Mandate

As directed by the Hydro and Power Authority Act, BC Hydro’s mandate is to generate, manufacture, distribute and sell power, upgrade its power sites, and to purchase power from, or sell power to, a firm or person. This mandate is fulfilled within the context of the corporate purpose outlined below.

BC Hydro is the largest electric utility in B.C., serving more than 1.6 million customers. Our primary business activities are the generation and distribution of electricity. Between 43,000 and 54,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity is generated annually from our world-class, integrated hydroelectric and thermal generating system. Our generation system has a total installed capacity of 11,311 megawatts (MW). About 90 per cent of this generation is based on clean, renewable hydroelectricity, enabling BC Hydro to offer customers some of the lowest electricity rates in the world.

Electricity is delivered to customers through an interconnected system of over 73,000 kilometres of publicly owned transmission and distribution lines. The transmission assets are owned by BC Hydro; the management and operation of the transmission system is the responsibility of the British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC).

BC Hydro’s domestic market area is most of the province of British Columbia. Powerex, its energy marketing subsidiary, focuses its activity on customers in Alberta, Ontario and many parts of the United States.

Core Values

BC Hydro believes the four core values below to be essential to our success. Employee performance is measured and rewarded in accordance with these values.

• Accountability — we take responsibility for our action
• Integrity — we are fair and honest, open and straightforward
• Service — we seek solutions and build relationships
• Teamwork — we work together to achieve results

In conjunction with these core values, BC Hydro’s Employee Code of Conduct provides clear guidelines to all directors and employees on the standards of conduct expected of them in all business relationships.

500 kV Transmission System and Major Generating Stations

BC Hydro has corporate offices in Vancouver (Dunsmuir) and Burnaby (Edmonds), and through regional offices has a presence in more than 50 communities throughout the province.