Dive Summary:

• Ganja farms steal millions of dollars in electricity in the UK and billions around the world. Wednesday, London regulator Ofgem announced a crack-down on the grid-draining enterprise by pressing British utilities to detect and prevent mass electricity theft or face fines.
• British utilities must liaison with police forces and government to investigate unusual electricity issues. For example indoor cannabis farms use artificial light to mimic sun light, thereby using around 40 times more electricity than normal households, Ofgem said. Angela Knight, head of Energy UK, said Ofgem is right to make utilities "step up to the plate" and clamp down on electricity theft.
• But Knight also expressed reservation about this new charge. In the process of crime-fighting, utilities will need some back-up from the police when they encounter fraudsters and gangs, Knight said.

From the article:
“Cannabis is a 'class B' drug in Britain, which means those who supply and produce it can be imprisoned for up to 14 years and/or face an unlimited fine.”