Percentage

	F2004	F2005	F2006	F2007	F2008	F2009
Percentage of time units are available for service between the period November 15 and February 15
Target	N/A	N/A	N/A	95.75	94.88	96.20
Actual	94.81	95.08	96.77	96.24	96.2

Winter Availability is a percentage rate of the hydroelectric units in the system available to generate electricity (hours available for service/total hours) during the critical peaking period of November 15 to February 15. This measure excludes generation facilities of 15 megawatts and below.

The Winter Availability target of 96.20 per cent was not met with a final availability of 94.88 pre cent achieved. Three significant forced outages that extended through the winter peak period contributed to the missed target. Unit 4 at Bridge River (50 MW) was forced out in November due to a circuit breaker failure. Unit 1 (55 MW) at Lake Buntzen was forced out in October due to a failure in the turbine runner, and did not return to service until April 5. Unit 2 at Kootenay Canal (145 MW) was forced out in December due to a phase-to-phase fault in the stator, and returned to sevice February 10. Although the number of forced outages across the generating fleet has decreased, the increased duration of the outages may be a symptom of an aging asset base and a higher reliablity risk.