Maine utility company makes case to out illegal marijuana operations [Video]

The Maine Public Utilities Commission has rejected a proposal initiated by Versant Power to alert law enforcement to high electricity consumption as a way to crack down on illegal marijuana growing operations.State and federal officials have been trying to figure out a way to stop the trend that has been linked to Chinese organized crime, officials said.In one case, firefighters responded to a smoke report at a Turner farmhouse and found 500 marijuana plants, grow lights, and propane heaters.During the February incident, firefighters discovered a large-scale marijuana growing operation instead of a fire. Versant Power suggested that reporting high electricity usage could increase safety and help tackle illegal grow houses, as these operations often overload electrical systems, posing severe risks.”We had employees go to houses where they were using in a single day as much electricity as you or I might use in a month. Those houses were not wired …