Revelstoke Generating Station Unit 6

Overview

We're adding the sixth and final generating unit into an empty bay at Revelstoke Generating Station. Originally designed to house six generating units, the generation station opened with four units in 1984 and a fifth unit was added in 2010.

All construction will take place within the existing footprint. The work will include:

• Installing a 500 megawatt (MW) generating unit in an existing turbine bay
• Constructing a sixth steel penstock on the dam face
• Upgrading mechanical and electrical systems, including a new generator transformer and switchgear
• Other work required to support the project

Additional information on the project components is available in the B.C. Government's Certified Project Description [PDF].

Left bank

We're installing rockfall fencing on the left bank to ensure that construction can proceed safely by preventing rocks from falling into the penstock work zone. The left bank is located below Highway 23N and adjacent to the face of the dam as shown in the figure below.

View the image [PDF, 1.5 MB] at a larger size.

To protect the work area and workers, we'll install three fences on the upper left bank and full pinned mesh screen on the lower section between June and October 2026. Helicopters will be used to transport supplies to staging areas on and near the left bank.

Part of the visitor centre parking lot is being used for trailers and setup.

Warehouse

We'll build a permanent warehouse near the existing warehouse to store spare parts and equipment currently stored in the Unit 6 pit inside the generating station and in the existing warehouse. In future, we'll also store spare parts for Unit 6 in the warehouse.

View the image [PDF, 1.7 MB] at a larger size.

Once the warehouse is complete, we'll use the existing warehouse for contractor staging during Revelstoke Unit 6 construction and for other capital work.

Work on the warehouse started in spring 2026 with warehouse design, material procurement, and site investigations (e.g., geotechnical and site surveys). Site preparation and civil construction, including concrete work and underground support services will start in fall 2026 with the warehouse is expected to be completed in summer 2027.

Revelstoke Unit 6 will add 500 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity to our system to help support electrification, meet peak demand, and integrate new renewable energy sources. Adding the sixth unit at Revelstoke is the most inexpensive way to add 500 MW to our system.

This additional capacity will give us more flexibility to operate and manage our system during outages and periods of uncertainty, such as extreme weather events or unplanned outages.

The project received an Environmental Assessment Certificate (EAC) from the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) in 2018 following extensive consultation with First Nations and stakeholders. The EAC includes a Certified Project Description as well as the conditions which must be met for the project to proceed.

We received a five-year extension to the EAC in 2025 with the requirement that the project substantially starts construction by November 2028.

We're now working to implement the EAC conditions and advance the project.

We'll continue to work with First Nations and engage with local and regional governments and stakeholders as the project advances.

Revelstoke Dam and Generating Station are located on the Columbia River, 5 km upstream from the City of Revelstoke. The facilities are part of our Columbia system with Revelstoke Reservoir and Mica Dam located upstream and the Hugh L. Keenleyside Dam and Arrow Lakes Reservoir downstream.

Electricity generated by the plant is delivered to the grid by two parallel 500 kilovolt transmission lines that run from Revelstoke Generating Station to the Ashton Creek substation near Enderby.

The generating unit will be located within the asserted traditional territories of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, Ktunaxa Nation, Secwepemc Nation and Sinixt Nation.

The figure below shows where the various project components will be located.

Construction began in spring 2026 and we anticipate that the project will be operational by December 2032. The schedule will be refined as the project advances.

Revelstoke Unit 6 will add 500 MW of generating capacity to our system to help support electrification, meet peak demand, and support the addition of renewable energy sources.

Jobs and economic benefits

• Project construction will create 450+ person years of employment and generate local spending of about $60 million for goods, materials, and services.

Maximizing the value of BC Hydro assets

• We're making optimum use of an existing facility.
• This project will give us more flexibility in how we operate and manage our system in the event of outages and respond to periods of uncertainty (e.g., extreme weather events or unplanned outages).

Cost effective

• This is the most inexpensive way to add 500 MW to our system.

Minimize footprint

• Revelstoke Unit 6 won't involve a significant change to the facility and construction activities will be within the existing facility footprint.
• The space for the generator is already built and it just has to be installed.

Project construction is estimated to generate about $60 million in local spending for goods, materials and services.

Construction will be completed by independent contractors through several large contracts awarded according to BC Hydro's procurement policies.

Based on the experience of the Revelstoke 5 and Mica 5 and 6 projects, the following types of goods and services could be supplied, at least in part, by local and First Nations owned and operated enterprises.

This union agreement:

• Gives first preference to workers living within a 100 km radius of the project site and second preference to those living in the Columbia basin.
• Has hiring provisions for qualified workers who are First Nations.
• Has equity hire provisions for qualified workers who are women in non-traditional roles, visible minorities, and/or disabled.

BC Hydro will also hire staff directly to work on the project. All jobs with BC Hydro will be posted on bchydro.com.

For construction work in 2026 and 2027, K-IDL (Kenpesq't-IDL Limited Partnership), a partnership between Shuswap Band and IDL Projects, is the successful proponent for the Left Bank and Permanent Warehouse contracts. If you're interested in work with K-IDL, please contact:

Email: jobs@idlprojects.com
Subject line: BC Hydro Shuswap projects application
 

Training

We're working with major employers, educational institutions, and economic development agencies to support alignment of recruitment and training initiatives. We'll also provide a financial contribution to support project-related training.

We recently awarded scholarships to six students at Revelstoke Secondary School, including three students entering university and three students undertaking trades and other skilled-training programs.

More information will be available as the project advances.

We recognize the importance of open and meaningful consultation with First Nations and engagement with stakeholders through all project phases. Consultation with First Nations is ongoing as we work to develop and implement the management plans required by the Environmental Assessment Certificate.

On April 9 and 13, 2026, we hosted public open houses for people to learn more about the project. Key areas of interest were:

• Employment and procurement opportunities
• Worker housing
• Potential environmental and community effects

If you couldn't attend an event, the open house storyboards and virtual open house presentation are available for review at the links below.

We're planning a job fair and open house for first quarter 2027. Information will be shared as plans advance. We'll continue to work closely with First Nations, governments, communities, and stakeholders as the project advances.