Merritt Area Transmission Project

Project status and updates

BC Hydro is building a new transmission line and upgrading the Merritt Substation to ensure Merritt's homes and businesses continue to have reliable electricity for the next 30 years.

What's new

March 2013:

The Merritt Area Transmission Project is entering the construction phase. Site preparation for the Merritt Substation upgrade is scheduled to begin April 2013. View the most recent project update [PDF, 1.5 MB].

March 2012: Alternative route planned for new transmission line

BC Hydro has selected an alternative transmission line route (alternative 1B) that uses mostly an existing unused right-of way, with the last five kilometres of the route near residential and commercial areas in Merritt.

In January 2011, after technical and environmental studies as well as a number of meetings with elected officials, First Nations consultation, and a community open house BC Hydro informed residents, businesses and the City of Merritt that the preferred alternative (alternative 1A) [PDF, 814 KB] was to upgrade the existing 37-kilometre transmission line between the Highland and Merritt substations from 69 kilovolts to 138 kilovolts.

BC Hydro made significant effort on behalf of the community's support for the preferred alternative. However, BC Hydro has not been able to acquire the property rights required to proceed with this route within project timelines.

Therefore BC Hydro will be building a new transmission line (alternative 1B) along mostly existing BC Hydro right-of-way.

BC Hydro will build a new approximately 35-kilometre long 138 kilovolt transmission line between the Merritt and Highland substations – mostly along existing unused BC Hydro right-of-way. In addition, BC Hydro will upgrade the Merritt Substation and add new equipment to the Highland Substation.

View the selected route project map [PDF, 4.1 MB].