VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – BC Hydro has fired five employees for violations it says include stealing company equipment and facilitating theft of electricity as part of an investigation.

The Crown corporation says a total of 18 employees were interviewed as part of its probe. Three workers remain under investigation, but ten others have returned to work.

Last week, a union spokesman representing Hydro workers said the internal probe involves cases where employees did work on buildings that may have been housing marijuana grow-ops.

Doug McKay said then that Hydro provided few details, but he believes the Crown corporation suspects the workers may have been abetting illegal operations.

BC Hydro says it has provided information to the RCMP, and the authorities will determine whether or not to pursue a criminal investigation.