Getting busted myth ? ... The electric bill !!

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AdasAleks

New Member
Im a newbie so if im way off the mark here forgive me, but i can only assume people getting busted by the power company bill in first instance is extremely unlikely the same with heat radar by police ... i can only think there has to be an initial report or complaint before this is investigated, my theory behind this is ...

I've kept reptiles for a number of years, and i know a lot of people in the wider community, and at peak times keeping a large amount of reptiles the electricity bill would dwarf any cannabis grow. Myself and friends have kept anywhere between 15 and 20 snakes/lizards ect at a time and they require enviromental simulation, exactly the same as, The same people convert whole rooms or garages and outbuildings for breeding ect ... just as a start this is what we use in general, then times it by 10 or 15 reptiles.

Ceramic Heaters = 200-300 watts running 12on-12off or more depending on variables.
Heat matt = 25 watts usually running 24/7
Flourescent tubes = anywhere between 100 watts upwards 12/12 or 18/6 (simulating seasons)
Thermostats and humidity controllers = 20watts a piece (24/7)
Plus a fan to keep air circulated and heat down.

So thats about 500 watts per hour ... PER REPTILE ... ive never had less than 8 at one time ! Basically the point is ...

Nobody on any reptile forum, the wider community has ever been accidentally busted or even questioned and the usage and simulation pattern is identical. Just a thought.... various rooms in our houses could look something like this ...
 

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buster8813

Active Member
I have questioned this exact same thing before as I've always been fond of reptiles, snakes especially. Would be cool to hear some more theories!
By the way, awesome set up! Bought or made?
 
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AdasAleks

New Member
buster8813 said:
I have questioned this exact same thing before as I've always been fond of reptiles, snakes especially. Would be cool to hear some more theories!
By the way, awesome set up! Bought or made?
Click to expand...
This isn't my set-up a friends boa breeding operation, Mines a lot tidier i dont like wires and all on show lol ... but mines all shop brought, im to lazy to build when it can be brought.

Also has anyone tried growing off small 1kw wind turbine or solar battery setups, I know turbines need planning permission but just curious whats been tried.
 
kryptoniteglo

kryptoniteglo

Well-Known Member
I don't think people get busted based on the electric bill if they're paying it. I think people get busted when they hijack electricity from someone else and try not to pay for it.

Now if you get busted for some other reason, the D.A. will look at your electric bill to get a sense of how big an operation you run, and that could lead to trouble. But that's after getting busted.
 
NorthofEngland

NorthofEngland

Well-Known Member
My caution may border on paranoia but, before I started my grow, I called the electric suppliers and asked their advise about the best tariff for someone who had recently been diagnosed with a circulation problem and needed to use heaters to keep his home warm.
I then explained that most days I was out between noon and 6pm but from 6pm to noon the heaters would be on.

Thermal imaging isn't a myth.
And a roof that has no snow on it, when every other roof does, is a dead give away.

But most busts happen due to loose talk and allowing too many people to know what you're up to.
Or just being slack and not taking precautions against what the neighbours can see.
 
NorthofEngland

NorthofEngland

Well-Known Member
AdasAleks said:
Im a newbie so if im way off the mark here forgive me, but i can only assume people getting busted by the power company bill in first instance is extremely unlikely the same with heat radar by police ... i can only think there has to be an initial report or complaint before this is investigated, my theory behind this is ...

I've kept reptiles for a number of years, and i know a lot of people in the wider community, and at peak times keeping a large amount of reptiles the electricity bill would dwarf any cannabis grow. Myself and friends have kept anywhere between 15 and 20 snakes/lizards ect at a time and they require enviromental simulation, exactly the same as, The same people convert whole rooms or garages and outbuildings for breeding ect ... just as a start this is what we use in general, then times it by 10 or 15 reptiles.

Ceramic Heaters = 200-300 watts running 12on-12off or more depending on variables.
Heat matt = 25 watts usually running 24/7
Flourescent tubes = anywhere between 100 watts upwards 12/12 or 18/6 (simulating seasons)
Thermostats and humidity controllers = 20watts a piece (24/7)
Plus a fan to keep air circulated and heat down.

So thats about 500 watts per hour ... PER REPTILE ... ive never had less than 8 at one time ! Basically the point is ...

Nobody on any reptile forum, the wider community has ever been accidentally busted or even questioned and the usage and simulation pattern is identical. Just a thought.... various rooms in our houses could look something like this ...
Click to expand...
Why would anyone spend serious money on keeping snakes in their home...?
I'd spend cash to make sure that snakes couldn't get in but I've never understood the fascination for reptiles.

They spend 99% of their time being perfectly still.
They are boring and creepy.
 
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AdasAleks

New Member
Not that i'm doing it, i grow a bit for just me and cos i've got better things to do with my time than spend the next 10 years in jail .... if you ran one thing along side the other and the police did investigate (and they look at everything before they do kick your door in) how sound would it look if you had a business registered at the address like "northys reptile and aquarium" you have reason for high to massive electricity usage, various comings and goings, heat, supply deliveries, strange smells ... you even have a business to launder the money through.

Additionally you cant just start kicking business premises doors in on a hunch, they would want to be quite certain ... theres public health and safety to worry about, animal welfare and a civil court case if your wrong.

Not that ive put much thought into it !!
 
JohnnySocko

JohnnySocko

Active Member
I know here locally the electric company puts a note on your bill if you substantially deviate from your areas avg usage....I'm also pretty sure the authorities cannot willy nilly access that info w/o proper court warrants, et...but in this age of the NSA monitoring visa receipts for condom purchases, who knows?
 
mangojuice

mangojuice

Active Member
A lot of it is similar. But while the bill might be the same costwise, the usage is not necessarily the same unless someone is veg'ing on 24/0. Otherwise there are spikes and depending on the wattage that comes on at one time, it can be detected if someone were looking for it. It would have to be a high amount - a large grow op, I think, something in the vicinity of stadium lights, not like the oven, a/c, fridge, freezer and well pump all kicking on at the same time, every 12 hours. But I don't think the electric company or the police go through whatever they go through, looking for spikes randomly. There would have to be a probable cause. Sometimes this is established when a grower steals electric from a neighbor...
 
Indoor Sun King

Indoor Sun King

Well-Known Member
Once I received a power bill 5 times higher than normal, I phoned the power company and said either you read the meter wrong or I have a serious power leak....it was an error in reading the meter

So the outrageously high bill didn't send any red flags to the power company.....all they care about is you paying the bill on time
 
ii dP ii

ii dP ii

Member
I feel like unless you're running a 10k watt grow room and flooding the local market with high quality bud once every 3 or 4 weeks you're probably not raising anybodies eyebrow.
 
SnapsProvolone

SnapsProvolone

Well-Known Member
Busting by bill is for large ops. Watch meter if old platter type is swapped for a digital model they can track usage patterns and can see 12/12 cycles. Had a 12kw op in another state get raided due to poco narc. All came out in discovery. Power company is a big prob. Just dont get caught stealing power its a really big deal. Lol
 
SnapsProvolone

SnapsProvolone

Well-Known Member
Btw my bills here in Co are over $2000 - $2500 / month at 14 cents per kwh but my poco has no interest in narcing as I am legit. They actually proposed giving me a 400/320 amp continuous main.
 
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