Any guesses on how much electricity it takes to make the power co. suspicious?

[GroBud]

My dad grew to sell in an extremely red state in the late 80s / early 90s. I couldn't imagine that level of paranoia. Those guys were insanely brave back then.

I dated my exgirlfriend for 3 years and she still doesn't know. ha.

80's and 90's the electricity wasn't monitored. Technology has changed. Good you didn't even tell your gf most people would have. Most people have a few buddies that would know. My first several grows here it wasn't recreational people I gave weed to for a year or more once they'd get pissed they'd threaten to call the police, even had one parent of a 30 year old threaten to sue. Yea if you dont tell no one dont smoke with no one dont give anybody anything your chance of getting caught is all but nonexistent, however for most people sharing is caring

 

[lusidghost]

80's and 90's the electricity wasn't monitored. Technology has changed. Good you didn't even tell your gf most people would have. Most people have a few buddies that would know. My first several grows here it wasn't recreational people I gave weed to for a year or more once they'd get pissed they'd threaten to call the police, even had one parent of a 30 year old threaten to sue. Yea if you dont tell no one dont smoke with no one dont give anybody anything your chance of getting caught is all but nonexistent, however for most people sharing is caring

I'll take a smart meter over Ronald Reagan's war on drugs any day. Power consumption is at an all time high. Good luck at singling out growers, especially if they are using LEDs. The power company is not a wing of the DEA or a person who hates weed. It is a business that makes money by selling electric. To them growers are like whales in a casino. If you win too much you might get kicked out, but that's highly unlikely.

I smoke with everyone. I just don't brag about where it comes from. It's like watching Santa get the credit for the Christmas present.

But yeah. Ultimately you're right, but the way I see it is risk / reward. I'd rather get pinched growing than to die from going overboard while crab fishing or something similar. My local paper is full of meth / opioid busts and those guys are catching huge bids. That reward is not worth the risk.

 

[GroBud]

I'll take a smart meter over Ronald Reagan's war on drugs any day. Power consumption is at an all time high. Good luck at singling out growers, especially if they are using LEDs. The power company is not a wing of the DEA or a person who hates weed. It is a business that makes money by selling electric. To them growers are like whales in a casino. If you win too much you might get kicked out, but that's highly unlikely.

I smoke with everyone. I just don't brag about where it comes from. It's like watching Santa get the credit for the Christmas present.

But yeah. Ultimately you're right, but the way I see it is risk / reward. I'd rather get pinched growing than to die from going overboard while crab fishing or something similar. My local paper is full of meth / opioid busts and those guys are catching huge bids. That reward is not worth the risk.

It's not the amount of power you use it's the amount plus when. It's all monitored if you run thousands of more watts than most houses at a 18/6 or 12/12 schedule that can be red flagged. Again I dont give af what anybody does I dont know you or OP you or him going to jail doesn't effect me. Just giving my experiences, what makes my orginal comment any different from three berries bother them


Sorry didn't read your post entirely thought you were still trying to go back and forth. I've been trolled all morning a little frustrated over here.

 

[GroBud]

And that's all the way back in 2016

Marijuana bust shines light on utilities

The electric meter outside your house helps the power company determine just how much to bill you every month. But it can also give authorities a peek into your life

www.postandcourier.com

Electric company gets growers busted.

I wonder if they paid the bill. Dont get me wrong Directing electricity directly from the poles is retarded enough. A tip to the police about excessive power usage led Portland, Oregon authorities to break up a large drug-trafficking ring that used several residences and one business...

www.rollitup.org

Beach police: High electric bill lead to marijuana bust

Police found 118 marijuana plants in a home in the 4900 block of Mandan Road earlier this month, according to a police spokesman. An unusually high electricity bill alerted police to a possible marijuana-growing operation, the warrant said. According to the warrant, police conducted...

www.marijuanapassion.com

Plenty more this is just a few

 

[lusidghost]

It's not the amount of power you use it's the amount plus when. It's all monitored if you run thousands of more watts than most houses at a 18/6 or 12/12 schedule that can be red flagged. Again I dont give af what anybody does I dont know you or OP you or him going to jail doesn't effect me. Just giving my experiences, what makes my orginal comment any different from three berries bother them

Has there even been a recorded case of this? How often does the power company, not an employee, narc anyone out? It seems like they have the power to jail every grower with a smart meter, yet it doesn't seem to be happening. I think it's because they don't care. It's 2021. There are much bigger fish to fry. They'll bust you if you slip up or something random happens to cause you to get exposed, but they don't seem be real proactive in regards to growers or even cannabis dealers these days.

 

[Friendly_Grower]

They dont just look at the watts they know what you're doing by when you use those watts. You use 2400 watts on a 18/6 or 12/12 cycle that draws attention. How about staying legal and not going to prison. Personally I picked up everything and moved to new mexico over 4 years ago. If you're willing to risk it this post is irrelevant, you'll tell a friend or give some away it'll wind up coming back on you.

I have to agree with GroBud.
If you are very concerned best to keep it to yourself. No one will care about your well being like you and those closest to you that truly love and protect you.
Any exchanges should be carefully considered. Posting on a public grow site like RIU is excluded naturally
Personally in the past I knew how good my bud was. I knew it would cause a serious problem if I lent out samples. All people had was Mexican Commercial. I got my socialization online. Just like I can do once again. I love grow-sites. Sure the Federal Government can take it all away but why would they bother? Especially now that all of us see that legalization is not going away.

