Category: General commentary

The trend is improving, but we’re still feeling the effects of the drought Annual reports According to BC Hydro’s annual report to the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) for 2024/25 (F2025), it imported more electricity than it exported for the second year in a row. The $496 million cost of the net imports was less than…

As the year comes to a close, it’s time to look back at my predictions for 2025. How clear was the Just and Reasonable crystal ball? 1. The BC government will fail to meet its 2025 GHG emission reductions target I’d say this prediction was mostly on the money. BC’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are…

Operating expense increases will likely cause rates to rise after the government-imposed rate cap expires. It shows the folly of the BCUC abandoning its plan to impose some fiscal discipline on the utility. Introduction BC Hydro just released its second quarter results for fiscal 2026 (F2026), the financial year ending March 31, 2026. There was…

Despite a tight vote in the legislature, the steady erosion of BCUC independence continues. Some of the government’s statements in the debate need correcting. Introduction The BC Legislature recently debated Bill 31, also known as the Energy Statutes Amendment Act, 2025. Bill 31 enables BC Hydro to share ownership of its proposed North Coast Transmission…

The upgrade will improve energy security for Fortis’s customers, and the BCUC has confirmed the need for a natural gas system for decades to come. Introduction FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) is BC’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serving 1.1 million customers in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Interior. On October 27, 2025, the…

Why doesn’t the plan support the province’s climate goals? And where is the energy coming from for customers of the proposed North Coast Transmission Line? Introduction BC Hydro, the province’s largest electric utility, has filed its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan. Plans such as this are intended to ensure utilities anticipate the investments they must make…

It appears the government is considering subsidies for customers to use the line, which may not be fully used. The project should be funded by taxpayers rather than BC Hydro’s ratepayers. Introduction The provincial government announced last week that it wants to build a new transmission line to BC’s north coast to support new mining…

The government is avoiding scrutiny and giving BC Hydro too much discretion, while at the same time rationing power to BC’s emerging economy. Introduction On Monday the BC government introduced new legislation, Bill 31, to “help us move faster on the North Coast Transmission Line”, a new $6 billion project to deliver power to Terrace…

BC Hydro is less than totally transparent in a number of important areas. The BCUC could do more to ensure ratepayers’ interests are being protected. Introduction I recently used BC Hydro’s 2024/25 (F2025) annual report to show that its rates are probably set too low, and that this is storing up problems for the future.…

The rate increase was necessary to pay for service reliability improvements. But does Nelson Hydro really need to file a rates application every year? Introduction Municipal energy utilities are not usually regulated by the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC), but Nelson Hydro is unique because it serves customers outside its city boundaries (the “rural” customers). The…