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Transmission Capital Planning

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BC Hydro's Integrated Resource Plan

BC Hydro is currently undertaking a long-term resource planning process to develop its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The 2025 IRP lays out how we'll meet B.C.'s future electricity needs. It identifies the projects and programs we'll need, when we'll need them, and how much energy and capacity they'll provide.

We use the IRP's forecasts and resource options to guide our transmission planning. Transmission planning for the IRP is a Long-Term Planning process per Section 1 (a) of Attachment K to BC Hydro's Open Access Transmission Tariff.

We'll be filing our 2025 IRP with the B.C. Utilities Commission by October 31, 2025. To prepare, we're engaging with you on our plan elements to find out what matters to you and seek your feedback. You can learn about the elements of the plan here: 2025 Integrated Resource Plan.

To provide specific input on long-term transmission planning, send your comments by July 28, 2025 to integrated.resource.plan@bchydro.com.

Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) Attachment K

You may submit requests for economic development studies at any time. We will consider your requests in our next capital planning cycle

We work with stakeholders on system planning in accordance with Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) Attachment K. Customers and interested parties can become a participant and request a transmission study to facilitate economic development (economic planning) to provide input to the development of our transmission capital plans.

See below for information on Attachment K planning activities, which take place periodically.

If you want to take part in the transmission capital planning process, complete the request to participate form.

Transmission capital planning activities

ACTIVITY
 DATE
Deadline for economic planning studies request TBD
Draft scope of economic planning studies to be undertaken by BC Hydro Not applicable
Feedback on draft scope of economic planning studies Not applicable
Final scope of BC Hydro transmission planning study document Not applicable
Preliminary results of economic planning studies Not applicable
Feedback on preliminary results of economic planning studies Not applicable
Final economic planning studies report Not applicable


Transmission studies to facilitate economic development

There are areas of B.C. where our transmission system may not be adequate, or isn't available at all, to meet the area's economic development needs. To ensure we're planning for those needs, you can apply for an economic planning study related to transmission access.

Requests for economic planning studies may be selected based on their consistency with our transmission planning parameters. Some requests may be deferred to future planning cycles.

How to make a request for an economic planning study

You must be a registered participant in the transmission capital planning process before submitting a request for an economic planning study.

An economic planning study isn't a substitute for:

  • BC Hydro's transmission standard generator interconnection process (SGIP)
  • The interconnection process for generator owners or independent power producers
  • Transmission and distribution interconnection processes for large loads.

Specific point-to-point transmission service, generation interconnection, or load interconnection requests will be studied in accordance with existing processes under BC Hydro's OATT.

This study may require detailed modeling data, analysis of potential economic benefits and an examination of key assumptions that make the economic development viable. We'll also look at investments that could result from building, or upgrading, a transmission line.

Request an economic planning study

OATT Attachment K related documents