I'd be so pissed if they broke into my house with loaded weapons simply because the electric company gave them a "tip". Those rat bastards got their money for the bill but then ratted him out. It isn't their job to report electricity use to the police, their not cops, that guy should be suing them and the cops. Cops are to lazy to do any kind of investigation and just kick in doors from miscellaneous tips. What did they find computers and some weed, tax dollars well spent I'd say.
I agree they should've collected more evidence before going in, because is a large electricity bill really proof of guilt of anything? In this case, obviously it wasnt.
True enough a large electricity bill by itself is not a crime
Should have not had to declare any criminal charges minus that marijuana I guess still was overkill for the things he was actually doing.
But as for seizing the miners pretty sure they were confused when they tried to search it lol.
You are correct to say that it is not illegal to use excess amounts of electricity. However this can be an indication of you doing something that is illegal (growing drugs in your house). Since the excess electric usage would typically mean illegal drug growing the judge was able to sign a search warrant authorizing the search of the residence