Maine regulators deny utility’s request to alert police about suspected marijuana cultivation operations

Maine’s utility regulators turned down a proposal from an electric company to report unusually high electricity usage, which might indicate a marijuana growing operation, to law enforcement. The Public Utilities Commission, with three members, expressed concerns about potentially targeting legitimate electricity users based on such reports. They decided to maintain the current practice of only providing consumer data when served with a subpoena approved by a judge.
Versant Power, the electric company behind the proposal, argued that they frequently identify marijuana grow houses but lack the means to inform the police. Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster viewed the proposal as a positive first step, with support also coming from Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who has been active in addressing illegal marijuana operations with the FBI.
Judy Long, a spokesperson for Versant, clarified that the company initiated the discussion to prioritize public and worker safety. Despite the rejection of the proposal, Versant reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding customer privacy while cooperating with law enforcement as required.
The rejected proposal was part of a broader discussion during the recent commission meeting, coinciding with law enforcement efforts to tackle illegal marijuana grow operations across rural areas in Maine. In states where marijuana has been legalized, including twenty states, there has been a rise in illicit grow operations. In Maine, authorities have dismantled numerous illegal operations, prompting investigations by the FBI and DEA into potential links with criminal organizations like Chinese syndicates.