Meeting the Growing Need for Electricity
BC's population and economy are growing and so is our need for electricity. Over the next 20 years, the demand for electricity in BC is expected to grow by as much as 45 per cent - the majority of it in the Lower Mainland.
The transmission circuits that bring power from where it is generated in the north and southern Interior of the province to the Lower Mainland are some of the most critical paths in the transmission grid. The amount of electricity transferred on these circuits continues to be high and with potential increases in generation resources located in the north and southern Interior, the capacity of these vital paths will be maximized.
In its 2006 Integrated Electricity Plan (IEP) and Long Term Acquisition Plan (LTAP) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) in March 2006, BC Hydro identified the need for additional transmission capacity between the Interior and the Lower Mainland between 2014 and 2019.
Along with their IEP filing, BC Hydro prepared an information booklet entitled Challenges and Choices: Preparing for a Secure Electricity Future (PDF, 696KB), which provides more information on the need to plan for electricity in British Columbia.
On May 11, 2007 the BCUC released its decision on BC Hydro's 2006 IEP and LTAP. The ILM Project is referred to on page 170, section 6.4.
ILM Project and BC's new Energy Plan
The ILM Project will help BCTC meet new BC Energy Plan objectives of grid expansion, energy conservation, innovation and enhanced reliability to benefit British Columbians. When completed, the ILM Project will reinforce the capacity of the ILM transmission system providing clean, renewable energy from BC’s heritage hydro generation resources and from future IPP projects in the North and Southern Interior. By ensuring the most efficient transfer of electricity, the ILM Project will retain energy that otherwise would be lost – enough energy to supply about 80,000 homes per year. This directly supports the BC Energy Plan’s goal of self-sufficiency. The ILM Project also ensures continued access to electricity trade revenues used to keep the cost of energy competitive for all British Columbians.