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Maine Regulators Reject Utility's Marijuana Reporting Plan

Proposal aimed to help police target illegal marijuana grow operations
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Aug 14, 2024 3:00 AM CDT
Maine Regulators Reject Utility's Marijuana Reporting Plan
This image provided by the Somerset County, Maine, Sheriff’s Office, shows a rural home that was converted into a sophisticated marijuana grow operation on May 17, 2024, in Norridgewock, Maine. A Maine utility wants to assist investigators by proactively providing electrical usage data to police.   (Somerset County Sheriff’s Office)

Maine's Public Utilities Commission has unanimously rejected a proposal from an electric utility that would have had it flag high electricity consumption to law enforcement, as it could indicate illegal marijuana grow operations. The commission expressed concerns about targeting customers using significant electricity for legitimate purposes. Currently, utilities only share consumer data when requested via a law enforcement subpoena reviewed by a judge.

Versant Power suggested the initiative, saying it is particularly good at identifying marijuana grow operations but lacks the authority to communicate findings to law enforcement. Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster praised the proposal as a "good first step"; other supporters, such as Republican Sen. Susan Collins, have advocated for action against illegal marijuana activities. Versant's spokesperson, Judy Long, stated the proposal was made in the interest of safety and emphasized the utility's commitment to safeguarding customer privacy following the commission's decision. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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