Rights of Way
BC Hydro maintains thousands of kilometres of power lines, nearly enough to travel twice around the world. These lines carry power from BC Hydro’s generating stations to customers throughout the province. The ground under these lines must be kept clear at all times in order to ensure British Columbians enjoy a safe and reliable source of electricity.
If left to grow, tall trees and vegetation can encroach or fall on power lines, causing power outages and posing risks to the safety of the public and BC Hydro employees. As a result BC Hydro clears around structures and under lines to reduce this risk. Clearing heavy brush along access roads also helps BC Hydro employees safely inspect, maintain and repair power lines.
BC Hydro's rights-of-ways [PDF, 1.4 Mb] can contribute to communities through the development of greenways, recreational corridors, and agricultural uses. By working with landowners, local governments, public agencies and interest groups to use rights-of-ways BC Hydro has helped to develop a network of rights-of-ways that is compatible with public safety and security of BC Hydro's system.
BC Hydro rights-of-ways include Crown, Indian reserve land, and private holdings that are used for a variety of compatible uses. Some examples of compatible uses are: access, greenways, commercial purposes like tree farms and parking, recreation and wildlife.
Private Property and BC Hydro Rights of Ways
Transmission lines run through corridors, which BC Hydro manages according to specific property rights acquired from the land owners. Such property rights are known as statutory rights-of-ways or easements.
On occasion, some members of the public use BC Hydro rights-of-way for snowmobiling, ATVing, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, and other outdoor activities. While some of these rights-of-ways public land, others are privately owned. It is important to remember that property owners have granted certain rights to BC Hydro, including the right to build, maintain and access our transmission lines. However, these rights do not extend to public access.
Any individual travelling along our rights-of-way without the property owner's consent is subject to the same laws of trespass as if they were trespassing on any other private property. Please do not use BC Hydro rights-of-way unless you have the consent of the appropriate property owner.
