How much wattage before they kick the door in?

MFB

Active Member
Hi everyone.

Hope your 4/20 went well! Mine went great, flipped to 12/12 the plants are nice and thick! Going to be a good year for growin' bud I just feel it!

My last electric bill said my house runs 68% more energy than similar homes. This surprised me because I am only running a couple thousand watts for my grow tent.

I do not use much electricity other than house hold appliances and a laptop. It was a hard winter though furnace was on a lot.

I plan on adding a lot more wattage to my grow in the near future, what do you think would be a safe level without consumers energy sending the police to my house?

I am growing legally but I still do not like the police snooping on my business.

Would 6k watts be too much? I am sure plenty of residence use large amounts of power without growing weed. And I know there are people have huge grows with tens of thousands of watts without drawing attention.
 

Sand4x105

Well-Known Member
Extra wattage usage is not a Red Flag for Po-po... It's a Red Flag for your Electric Provider [Edison/Con-Ed Etc]

The power company is just letting you know to use less energy, if you want to be a good non wasteful energy user...
A couple of tips for you:
Run your major lights in Future, at night when wattage is cheaper...
Over lap your times 12/12 and 18/6 when wattage is cheaper at night...
My 18/6 kicks on at 3 am...
My 12/12 kicks on at 7 pm...
So over lap is one hour in evening and 5 hours in middle of night when wattage is cheapest...
You'll still use more watts that all your neighbors but your bill could be more in line....
AC try to minimize, and using major lights at night when AC will not be needed as much is the way to go....
 

puffdatchronic

Well-Known Member
I think it can be a red flag depending where your at. Electric companies do co operate with the feds. And 68% is a red flag amount. If the cops got a tip from joe public they would be contacting your provider and using that % as grounds for a warrant, OR if your real unlucky some jobsworth electric company worker will tip them off. Just depends, Be careful.
 

Growan

Well-Known Member
Buy a load of second hand/broken electrical equipment- slow cookers, halogen ovens, convector heaters, hair driers, kettles, tvs and disco equipment. If the police come a-knocking they'll be convinced you're an excessive power user. I doubt yhey'll get past the front hallway. :)
 

UncleReemis

Well-Known Member
Buy a load of second hand/broken electrical equipment- slow cookers, halogen ovens, convector heaters, hair driers, kettles, tvs and disco equipment. If the police come a-knocking they'll be convinced you're an excessive power user. I doubt yhey'll get past the front hallway. :)
That's it. Solution to getting caught: be a hoarder. :D
 

Growan

Well-Known Member
Well yeah. Get found out for using too much leccy, but make them think they got the wrong end of the stick cos of all the power hungry crap you have! And hide the grow behind a sunbed for good measure.
 

Growan

Well-Known Member
Both my sons have the same initials as me. Should help with sneakily cashing cheques etc at some point. :D
 

MFB

Active Member
Well if 2k watts is using 68% more energy, then 10k watts would be 340%. Wonder if that would tip them off >.>

Maybe I need to invest in a small industrial property like a work garage. I am sure a residential property with high power usage is more alarming to them than a business property using high amounts.

I am wondering if a cop can enter my home for smelling marijuana even if I present my medical cards to them. Seems like it would stop their probable cause.
 

Dyna Ryda

Well-Known Member
I recently set up an indoor room, 2 1k hps, ac , dehumidifier, fans, etc... it more than doubled my bill. Got a letter saying I'm using more than all my neighbors. I hope that's not a trigger, I got cards but I don't need any cops in my business.
 

Garden Boss

Well-Known Member
Well if 2k watts is using 68% more energy, then 10k watts would be 340%. Wonder if that would tip them off >.>

Maybe I need to invest in a small industrial property like a work garage. I am sure a residential property with high power usage is more alarming to them than a business property using high amounts.

I am wondering if a cop can enter my home for smelling marijuana even if I present my medical cards to them. Seems like it would stop their probable cause.

You can pay a lawyer for a consultation and find out ways to watch your ass (if you even need too).
 

AlaskaHashMan

Active Member
Here's my take if they are sweating the electric company for your power records, or tapping your phone your goose is cooked.
I've also thought about small commercial space, then I think about all the regulatory stuff business have to go through. Even fire inspection. Course this mechanic shop on the corner went out of business and now it's a poker house.
 
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