If you feel insecure donate some money to the legalization effort and write your representatives It will make you feel better. It is simply ridiculous that so much criminality is happening over this plant.

Friendly_Grower

 

[lusidghost]

Same. And never ever ever EVER associate with anyone rolling deep - no matter how who it is - relative, friend or foe. Keep your life clear of that shit.

LEO dont give a flying fig about weed (in most states) but if you deal with anyone using or slinging pills, you're inviting not only the law but a lot of drama and thievery.

And really, this goes for any business model.

The #1 rule to a happy, healthy life is to avoid degenerates like the plague.

 

[speedwell68]

Hey do what you do if that's how you feel, they can also see the hot tub is outside and when it's on. Obviously not a grow light. You may get away with 2 or 3 grows, for me tho it's not worth it with so many legal states. Even just probation you can't smoke weed. I've been using weed for 21 years 10.2 of those years in prison. I'll never quit so the risk for me isn't worth it. I also have an uncle that got 2 life sentences in the early 90s for receiving weed in the mail from California. Luckily Obama pardoned him on the way out of office. What's feasible to you and me due to life experiences is different

They can't see when my hot tub is on, all they know is the total loading of my house. They can't see my hot tub as it isn't outside. I have been getting away with it for 20+ years, not the odd 2 or 3 grows. Might I suggest that if you are this paranoid then weed isn't the drug for you.

 

[lusidghost]

They can't see when my hot tub is on, all they know is the total loading of my house. They can't see my hot tub as it isn't outside. I have been getting away with it for 20+ years, not the odd 2 or 3 grows. Might I suggest that if you are this paranoid then weed isn't the drug for you.

I think he means with smart meters. They can read the on / off schedule. You aren't turning on your hot tub at the exact same time and running it for exactly 12 hours every day. I have an old school meter, but I still wouldn't be worried about it unless I was running a huge grow.

 

[Autodoctor]

 

[manfredo]

I hope everyone's grows are going well!

I am curious for good reason. I am pushing 2400 Watts at this point. 2000 watts of light and 400 watts of other stuff. I am in a place where they have definitely used that to go after people before.

Does anyone have any ideas about this? I would really appreciate any constructive input. Thx for looking!

Location is probably what matters most... Are you in the US? what state?

 

[speedwell68]

I think he means with smart meters. They can read the on / off schedule. You aren't turning on your hot tub at the exact same time and running it for exactly 12 hours every day. I have an old school meter, but I still wouldn't be worried about it unless I was running a huge grow.

Exactly. The only way a power company is going to get involved is if you are pulling an industrial level of power. A domestic grow wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.

 

[pain4life]

If your worried run multiple flower tents. Have the tents run opposite times. So when one turns on the other turns off. For the veg tent just run it always on. The power company would see a constant 24hr draw. Glad i'm finally legally growing, feels good!

 

[Budzbuddha]

 

[Cotyledon420]

If your growing for personal it should b okay like 1000 watts I'd even say you could go over that idk to be honest..if you trying to flip some shit and make a profit growing 100 plants then that's the chance you take

 

[Apalchen]

I ran 4K watt flower room and 3 tents in an 800 sq ft house. In a not so friendly state, for years no issue. With a smart meter. Pay your bill, make sure your electrical is safe, and that your aren’t pulling enough to blow transformers or damage their equipment. My small little house was more than triple my neighbors according to the bill and never had an issue.

 

[bam0813]

1000 watts? That’s 1 or 2 lights
An old lady with an electric space heater is spinning the meter faster

 

[LeastExpectedGrower]

I'd be running two dehumidifiers in our basement all summer anyway a few thousand watts of lights isn't going to change our energy footprint much anyway...but If you're running 20kW or more of lights and have industrial sized needs for heating/cooling and humidity control it could become sizable. I think most of those kind of guys aren't posting places like this.

A family friend a few towns over has a house with a big ol' heated pool, hot tub that's heated all the time and 2 acres of landscape lighting plus running a house with the AC set to crank all summer long 24/7. Her timing isn't 18/6 or 1212 but she's got to be hitting well more than a month's decent sized grow even in just a week.

 

[bam0813]

80's and 90's the electricity wasn't monitored. Technology has changed. Good you didn't even tell your gf most people would have. Most people have a few buddies that would know. My first several grows here it wasn't recreational people I gave weed to for a year or more once they'd get pissed they'd threaten to call the police, even had one parent of a 30 year old threaten to sue. Yea if you dont tell no one dont smoke with no one dont give anybody anything your chance of getting caught is all but nonexistent, however for most people sharing is caring

I think it should go without saying to anyone with an IQ above playdoh that if your manufacturing drugs when it is/was illegal that the circle is real fn small but honestly and I mean this with no disrespect but it sounds to me that you hung with some scumbag mofos and imo they were just blackmailing you and would never call . On a side note if that 30yr wasn’t wearing a hockey helmet in a wheel chair he’d have something to sue for. You were their mark imo

 

[bam0813]

I was dumb and broke then so that shit wouldn’t fly lol