Revelstoke Unit 5 (Regulatory)

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On May 18, 2007, BC Hydro filed its Information Requests and Responses - Round 1 for the Revelstoke Unit 5 Project. 

Regulatory process

The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) granted the project a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) in July 2007. The CPCN established that Revelstoke Unit 5 is the preferred option for meeting customer electricity demand.
 
The Commission's 82-page Decision [PDF, 482 Kb] is available at the British Columbia Utilities Commission website.
 
Before the environmental review, BC Hydro convened a 26-member Revelstoke Unit 5 Core Committee consisting of regional stakeholders, First Nations and government representatives. This Committee reviewed socio-economic and environmental information, and made recommendations on how potential project effects could be addressed.
 
As recommended by the Revelstoke Unit 5 Core Committee, BC Hydro made the following commitments to mitigate/compensate for Revelstoke Unit 5 project effects:

• Adopt Fish Entrainment Strategy to include the effects of the fifth unit at Revelstoke power plant,
• Advance several Columbia River Water Use Plan studies and physical works projects,
  River bank protection/enhancement at specific downstream locations,
• Support local hire and equity hire for First Nations through Columbia Hydro Council Agreement,
• Support local training opportunities/employment through Okanagan College grant,
  Staff a community liaison position,
• Restore Westside Road to pre-project condition at the end of Revelstoke Unit 5 project construction.

The Committee also recommended an addendum to the Columbia Water Use Plan [PDF, 1.2 Mb] that identified and addressed any incremental operational impacts of Unit 5. The addendum was approved by the provincial Comptroller of Water Rights in August 2007.
 
If you have any questions or concerns about the Revelstoke Unit 5 project, please email us.

Revelstoke Unit 5 Overview

In anticipation of increased demand by 2010, BC Hydro is adding a fifth unit to the Revelstoke Dam and Generating Station. Revelstoke Unit 5 is the most cost-effective source available to BC Hydro for this additional capacity.
 
Revelstoke Unit 5 will add approximately 500 megawatts (MW) of capacity, bringing the facility's total generating installed capacity to 2,480 MW. See the detailed overview [PDF, 913 Kb] for more information about the project, or view the Revelstoke Unit 5 Project page.