This does happen, but it's usually because of people stealing electricity. The power company has no sense of humor about that. I'm not so sure I agree about the normal power usage people are talking about on here either. A small ceramic space heater typically uses 500-1500 watts by itself. I know because I have one and it's clearly written on the back. 5-10,000 watts is not abnormal for a water heater or electric dryer. My household heat pump is rated as using 14000 watts. So....yeah. If you're using less than 1000 watts for your grow op, then it's really just a drop in the bucket that could easily be explained away by nothing more than? An electric space heater. Also, I like to garden and plant trees and grape vines out in the yard, so a couple of unused pots sitting out on the back porch is not going to raise any eyebrows.

I know what I'd like to grow outdoors, but I live in the land of the free, so I'm not free to do that and If I do it anyway, I will be free to go to jail. Yay