Electricity transmission is the process of transferring electrical energy to consumers. Electrical energy generated at power facilities is transmitted at high voltages through overhead power lines and underwater cables.  Those transmission lines connect to substations which transform the power to lower voltages for distribution to consumers through the distribution system. This network of transmission and distribution lines is often referred to as a “grid”.

British Columbia’s transmission system is part of a larger interconnected power grid across British Columbia and Alberta, 14 western states and the northern portion of Baja Calfornia, Mexico. This area is called the western interconnect.

B.C.'s ties to neighbouring systems allow electricity to be imported and exported and help ensure a reliable and competitively priced power supply for provincial consumers. 

Utility interconnections also have the potential to facilitate development of renewable electricity beyond B.C.'s needs that will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in neighbouring jurisdictions.

Crown Utilities

BC Hydro is a Crown corporation, owned by the Provincial Government.  It is established under the Hydro and Power Authority Act.  BC Hydro owns over 18,000 km of high voltage transmission lines as well as owns and operates over 55,000 km of local distribution lines.  The BC Hydro Public Power Legacy and Heritage Contract Act ensures that these assets must remain publicly owned.

British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC) is a Crown Corporation, also owned by the Provincial Government.  BCTC’s mandate is to plan, build, operate and maintain BC Hydro’s electrical transmission system.  It ensures open and non-discriminatory access to the transmission system for all power producers, and market participants.  BCTC is also responsible to ensure the province’s electricity transmission system meets required planning and reliability standards.  

The Transmission Corporation Act and Key Agreements established under that Act sets out the roles and responsibilities of BCTC.  The Act also stipulates that BCTC must not be sold.

Municipal Utilities

Nelson Hydro operates generation, transmission and distribution facilities for the City of Nelson and surrounding area.

The City of New Westminster, City of Grand Forks, City of Kelowna, City of Penticton and Summerland Power operate distribution systems for local residential, commercial and industrial customers.    

Regulated Private Utilities

FortisBC owns 1,450 km of high volage transmission lines and approximately 5,550 km of distribution lines throughout south-central British Columbia.  Fortis BC’s transmission system connects with BC Hydro and Teck to improve overall provincial system integration.    

Other investor-owned utilities include: Corix Multi Utility Services Inc, Hemlock Valley Electrical Services Ltd,

Princeton Light & Power Company Ltd and Silversmith Power & Light Corporation.

Private Companies

Independent power producers, large industrial customers and industrial self generators own their own transmission interconnections linking them to the transmission grid.   

Teck owns a 15 km transmission line that connects its operations to the United States system.

Alcan owns an 82 km power line which links its operations to the BC Hydro grid.

BC Transmission System Map, courtesy of BCTC