Community
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Mar 27, 2013
March 27: BC Hydro crews used a helicopter on Monday as part of their ongoing work on the 500-kilovolt transmission line crossing the Fraser River from Surrey to Coquitlam. Crews hope to complete work and energize the lines by early May.
In the summer of 2011, a transmission tower on the sout...
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Mar 25, 2013
BC Hydro Trades Trainees practicing their pole climbing skills in Surrey last week. If they choose to pursue an apprenticeship as a power line technician, they will be required to complete 42-months of on-the-job and classroom training.
Power line technicians are responsible for constructing, ...
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Mar 22, 2013
BC Hydro recently completed a “wet test” of the newly installed 24,000 kilogram spillway gates at Stave Falls located 55 kilometres east of Vancouver in the District of Mission. During the test, the gates were opened allowing water from the reservoir to rush through and then closed to ensure the ...
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Mar 20, 2013
Thirty-five BC Hydro employees helped to restore power to the village of Ditidaht, a First Nations community near Port Alberni, over the weekend after it was discovered that copper grounding wire had been stolen from 300 utility poles delivering power to the community.
The theft made electrical d...
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Mar 20, 2013
New online tool helps customers track energy use
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro encourages British Columbians to join millions of Canadians in support of Earth Hour 2013 by turning off their lights on Saturday, March 23 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Last year, B.C. lowered its overall energy consumption by 1.67...
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Mar 15, 2013
DITIDAHT – BC Hydro crews de-energized the village of Ditidaht on Vancouver Island at 5pm this evening after a substantial wire theft in the community has made electrical distribution equipment unsafe for local residents.
BC Hydro received a call from a resident in the area about the safety of ...
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Mar 14, 2013
On Wednesday, BC Hydro crews worked in a snowstorm to replace a broken power pole five kilometres northwest of Vanderhoof after a pick-up truck and trailer slid off the road earlier in the day. The trailer landed on its end, up against a BC Hydro power pole, which was broken by the force of the c...
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Mar 14, 2013
MISSION – BC Hydro’s historic Stave Falls Visitor Centre is now open to the public for the season until Oct. 20, 2013.
The centre shows the important role that British Columbia’s hydroelectric development played in the history and landscape of the Stave Valley, beginning in 1909, when the Wester...
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Mar 11, 2013
Last Friday, BC Hydro crews replaced a power pole on Gillies Bay Road in Texada Island. Over time, wooden poles weaken due to weather conditions, insects, birds and wildlife. As a result, BC Hydro regularly inspects the old poles and invests in new poles to maintain the vast system. With more th...
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Mar 8, 2013
Winter bills in particular can be higher than expected. There’s a good chance that you’ll use more electricity in the winter months – especially if you have electric heat. The cold weather and shorter, darker days contribute to a higher bill.
Managing your bill begins with understanding what you...
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Feb 25, 2013
BC Hydro crews work on Kenneth Street in downtown Duncan on Feb. 24. Crews replaced five power poles in one day. To limit future disruptions to electricity service, five crews from different districts on Vancouver Island were called in to help with the work so all of the poles could be replaced a...
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Feb 21, 2013
Statement from Powerex Chief Legal Officer, John Irving:
“Since the California energy crisis ended in 2001, U.S. regulators have consistently ruled in Powerex’s favour after very thorough hearings and investigations. These rulings clearly reinforce our position that Powerex has always acted lawfu...
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Feb 14, 2013
On Tuesday in Vancouver, power-line technicians Paul Kramer, Steve Lang and Chris Smith, were congratulated by BC Hydro president and CEO, Charles Reid (far right) and executive vice-president of Transmission and Distribution, Greg Reimer (far left), for placing first in the municipal division at...
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Jan 25, 2013
Jan. 25, 2013: More than 600 steel transmission towers with an average height of 42.5 metres – the equivalent of 24 people standing on top of one another – will be built for the Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission Line. This tower was put up near Merritt earlier this month. The project involv...
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Jan 21, 2013
Jan. 21, 2013: On Friday, a 65 metre long truck travelled through Hays, Kansas carrying a 137.5-tonne Francis turbine (runner) to Mica Dam north of Revelstoke. The runner will arrive in B.C. this spring and power the fifth generating unit at Mica Dam, which is expected to be in service October 20...
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Jan 17, 2013
Jan. 18, 2013
In the winter months storms hit B.C. more frequently. This increases the potential for power outages.
If you are unprepared, power outages can interrupt your life. That’s why BC Hydro works hard to ensure we are prepared for outages all year round and encourage our customers to d...
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Jan 7, 2013
Last weekend, BC Hydro raised the first steel transmission tower outside of Merritt as part of the Interior to Lower Mainland Transmission project. The project includes construction of more than 600 steel transmission towers with an average height of 42.5 metres. If the towers were laid end-to-en...
