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10 Homes Inspected By Pitt Saftey Team
By Hempology | March 2, 2007
Mapleridge news
The City of Pitt Meadows has inspected all 10 homes identified as having an abnormally high electricity consumption by B.C. Hydro.
The homes were targeted as part of a three month pilot project to eliminate residential marijuana grow operations in the community.
City bylaw inspector Leslie Elchuk said staff will be receiving more consumption reports from B.C. Hydro in the next few weeks and inspection will begin again.
No active marijuana grow operations were found in any of the homes.
Elchuk said there were remnants of marijuana leaves at more than one, but noted the public safety inspection team was not policing the homes.
“We want the public to be safe and hopefully we will get all the houses in compliance,” she added.
Under the program, RCMP forward a list of homes suspected of having a marijuana grow operation to a team of four comprised of a bylaw officer and building, fire and electrical inspectors. B.C. Hydro then releases domestic electrical consumption information to the municipality.
City staff post a 24-hour notice of inspection before entering the homes.
In the most recent inspections, conducted last week, electrical and plumbing work was done without a permit at a home on Hammond Road.
An open panel box and incomplete wiring were found inside a home on 192 A Street and “building work, unprotected openings, a comprised vapour barrier and incomplete fire stops were found at a home on 189 B Street.
Assistant chief Brad Perrie, a member of the inspect ion team said all the homes inspected thus far were potential fire hazards because of their high electricity consumption.
A residence has abnormal consumption if it uses more than 93 kilowatt-hours ( kWh ) of electricity per day, or three-times the average. An average home uses 31 kWh a day.
Perrie said most the homes inspected used over 100 kWh of electricity per day.
“That is why hydro is flagging these houses they put stress on the wiring,” he added. “The wiring is not designed to handle that load.”
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