news

January 21, 2009

Hot topic: Renewing BC Hydro's electricity infrastructure

Many of BC Hydro's existing power-generating facilities were built in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Some were originally built as far back as 1922.

While there have been upgrades over the years, these facilities are in need of refurbishment and expansion if they are to continue providing British Columbia with electricity.

To address this aging infrastructure, BC Hydro is investing significant expenditures to maintain the reliability and expand the capacity of its generating facilities. BC Hydro is also funding a number of projects on the transmission system – through BC Transmission Corporation – which moves electricity from these generating facilities to B.C.'s major load centres, and on the distribution system that provides customers with the power they need.

Over the next two years alone, BC Hydro plans to invest $3.4 billion in the province's generation, transmission and distribution systems, and other facilities. Significant capital work is being planned or contemplated at several generating stations and dams, including the Mica and W.A.C. Bennett dams, which are among the largest in the world.

Generating electricity to meet growing demand

Following are some of the major projects either underway or set to begin to help ensure that BC Hydro can meet the electricity needs of British Columbians:

Revelstoke Generating Station (Unit 5) – $280-$350 million

The Revelstoke Generating Station began operation in 1984 with four generating units installed and two unit bays left empty for future generating units.

BC Hydro last year received regulatory approval to install a fifth generating unit in one of these empty bays to provide approximately 500 megawatts of additional capacity – the equivalent of serving 40,000 additional homes at peak demand. Scheduled completion: Fiscal 2011-Fiscal 2012.

Peace Canyon Generating Station (Stator Replacement, Rotor Modification, Turbine Overhaul) – $141 million

Peace Canyon's generators were originally commissioned in 1979/80 and at the time were among the largest ever built. New stators (the stationary part of an electric generator) are being installed and existing rotors modified to address design deficiencies, reduce the risk of forced outages and make the plant safer for employees.

In addition, each turbine is being overhauled following a quarter century of continuous service to ensure continued reliability for years to come. Scheduled completion: Fiscal 2010.

Gordon M. Shrum Generating Station (Stator Replacement) – $75-$91 million

Located at the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, G.M. Shrum was the largest underground powerhouse in the world when it began generating electricity in 1968. Now, three stators that are at increased risk of failure due to the condition of the equipment are being replaced and a fourth unit may be replaced if necessary. Scheduled completion: Fiscal 2010 (for the first three units).

Mica Generating Station (Stator Replacement) – $97 million

The Mica Dam, located about 150 km north of the Revelstoke Dam, was completed in 1973 with the powerhouse completed three years later.

The stator and rotor poles on each of the four units are being replaced to reduce the risk of forced outages due to core bolt failure and ensure reliability of supply. The project was initiated in fiscal 2007, with one unit scheduled for completion each year. Scheduled completion: Fiscal 2010.

Aberfeldie Generating Station (Redevelopment) – $95 million

The original Aberfeldie station, a five megawatt generating facility, was constructed in 1922 and parts of it rebuilt in 1953. The wood stave penstock and major generating equipment have reached their end of life and are no longer serviceable.

BC Hydro is replacing the old facility with a 24 megawatt facility. The Aberfeldie facility is 35 km east of Cranbrook. Scheduled completion is 2009.

Coquitlam Dam (Seismic Improvement Project) – $66 million

The existing was originally completed in 1913. A new Coquitlam Dam was completed in the fall of 2008 downstream of the previous dam. The new structure meets current seismic standards and reduces the risks to the local population in the event of an earthquake.

Moving electricity from our dams to our cities

Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission Project – $600 million

A new 240 km, 500 kV transmission line is to be built by BC Transmission Corp. between the Nicola Substation near Merritt and the Meridian Substation in Coquitlam. The new transmission line will parallel an existing transmission line originally built in the early 1970s. It is expected to cost approximately $600 million and be completed in 2014.

Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement Project – $287 million

Two 138 kV overhead transmission lines and submarine cable circuits connecting southern Vancouver Island to the mainland were built in 1956 and 1958. These are now being replaced and upgraded with a new 67 km, 230 kV transmission line and related infrastructure. It is expected to cost approximately $287 million and be completed in 2008-09.

Distribution: getting power to our homes and businesses

Substations and feeders

B.C.'s economy and population continues to grow and that means an increase in BC Hydro's customer base. Substations are where a system of transformers, circuit breakers, and control and protective devices are used to reduce the voltage of electricity so that it can be more easily distributed to homes and businesses. Six new substations or redevelopments are scheduled for the next two years, in addition to many other substation upgrades.

Over the next two years, BC Hydro is forecasting the addition of 85 feeders (which move electricity from substations to distribution transformers) after 54 feeders were added in the last two years.

Storm Response and Preparation

In the wake of the 2006/07 storm season, one of the worst on record, BC Hydro initiated a new five-year, $265 million program to improve system resiliency and outage communications. Among the projects: increasing vegetation management, under-grounding or realigning some portions of circuits, strengthening cables and wires, and providing additional automation and redundancy.

Related links:

• Reinvesting for generations [PDF, 575 Kb]