do so with the flick of a switch, but it's a little more subtle than that.

[Rahvin]

I only have one problem with this. . . .

Armed with that information, local authorities cut the power off to the home of the suspected offender, often leaving scores of pot growers without the artifical light and water needed to cultivate their home-grown cash crop.

Shouldn't they wait until after they confirm they are in fact growing pot before cutting the power? Unless they're somehow in violation of their energy contract by using more power than average?

Inspectors are looking to verify, first and foremost, that the power lines' insulation coating is in good condition and that the circuit breakers are working properly.


About 90 percent of the time, this is not the case: Inspections often reveal serious problems in the electrical connections as a result of the high demands placed on them. According to the city, pot growers' homes have a 24 times greater chance than the average home of catching fire and burning down.


In the event of electrical problems, the current to the home is cut and cannot be reestablished until repairs are made.

"It's not about a criminal operation, but simply a means of insuring security for the people," said Joel Giebelhaus, an aide to Surrey's mayor.

They don't need to verify anything - the targets typically happen to be pot growers, but really, this same policy would apply to anyone with unusually high energy usage. The increased power demands cause an increased risk of fire - the cutting of power is not intended to stop the pot growers (though I'm sure it's viewed as a nice perk), it's intended to stop a severe safety hazard.

The article doesn't say they are making arrests or otherwise proceeding against suspected growers. In fact, it seems to be saying the exact opposite. It's not directly about pot - it's about increased electrical usage causing fire hazards.

[Xisiqomelir]

Why not use these tools to target them for raids?

Because Canada is a civilized nation and its police must abide by the rules for search and inspection?

[Soontir C'boath]

Marc Emery, who heads the "BC Marijuana Party," a small political group pushing for the legalization of pot, insisted that the province's offensive will prove futile, as growers figure out new methods to grow their crops without overtaxing the power infrastructure.

For example, one company selling hydroponic crop equipment also stocks a lamp that consumes 80 percent less energy than the traditional grow lamps.

If these operations of cutting power to these pot growers would chase them to use those more efficient lamps, then it wasn't futile.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

In the United States, information like that would, with no other proof except for the high electricity usage, lead to the DEA putting together two SWAT teams in helicopters and obtaining a no-knock warrant from some 86 year old senile judge, rapelling down onto the person's house and coming in through their skylight, and immediately shooting anyone who moved and then blaming it on the now dead individuals for "resisting arrest".

[[R_H]]

Why don't the growers start using generators and power from the grid simulataneously to avoid being targeted (ie use the generator to reduce use of power from the grid)?

[Kanastrous]

Although fires/explosions in meth labs are common enough, I have yet to find a report of a fire in a grow-facility caused by electrical over-draw...or anything else, for that matter.

[SCRawl]

Why not use these tools to target them for raids?

Because Canada is a civilized nation and its police must abide by the rules for search and inspection?

I'm not talking about violating their rights -- I'm talking about using this information to establish probable cause for a police search. Is that unreasonable?

[General Zod]

Why don't the growers start using generators and power from the grid simulataneously to avoid being targeted (ie use the generator to reduce use of power from the grid)?

Aside from the obscene gasoline costs and generators being even more inefficient?

[Aaron]

This has been going on for years. At least for the last decade since I left BC. From what I gather their using the electrical code to shut you down, looking to see if your violating it and shutting the hydro down as precaution. Their using the massive hydro consumption as a tip off and then using the electrical code violations as an excuse to shut you down rather than go through the hassle of a police raid. Cheaper anyways.

[Aaron]

Why don't the growers start using generators and power from the grid simulataneously to avoid being targeted (ie use the generator to reduce use of power from the grid)?

Probably because aside from the cost of gasoline, a generator running 24/7 is bound to draw suspicion. Especialy one big enough to run a huge grow-op.

[SCRawl]

Although fires/explosions in meth labs are common enough, I have yet to find a report of a fire in a grow-facility caused by electrical over-draw...or anything else, for that matter.

Here's one.

