Rats in Your Breaker Box: How Maine’s Power Makes Money from Ratting Out Marijuana Growers

In a world where privacy is already on thin ice, Maine’s power companies are about to take a sledgehammer to it. Versant Power, one of the state’s major utilities, wants to cash in on the war against illegal marijuana grow operations by turning your electric meter into a snitch. That’s right—if they get their way, your utility bill might become the next informant for law enforcement.

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The Setup: When Your Power Bill Becomes Evidence

Imagine this: You’re minding your business, paying your bills, and keeping your lights on, but suddenly, that monthly electric bill isn’t just between you and the power company anymore. It’s now a potential red flag for the cops. Why? According to Versant Power, your electricity usage could be a sign that you’re running an illegal marijuana grow operation. And they want to share that information with the boys in blue without so much as a warrant.

Versant Power argues that they’ve become pretty damn good at spotting these operations. How? By tracking the insane spikes in electricity that come from running industrial-grade grow lights, climate control systems, and other high-energy equipment. But instead of just responding to subpoenas, they’re itching to report you directly if they think something’s up.

Who Needs a Warrant When You’ve Got an Electric Meter?

Let’s get one thing straight: This isn’t just about catching a few bad guys. It’s about power companies stepping way out of bounds, turning into Big Brother with a bottom line. Sure, they’ll tell you it’s all about safety—fires from faulty installations, overheated meters, and whatnot. But let’s be real: this is about money and control.

The nonprofit Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is calling bullshit on this move, labeling it unconstitutional. They’re not wrong. We’re talking about utilities handing over private data with no probable cause, no warrant, and zero judicial oversight. If that doesn’t scream invasion of privacy, what does?

The ACLU’s Jay Stanley put it plainly: “Utilities should not be doing that.” And he’s right. It’s not their job to play detective. The courts have long upheld that what happens inside your home is off-limits without a warrant, and that includes how much juice you’re pulling from the grid.

The Slippery Slope to Surveillance

This isn’t just a Maine problem. States across the country that have legalized marijuana are seeing similar tactics. Criminals might be exploiting legal loopholes, but that doesn’t give utilities carte blanche to start surveilling their customers.

Let’s not forget the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2001 ruling, which declared thermal imaging to detect marijuana grow lights unconstitutional without a warrant. Fast forward to now, and it’s the same old story, just with new technology. The precedent is clear: spying on citizens in their homes isn’t just creepy—it’s illegal.

The Power Play: Profit Over Privacy

Maine’s Public Advocate, William Harwood, isn’t buying what Versant is selling. He’s concerned that the power company is straying way off course, focusing on playing cop instead of keeping the lights on. And here’s the kicker: there are plenty of legitimate reasons for a spike in electricity usage—like electric vehicle chargers or heat pumps. Should homeowners have to worry about being reported to the cops every time they upgrade their homes?

Even Central Maine Power (CMP), the state’s largest utility, is backing off from this one. They see the writing on the wall and are sticking to the script: cooperate with law enforcement when they have a subpoena, and otherwise, mind your business. It’s an eerie line to cross, and they’re smart enough to know it.

Where Do We Draw the Line?

Let’s be honest: this move by Versant Power is a slippery slope to a surveillance state, where your utility company is more interested in watching your every move than providing a service. It’s a blatant overreach that should make everyone think twice about what’s at stake here—our privacy, our rights, and the trust we place in these companies.

It’s time to tell these power companies to stay in their lane and focus on what they’re supposed to do: provide electricity, not play detective. If they start ratting out customers to line their pockets, what’s next? Today, it’s marijuana growers. Tomorrow, who knows?

If we don’t push back now, we might wake up one day to find our homes aren’t the safe, private spaces they’re supposed to be. And that’s a line none of us should be willing to cross.

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