How Power is Acquired

Detail of IPP supply map

About independent power projects

A major policy of the 2007 BC Energy Plan is to ensure self-sufficiency to meet electricity needs by 2016. Power provided by B.C. located projects developed by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) is a key part of that plan.

IPPs provide an efficient source of electricity through the development of power projects using  sources such as wind, water, geothermal, biomass and waste heat, among others, to produce electricity. IPPs include companies that specialize in power production, municipalities, First Nations and customers, working alone or in partnership.

Why does BC Hydro purchase electricity from IPPs?
BC Hydro faces a gap between the amount of electricity that we can supply from existing resources, and the amount we'll need to meet future demands from our growing population and economy. A variety of measures are required to ensure we have sufficient, reliable power for generations. This includes implementing aggressive conservation and efficiency initiatives, maintaining and expanding our Heritage Assets, investing in our distribution and transmission systems, and adding more supply to our system through long-term electricity purchase agreements with IPPs.

How does BC Hydro benefit?
IPPs can help us to meet our future energy challenges by developing innovative, sustainable solutions that will help B.C. maintain its natural, competitive advantage of having a clean and renewable energy supply. Ratepayers benefit from the long-term price certainty while project development responsibilities and costs are shifted to the IPPs.

How does BC Hydro acquire electricity from IPPs?
BC Hydro acquires power from IPPs primarily through a competitive process. The amount of power acquired is based on the system need. The volume of power purchased from IPPs and the associated contracts are subject to regulatory review by the British Columbia Utilities Commission.

BC Hydro receives approximately 8,200 GWh/year of electricity from IPPs (a list of current IPP supply in B.C. is now available [PDF, 37 Kb]).

The following acquisition processes are underway to acquire additional energy:

  • a Clean Power Call for firm energy,
  • a two-phase Bioenergy Call for projects that generate electricity from under-utilized wood residues (such as wood infected by mountain pine beetle), and
  • a Standing Offer Program for projects sized at 10 MW or less.

For further information on the 2007 BC Energy Plan and IPPs, see:

In the spotlight

IPP Supply Map (as of October 2009) [PDF, 2.4 Mb]

IPP Supply List (as of October 2009) [PDF, 37 Kb]

Last Modified: Oct 21, 2009