A San Diego County marijuana farmer has been ordered by a court to fork over $18,000 for the electricity he stole to secretly grow his plants in a rented La Mesa home.

Yeng Vang, 23, of La Mesa was sentenced to 60 months in custody and five years of supervised release in connection with the theft of power he used from 2006 to 2008 to grow about 100 plants in two bedrooms. He also was ordered to repay San Diego Gas & Electric.

Vang pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. He admitted to installing a bypass around the home’s power meter so that he would not be billed for using high-intensity grow-lights.

“We’re pleased with the court’s ruling,” said Denise King, a spokeswoman for the utility. “Not only is energy theft against the law, it is unsafe and potentially dangerous.”