FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) Application for a Certificate of Public ...

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Response:
FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC or the Company)
Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project
Response to British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC or the Commission)
Information Request (IR) No. 1
Submission Date:
October 5, 2012
Page 171
78.1 Please explain the common approaches used by marijuana grow-operations to
divert electricity.
The majority of electric diversions used by marijuana grow operations employ one of two
general approaches.
1. Diversions bypassing the meter:
• Diversions are installed from overhead or underground lines before the electric
meter. The connections are made by tapping into the service mast or
underground conduit from the interior wall and are not visible from the exterior of
the building.
2. Diversions at the meter:
• using a stolen meter in the socket for a portion of the billing period;
• inverting the meter for a portion of the billing such that it records consumption in
reverse;
• Installing jumper bars between meter lugs in the meter socket to reduce metered
consumption.
FortisBC has also seen rare incidents of altered meter function and diversions installed on
primary voltage lines.
Response:
78.2 Does FortisBC consider that its customers receive a net benefit from paying
marijuana grow operations on the FortisBC network? Please explain why or why
not.
FortisBC customers financially benefit from marijuana grow operations that do not engage in the
theft of service due to the increased number of billed kWh over which fixed utility costs are
divided. This benefit is the same as the benefit received from any paying customer.