June 13, 2008
Conservation, clean resource options key elements of 2008 Long-Term Acquisition Plan
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro has filed its 10-year action plan to meet the growing demand for electricity in British Columbia with a focus on conservation and clean power sources.
BC Hydro's 2008 Long-Term Acquisition Plan (2008 LTAP), which has been filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), includes details on how BC Hydro plans to save more than 10,000 GWh per year (enough to power one million homes) through conservation and energy efficiency by 2020.
"Our forecast shows that the demand for electricity will grow by approximately 25 to 40 per cent over the next 20 years," said Bob Elton, President and CEO of BC Hydro. "Our plan is to provide cost-effective and environmentally responsible solutions to meet that growing demand. Central to our objective is an ambitious demand-side management plan to encourage conservation and energy efficiency in homes, businesses and industry."
The LTAP is a follow-up to the 2006 Integrated Electricity Plan (IEP) and is aligned with the province's Energy Plan, which was released in 2007. Since the 2006 IEP, BC Hydro has taken a number of steps to secure new sources of power, including the 2006 Call for Power and the Standing Offer Program. BC Hydro is also embarking on a multi-year program of reinvesting in its infrastructure – $3.4 billion in the next two years alone for the renewal and maintenance of key BC Hydro assets and demand-side management.
The demand-side management plan detailed in the LTAP includes conservation programs, changes in rate structures, and new regulatory codes and standards. Additional clean or renewable resource options – both large and small – are also being considered. For example, the 2008 LTAP examines the costs and benefits of run-of-river, wind, geothermal and biomass projects, as well as recommending the continued study and consultation for a potential third large-scale hydro project on the Peace River (Site C).
The 2008 LTAP is subject to a full public hearing, with a final BCUC decision expected in the spring of 2009.
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| Susan Danard |
| Media Relations |
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2008 BC Hydro Long-Term Acquisition Plan
- The 2008 Long-Term Acquisition Plan (LTAP) is a 10-year plan for acquiring demand-side and supply-side resources to meet electricity demand in British Columbia.
- It is a follow-up to the 2006 Integrated Electricity Plan/LTAP, which laid out a long-term strategy for B.C.'s electricity needs.
- The LTAP is aligned with the province's Energy Plan, which was released in 2007 and includes the following targets:
- At least 50 per cent of future incremental resource needs to be met through conservation by 2020.
- 90 per cent of electricity to come from clean or renewable sources and for all new electricity generation projects to have zero net greenhouse gas emissions.
- Self-sufficiency by 2016.
B.C.'s electricity demand continues to grow
- BC Hydro's load forecast indicates that demand for electricity will grow by approximately 25 to 40 per cent over the next 20 years.
- Without the LTAP's action items, BC Hydro projects an energy shortage of approximately 22,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year and a capacity shortage of 3,000 megawatts (MW) by 2028.
BC Hydro's plan for meeting the growing demand for electricity
- Conservation is expected to save more than 10,000 GWh per year by 2020.
- BC Hydro will seek power from new sources of clean energy. This includes the Clean Power Call and the two-phase Bioenergy Call for Power.
- BC Hydro plans to continue to rely on Burrard Thermal for capacity support and backup energy supply to the Lower Mainland/Vancouver Island region, at least until completion of the Interior-to-Lower Mainland transmission line.
- BC Hydro will complete the definition phase work on Mica Units 5 and 6. This could lead to the addition of two generating units at the Mica Dam, which would provide long-term dependable capacity to the BC Hydro system.
- Project definition and consultation phase work on Site C will continue. Site C is a potential third dam on the Peace River, which would take advantage of the large amount of water stored upstream in the existing Williston Reservoir and would have an operating life of more than 100 years. Based on the proposed schedule, the earliest Site C could operate should the project proceed would be 2019.
Ambitious but achievable conservation goals
- BC Hydro's demand-side management plan, which is detailed as part of the LTAP, includes:
- Codes and standards: for example, new energy efficiency standards in the Building Code and for appliances and electronic equipment.
- Rate structures that encourage conservation: for example, the proposed two-step Residential Inclining Block rate for residential customers.
- Conservation awareness and education programs to increase understanding and participation in conservation activities. This would include school programs, community engagement, and customer education efforts.
- Support for the demonstration and adoption of new energy-efficient technologies.
- The demand-side management plan meets electricity demand at a lower cost than new electricity supply while having little to no impact on the environment.
New sources of clean energy
- The Clean Power Call will target up to 5,000 GWh/year of clean or renewable energy per year from projects using proven technologies, such as hydro, wind, solar, and geothermal energy.
- The Bioenergy Call for Power will be issued in two phases with a goal of acquiring approximately 1,000 GWH/year of firm energy in each phase. The Bioenergy call seeks power generated by wood infected by the mountain pine beetle as well as other wood fibre fuel sources.