Building superintendent arrested in apartment grow-op bust
$6 million worth of marijuana seized from 22 apartments
Last Updated: Friday, November 24, 2006 | 2:57 PM ET
CBC News

A building superintendent was among three men arrested in connection with a marijuana grow-operation spanning nearly two dozen apartment units in a single Toronto highrise, police said.

Officers first entered the 13-storey North York building on Jane Street, north of Sheppard Avenue West, around 10 a.m. Thursday to execute five search warrants, but then found a number of other apartments also housing marijuana plants.

More than 6,000 marijuana plants were seized from 22 apartments. The estimated street value of the seized plants is more than $6 million, with an additional 15 kilograms of dried marijuana valued at $45,000.

At a news conference Friday, police showed a video of what they are calling a "sophisticated" operation that produced high quality marijuana likely headed to the United States.
Coverings to conceal smell

The video showed holes in the walls, high wattage lights and screens covering windows in an effort to conceal the operation.

Coverings had been placed on mail slots and oven vents were left on at all times to reduce the smell of the operation. Unlike many operations, it was soil-based rather than hydroponic.
Continue Article

"You can see the mould and the moisture and the buildup on the walls," said Toronto police Sgt. Dave Malcolm. "You can see the spores floating around inside the apartment."

Officers donned protective gear and masks when entering the apartments to keep from breathing in mould spores or bringing them away from the building on their clothes.

Inside, officers found pots of plants and floors strewn with toxic fertilizers. They said the operations were a fire hazard.

Fire at building earlier in year

Toronto police refused to comment on what sparked the investigation.

Earlier this year, officers were alerted to a grow-op in one of the apartments in the building after a fire at the building, but police said Friday they never detected additional operations.

Police made a special point of thanking Toronto Hydro Corporation and the city's Municipal Standards and Licensing Division for their help in the investigation.

Grow-ops in apartment buildings can be difficult for police to detect because some buildings have a single hydro meter. That makes it less likely spikes in electricity consumption will be noticed.

Building had power outages in summer, tenant says

Shocked residents watched as officers wheeled out bags of marijuana and equipment throughout the day.

Michael Gates, who recently moved into the building, said he never noticed anything out of the ordinary.

He recalls a few power outages during the summer that were quickly fixed by the landlord and remembers catching a whiff of marijuana from time to time.

"I guess with any building nowadays you're going to smell stuff like weed … so we smelled that a few times, but I just passed it off as someone having fun in the stairway," said Gates. "I didn't realize it was any bigger than that."

He's now considering moving out of the building, worried a grow-op may not be the only criminal activity going on there.

Meanwhile, city health and fire officials will be checking the building Friday for air quality, fire hazards and mould.

All three Toronto men arrested in connection with the grow-operation appeared in a courtroom at Old City Hall on Friday morning.

Daniel Wallace, 47, of Toronto faced charges of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. Police described him as the superintendent of the building.

Thirty-five-year-old Tat Thang Nguyen was charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, five counts of producing marijuana and five counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Dinh Pham, 46, is also charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, producing marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Buildings housing grow-ops do present a fire hazard, and lead to mould problems as well. Sometimes it happens that someone will set up a grow-op in a house, then clear it out and sell the place, leaving the new owner with a electrical and mould problems. These aren't benign operations we're discussing.

[Aaron]

Buildings housing grow-ops do present a fire hazard, and lead to mould problems as well. Sometimes it happens that someone will set up a grow-op in a house, then clear it out and sell the place, leaving the new owner with a electrical and mould problems. These aren't benign operations we're discussing.

Indeed not, in fact it's become recommended in recent years in the Lower Mainland that when you go to buy a house that you get a house inspector trained to look for grow-op signs so you don't get the shaft.

[MKSheppard]

Indeed not, in fact it's become recommended in recent years in the Lower Mainland that when you go to buy a house that you get a house inspector trained to look for grow-op signs so you don't get the shaft.

But remember, pot is a victimless crime!

[Aaron]

But remember, pot is a victimless crime!

Well these are all certainly arguments that could be advanced in favour of legalisation.

[General Zod]

But remember, pot is a victimless crime!

Of course, if it were legalized they could get proper facilities for growing it instead of relying on hackjobs that cause damage to the home they're living in. . . .especially if the rate the power company is finding these types of problems is commonplace.

