Very little new transmission infrastructure has been constructed on Vancouver Island in the past twenty years. BCTC has extended the life of existing transmission assets and maximized available capacity by implementing new technologies and innovative solutions; however, these measures can no longer be relied upon to meet the growing demand for electricity.
The regional transmission system which supplies electricity to Vancouver Island’s central coast communities is expected to be fully utilized by 2010 due to extensive growth and development in this region. Parts of the central Vancouver Island regional transmission system are currently reaching their limits of capacity and are even overloaded under certain conditions.
Location of Electricity Demand on Vancouver Island
Long-term access to safe, reliable and reasonably priced electricity is the backbone to BC’s growing economy. Rapidly growing communities and increased energy use have put the regional transmission grid under pressure. The Central Vancouver Island Transmission Project is essential to ensure central Vancouver Island’s growing communities continue to enjoy a safe, reliable and continuous power supply well into the future.
BC Transmission Corporation has identified the Central Vancouver Island Transmission Project in the 2007/2008 Ten Year Capital Plan as one of the highest priorities for BCTC to undertake.