April 11, 2006

Wide range of resources proposed by private sector developers

PROVINCE-WIDE – BC Hydro has received bids for 53 separate projects from 37 independent power producers in response to the 2006 Open Call for Power, issued in December 2005. The projects submitted include electricity generation from both small and large facilities, include hydro, wind, biomass and coal resources and represent approximately 1,800MW. Firm energy tendered totals approximately 6,500 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year, enough power to supply 650,000 homes.

"Acquiring power from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) is a key aspect of the Long Term Acquisition Plan recently filed in conjunction with the 2006 Integrated Electricity Plan," said BC Hydro's Senior Vice President of Distribution, Bev Van Ruyven. "We will be looking to IPPs to play a lead role in filling the gap between existing supply and rising customer demand for electricity."

"We are extremely pleased with the response to the Call as it indicates that private sector developers have confidence in projects utilizing a wide range of resources in many areas across the province," added Van Ruyven. "Our plan was to acquire at least 2,500 GWh per year of firm energy through a competitive process and we now have the potential to acquire more than that target."

Over the coming months BC Hydro will be evaluating the Tenders against the criteria that were provided in the Call documents. These criteria include a preference for BC Clean power, price and other factors. Contract awards will be announced in late summer 2006. Information related to the bid prices tendered and other factors that determine contract awards will be released once the contract awards are announced.

The Brilliant Expansion Power Corporation, an affiliate of the Columbia Power Corporation, also submitted an offer to sell energy from their Brilliant Expansion Project through a separate process. They will be awarded a contract if their offer is competitively priced as compared to those projects awarded contracts through the 2006 Call for Power process. This offer will not impact the amount of firm energy being sought under the 2006 Call for Power.

F2006 CFT Tender Submissions