[Kanastrous]

Earlier this year, officers were alerted to a grow-op in one of the apartments in the building after a fire at the building, but police said Friday they never detected additional operations.

Doesn't say if the grow-op caused the fire, or whether it was discovered in the course of fighting the fire...but yeah, maybe that's one case, there.

[SCRawl]

But remember, pot is a victimless crime!

Of course, if it were legalized they could get proper facilities for growing it instead of relying on hackjobs that cause damage to the home they're living in. . . .especially if the rate the power company is finding these types of problems is commonplace.

For sure. Imagine greenhouses instead of banks of 1000W lamps running 16 hours per day, with proper ventilation. The problem is that unscrupulous individuals are taking advantage of the climate to produce this contraband illegally. If marijuana were to be legalized (which, again, would require some accompanying legislation) then the incentive for setting up these grow-ops would disappear.

[SCRawl]

Earlier this year, officers were alerted to a grow-op in one of the apartments in the building after a fire at the building, but police said Friday they never detected additional operations.

Doesn't say if the grow-op caused the fire, or whether it was discovered in the course of fighting the fire...but yeah, maybe that's one case, there.

This is true; I'm connecting the dots, and while I can't logically say that the grow-op caused the fire, it does seem to be implied. The article in the OP says that grow-ops have a 24-fold increase in their likelihood to cause a fire, which implies that some data on this issue must exist (ie. there must have been some fires in grow-ops).

[Xisiqomelir]

Why not use these tools to target them for raids?

Because Canada is a civilized nation and its police must abide by the rules for search and inspection?

I'm not talking about violating their rights -- I'm talking about using this information to establish probable cause for a police search. Is that unreasonable?

Isn't that what's happening? Do you object to the 48 hours notice?

[Kanastrous]

I'm connecting the dots, and while I can't logically say that the grow-op caused the fire, it does seem to be implied.

Seems they would have been explicit about a direct connection...but, well, maybe.

The article in the OP says that grow-ops have a 24-fold increase in their likelihood to cause a fire, which implies that some data on this issue must exist (ie. there must have been some fires in grow-ops).

Various articles about Iraqi W's of MD slung various figures around, too, implying that *they* had data...and we all know how that worked out.

I think there's more reason to assume lying on the part of law enforcement, politicos, and the press regarding drug cultivation, than on the part of the cultivators themselves.

[SCRawl]

Because Canada is a civilized nation and its police must abide by the rules for search and inspection?

I'm not talking about violating their rights -- I'm talking about using this information to establish probable cause for a police search. Is that unreasonable?

Isn't that what's happening? Do you object to the 48 hours notice?

What's happening is that they're getting busted for fire code violations. It's better than nothing, but having the cops show up with a search warrant, without notice, granted in part thanks to the information about the increased electricity usage, would be a better way to shut down illegal grow operations. I'm not talking about having a SWAT team break down their doors, or even granting the search warrant solely on their electricity bill. The scope of the warrant could be nothing more than a thorough look-see (i.e. "is there a grow-op? if not, move on"), and some additional surveillance would be needed to bolster the unusual electricity usage details.

As it is, the operators have two days to move their stuff to a new location, where they can start over until they're found again, and so on. I suppose that they'll eventually run out of places to which they can relocate, but in the meantime the houses they've been using can become unsuitable for habitation.

No, there needs to be a little more disincentive to starting a grow-op. This sort of thing isn't bad, but it could be better. I've also heard of police using a helicopter rigged with FLIR to find unusual heat sources, and peg them in that manner for further investigation. I don't know if any of the police services in BC have access to helicopters, but it seems to me that that could work.

[Aaron]

No, there needs to be a little more disincentive to starting a grow-op. This sort of thing isn't bad, but it could be better. I've also heard of police using a helicopter rigged with FLIR to find unusual heat sources, and peg them in that manner for further investigation. I don't know if any of the police services in BC have access to helicopters, but it seems to me that that could work.

The RCMP detachments in BC have helicopters with FLIR but they usually use them to look for dope ops in the woods or along the border, not in houses.