British Columbia legislation allows BC Hydro to inspect homes with unusually high energy consumption and to be accompanied by police during the inspection. A judge has struck down this practice reinforcing the law that police must have a warrant to search the suspected homes. As well in his decision Judge William Smart also ruled that is unlawful for BC hydro to cut off power to suspected homes if they did not consent to a search.

This is a landmark decision that not only protects home owners but also those running grow ops. Privacy and safety experts cheered the decision. In essence this will end home inspections by BC hydro. No inspector is going into a home without the police to back them up. It looks like the police will have to find a legal way to get their way into suspected homes. (news)