BCHydro

BC Hydro set a new record for peak hourly demand Monday night (Aug. 14) as temperatures soared across the province, which had British Columbians turning to air conditioners and fans in an effort to beat the heat. (Black Press Media file photo)

BC Hydro breaks record for hourly electricity demand in August

Spokesperson says it was just 200 megawatts less than all-time record during 2021 heat dome

 

An electric vehicle is charged in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. BC Hydro wants to raise rates at public electric vehicle charging stations by 15 per cent from Sept. 1, which the company says would allow it to recover the costs of providing them over 10 years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

BC Hydro bids to raise EV charging fees

The Crown corporation wants to raise rates by 15% from Sept. 1, but customers say time-based fees are unfair

 

John Hart Dam on the Campbell River system, in summer of 2023. BC Hydro photo

Road across John Hart Dam to close for six years

Brewster Lake Road closes to the public on July 10 to allow for seismic upgrades

  • Jun 30, 2023

 

BC Hydro CEO Chris O’Riley discusses the Crown corporation’s electrification plans with Greater Victoria business and community leaders at a Chamber of Commerce event on June 28. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Electrification and more needed in all sectors, BC Hydro CEO says in Victoria

Energy efficiency and fuel alternatives will have a role in meeting GHG targets, he says

BC Hydro CEO Chris O’Riley discusses the Crown corporation’s electrification plans with Greater Victoria business and community leaders at a Chamber of Commerce event on June 28. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
B.C’s Health Minister Adrian Dix, here seen in Surrey, has announced $10 million for 8,000 air-conditioners for vulnerable populations. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. cranks up $10 million for 8,000 air conditioners for vulnerable citizens

Units will be provided through a BC Hydro application process over the next 3 years

B.C’s Health Minister Adrian Dix, here seen in Surrey, has announced $10 million for 8,000 air-conditioners for vulnerable populations. (Black Press Media file photo)
BC Hydro CEO Chris O’Riley reads a statement about February’s underground electrical vault explosion, during a news conference in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

BC Hydro was warned vault was dangerous years before Vancouver explosion

BC Hydro president Chris O’Riley apologizes for February blast

BC Hydro CEO Chris O’Riley reads a statement about February’s underground electrical vault explosion, during a news conference in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
12,000 BC Hydro customers without power north of Kamloops. (BC Hydro)

More than 12K BC Hydro customers without power in Kamloops, Clearwater, Valemount

Transmission circuit failure is to blame for the outage

12,000 BC Hydro customers without power north of Kamloops. (BC Hydro)
A portable air conditioner should be ‘energy star’ certified, BC Hydro says. (Black Press Media file photo)

Stay cool: British Columbians break record for electricity use in May heat

BC Hydro says peak power use still two-thirds less than during coldest day of winter

A portable air conditioner should be ‘energy star’ certified, BC Hydro says. (Black Press Media file photo)
The landscape is dotted with power lines and poles as smoke from wildfires burning in the area fills the air while motorists travel on the Trans-Canada Highway near Walhachin, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. BC Hydro is expecting potentially record-breaking demand on the power system as the province enters what is forecast to be a blistering heat wave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

BC Hydro predicting record-breaking power usage as heat descends on the province

Power company says its system can meet the additional demand

The landscape is dotted with power lines and poles as smoke from wildfires burning in the area fills the air while motorists travel on the Trans-Canada Highway near Walhachin, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. BC Hydro is expecting potentially record-breaking demand on the power system as the province enters what is forecast to be a blistering heat wave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
As construction of Site C continues, the B.C. Utilities Commission has approved BC Hydro’s 2023 to 2025 rates application. The general rate changes are “primarily due to increases in BC Hydro’s finance charges, amortization, operating costs, taxes, and Site C coming into service. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)

Utilities commission approves rate changes for BC Hydro

BCUC still needs to review two outstanding issues

As construction of Site C continues, the B.C. Utilities Commission has approved BC Hydro’s 2023 to 2025 rates application. The general rate changes are “primarily due to increases in BC Hydro’s finance charges, amortization, operating costs, taxes, and Site C coming into service. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)
Outlets will be powerless throughout the Tofino-Ucluelet region on April 2 due to scheduled BC Hydro work. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Day-long power outage coming to Tofino-Ucluelet

BC Hydro crews work on the transmission line that energizes the region on April 2

Outlets will be powerless throughout the Tofino-Ucluelet region on April 2 due to scheduled BC Hydro work. (Andrew Bailey photo)
BC Hydro file photo

Blown fuse in substation the cause of emergency power outage in the North Island

The emergency power outage started a little after 8 p.m. and lasted until around 1:30 a.m.

