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A power utility is reporting suspected pot growers to cops. EFF says that’s illegal. (arstechnica.com)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/privacy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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According to a motion the Electronic Frontier Foundation filed in Sacramento Superior Court last week, Nguyen and Decker are only two of more than 33,000 Sacramento-area people who have been flagged to the sheriff’s department by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, the electricity provider for the region. SMUD called the customers out for using what it and department investigators said were suspiciously high amounts of electricity indicative of illegal cannabis farming.

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[–] 14 points 1 year ago (2 children)

uhhhh... hasnt this been happening for like 40 years? i assumed it was sop for utilities decades ago

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  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago

    As an old person, I recall this same story making the headlines in the late 1970's. Next headline will include advice on how not to raise suspicion. I assume solar and wind are the method that is replacing diesel generators.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago*

    Right?

    And why many have gone to significant lengths over the years.

    LED changed that so much the power utility probably has to use different tools to find them.

    Besides, power company stats are so bad they say I use 2x-3x the power of "comparable homes" in a 7 mile radius.

    Holy cow powerman, that's the entire metro region.

    Oh, and "comparable homes" are upwards of 50% larger (or smaller).

    Im surprised they get the bill right with stats like that.

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