Marijuana grow-ops, safety and electrical theft
BC Hydro, local governments and law enforcement are all working to put a stop to marijuana grow-ops in residential neighbourhoods. With your help, we can do better in the fight against operations that steal electricity and are a threat to public safety and B.C.'s conservation efforts.
Problems associated with marijuana grow-ops include:
- Electricity theft: Most electricity theft in British Columbia is related to marijuana grow operators who seek to avoid detection from law enforcement or electrical and fire safety officials.
- Safety issues: Marijuana grow-ops create safety risks for BC Hydro employees, first responders and the public.
- Damage to the grid: Power surges and electrical system failure due to high loads can cause power outages and damage to BC Hydro equipment and infrastructure, including the premature failure of distribution transformers.
- Electricity waste: Illegitimate consumption of electricity by marijuana grow-ops is a waste of electricity and an affront to the conservation efforts of legitimate customers.
For more information about marijuana grow operations, please visit the RCMP's grow-op information pages or check out this grow-ops backgrounder [PDF, 92 kb].
If you suspect a marijuana grow-op in your neighbourhood
If you suspect a premise is being used to grow marijuana, or that a property has a bypassed electric meter, contact local police. Or if you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.bccrimestoppers.com. At Crime Stoppers, you do no have to give your name or telephone number, and you will not have to testify in court. Crime Stoppers tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward upon an arrest and charge.
How BC Hydro is helping in the fight against grow-ops
BC Hydro partners with police, fire safety inspectors and municipalities to stop marijuana grow operations. To combat this serious problem, we have four strategies underway:
- BC Hydro aggressively pursues the theft of electricity
Using our own investigators, BC Hydro employs a team of ex-law enforcement officers who aggressively pursue electricity theft and meter tampering. Where thefts are confirmed, BC Hydro lays complaints with law enforcement agencies, which in turn obtain search warrants and recommend charging suspects. Over the last three years, we have shut down more than 1,500 electrical diversions, recovering $5 million in lost revenue. All of these diversions have been associated with grow-ops. - Partnering with Crime Stoppers
Our investigators also receive addresses of suspected grow-ops reported to Crime Stoppers. This information assists our investigators in confirming energy thefts and recovering funds. - Supporting the police
As required under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, BC Hydro responds to more than 5,000 requests a year from police, providing consumption information on specific locations in connection with ongoing criminal investigations of suspected grow-ops. We respond to requests within 24 hours. - Working with local government safety officials
Under provisions of the Safety Standards Act, BC Hydro supports local governments by providing data on residences with unusually high electricity consumption. So far, more than a dozen local governments have registered to receive consumption data from BC Hydro, and six governments have launched electrical fire safety inspection programs that target grow-ops in residential neighbourhoods. These programs enable electrical and fire safety officials to inspect and effectively shut down grow-ops in residences to mitigate safety risks.