BC Hydro file photo
A power crew works at an electrical substation damaged by vandals. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)

BC Hydro taking ‘additional steps’ to protect grid after string of U.S. attacks

The power utility said it can’t go into details of what security enhancements have been made

A power crew works at an electrical substation damaged by vandals. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
British Columbians once again topped the province’s power consumption record on Wednesday evening (Dec. 21), for the second time in one week. The above-normal use comes amidst a severe cold snap. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Electricity-use record broken for 2nd time in 1 week as B.C tries to stay warm

Consumption around dinner time Wednesday (Dec. 21) hit over 10,900 megawatts

British Columbians once again topped the province’s power consumption record on Wednesday evening (Dec. 21), for the second time in one week. The above-normal use comes amidst a severe cold snap. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
The setting sun reflects off of power lines as a motorist travels on the Trans-Canada Highway in Walhachin, B.C., west of Kamloops, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The B.C. government is temporarily suspending requests for electricity connections from cryptocurrency mining operations, saying the decision is aimed at preserving the power supply while supporting climate action and economic goals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. pauses electricity connections for crypto mining, citing ‘massive’ consumption

18-month suspension to give province and BC Hydro time to engage with industry and First Nations

The setting sun reflects off of power lines as a motorist travels on the Trans-Canada Highway in Walhachin, B.C., west of Kamloops, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The B.C. government is temporarily suspending requests for electricity connections from cryptocurrency mining operations, saying the decision is aimed at preserving the power supply while supporting climate action and economic goals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Power lines are seen against cloudy skies near Murvale, Ont. northwest of Kingston, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

New record for electricity use broken in B.C. amid extreme cold snap

Residential electricity use is typically at its highest in the colder, darker winter months

Power lines are seen against cloudy skies near Murvale, Ont. northwest of Kingston, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A man uses a snowblower to clear snow from a sidewalk in Vancouver, on Sunday, December 18, 2022. BC Hydro says holiday-time storms are on the rise in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Holiday season power outages increasing drastically as storms surge: BC Hydro

Average of 300,000 people impacted by holiday outages each year, since 2017

A man uses a snowblower to clear snow from a sidewalk in Vancouver, on Sunday, December 18, 2022. BC Hydro says holiday-time storms are on the rise in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Upstream view of the Strathcona Dam and spillway gates. BC Hydro photo

Campbell River reservoir storage and Campbell River flow both at record lows for this time of year

BC Hydro reduced the Campbell River flow by nine per cent on…

Upstream view of the Strathcona Dam and spillway gates. BC Hydro photo
A worker rides a bike at a B.C. Hydro substation in Vancouver, on Friday, April 16, 2021. British Columbia’s unusual fall weather has resulted in some of the lowest river levels on record on the South Coast.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Cold, dry weather threatens fish habitat but not power demand: BC Hydro

BC Hydro says the colder and drier conditions have forced it to adjust its operations on the coast

A worker rides a bike at a B.C. Hydro substation in Vancouver, on Friday, April 16, 2021. British Columbia’s unusual fall weather has resulted in some of the lowest river levels on record on the South Coast.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
BC Hydro said there is no cause for concern after Greater Victoria residents took to social media to report crackling and popping sounds coming from power lines in recent weeks. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Snap, crackle, pop: Salt spray blamed for odd power lines sounds in Greater Victoria

Residents in the region have been taking to social media to report odd sounds on powerlines

BC Hydro said there is no cause for concern after Greater Victoria residents took to social media to report crackling and popping sounds coming from power lines in recent weeks. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)