Percentage of Total Sales

	2003/2004	2002/2003	2001/2002	2000/2001	1999/2000	1998/1999	1997/1998
Lower Mainland	47.5	47.5	47.6	46.6	47.0	46.7	48.5
Northern Region	18.7	18.5	18.7	19.4	20.0	20.1	20.2
Southern Interior	12.5	12.5	12.6	12.3	10.9	11.6	11.8
Vancouver Island	21.3	21.5	21.2	21.7	22.0	21.6	19.5
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0

Billed sales are not weather adjusted and include sales to other utilities. BC Hydro's total billed sales have increased by about 16 per cent between 1997/1998 and 2003/2004. The Lower Mainland has the largest share of total billed sales, as most of BC Hydro's customers reside in this area. Changes in billed sales in Northern and Southern regions are influenced by changes in B.C.'s economy linked mainly to commodity exports prices. The Northern Region's share of total billed sales have declined by 1.5 per cent over the past seven fiscal years, reflecting slower growth in the mining and forestry sector. Vancouver Island sales can fluctuate due to changes in the pulp market conditions and residential growth. Vancouver Island's share of total billed sales have increased by 1.8 per cent due mainly to residential growth.