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Dec 21, 2012
Dec. 21, 2012: BC Hydro crews work along the Alaska Highway in Fort St. John on Dec. 20 to repair a broken cross arm – the horizontal beam that holds up the wires. The crew worked around live lines in minus 35 degrees Celsius to limit any disruption to the customers’ service.
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Dec 19, 2012
Dec. 19, 2012: The unusual weather conditions in the North Thompson led to BC Hydro implementing an unusual solution to ensure reliable service to several hundred customers near Barriere.
BC Hydro used a helicopter to blast snow and ice off trees near a remote power line that crosses through an a...
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Dec 17, 2012
VANCOUVER – Spend your money this holiday season on family, friends and all the great activities you have planned – not on electricity. BC Hydro is sharing eight simple tips that help save energy during the holidays.
1. Switch to LED holiday lights: LED lights use 90 per cent less electricity t...
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Dec 14, 2012
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro and IBEW 258 have reached a tentative memorandum of settlement for a new two year collective agreement.
IBEW 258 represents approximately 2,000 workers in electrical and related utility trades at BC Hydro. The IBEW’s collective agreement with BC Hydro expired at the end of M...
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Dec 14, 2012
BC Hydro crews hard at work in the snow and sub-zero temperatures hanging cable pipes under the Finlay River Bridge, near Fort Ware. The bridge is the only way in or out of the Kwadacha First Nation and the installation of the pipes – completed today – will help bring power from BC Hydro’s grid t...
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Dec 4, 2012
BC Hydro has announced the first place and top ten photographs for the Team Power Smart photo contest in partnership with London Drugs and Royal BC Museum. This year’s theme was wasteful behaviour and judges looked at how entries captured wastefulness. The judging panel reviewed 550 entries and s...
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Dec 4, 2012
The Heber River diversion, a facility used for 48 years to divert water for power generation near Gold River on Vancouver Island, is gone and the river is flowing naturally again.
The diversion has been out-of-service since 2006 because of sediment build-up from a series of major storms, the de...
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Nov 30, 2012
COLWOOD – Upfront payments can be a barrier to making energy efficiency upgrades to your home. That’s why BC Hydro is launching an innovative pilot program in the City of Colwood that offers low-cost financing for home energy improvements with no upfront payment.
The new Power Smart Home Loan pr...
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Nov 29, 2012
Using two overhead bridge cranes operating in tandem, BC Hydro installed a rotor twice as heavy as the Statue of Liberty at our GM Shrum (GMS) facility on the Peace River near Hudson’s Hope earlier this month. The installation of the rotor – the moving part of the turbine that helps produce elect...
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Nov 19, 2012
VANCOUVER – In the winter months storms hit B.C. more frequently. This increases the potential for power outages. BC Hydro is suggesting six easy steps to ensure you and your family are better prepared.
1. Know the number to call when the power goes out. To report an outage, call 1-888-POWE...
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Nov 15, 2012
A 96-wheeled truck transports a five-metre high, 106-tonne transformer to BC Hydro’s Mica Dam. The transformer, a steel tank containing copper windings and an electrical core, is one of four that travelled across the country on CP Rail from Quebec to Revelstoke. The final leg is by truck from Rev...
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Nov 1, 2012
Project Benefits
- The new spillway gates enable BC Hydro to continue to reliably release excess water from the reservoir in a safe, controlled manner. This is important during flood conditions to protect public safety.
- The old gates had been in place since 1923. They were refurbished...
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Oct 22, 2012
VANCOUVER –BC Hydro has named 27 B.C. companies as the winners of the 2012 Power Smart Excellence Awards. The awards recognize energy conservation leadership from organizations in the commercial, government, industrial and retail sectors.
QUOTES:
Hon. Rich Coleman, Ministry of Energy and Mines:...
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Oct 17, 2012
Vancouver – BC Hydro has earned a gold level designation for best practices in Aboriginal relations from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business’ Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) program.
The gold-level designation is the highest offered and is verified by an independent, third party ...
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Oct 12, 2012
October 12, 2012
BC Hydro is partnering with community partners for the fourth annual Candlelight Conservation Dinner on October 25. More than 90 restaurants throughout B.C. are dimming their...
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Oct 11, 2012
October 5, 2012
BC Hydro is partnering with more than 700 retailers in over 90 communities to offer incentives for the purchase of energy-efficient products during October, Power Smart Month.
Power Smart discounts are available to customers for in-store purchases of energy-efficient lighting, ...
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Sep 20, 2012
Sept. 20, 2012
BC Hydro’s photo contest raises awareness of wasteful behaviour
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro is calling for photos for the fourth annual Team Power Smart photo contest. Original photos can be submitted online until Oct. 15 for a chance at winning a digital camera.
This year’s t...
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Sep 20, 2012
Fifty per cent of funding dedicated to Aboriginal students
DAWSON CREEK – Students and residents in northern British Columbia will benefit from $1-million in funding by BC Hydro to support trades and skills training at Northern Lights College.
BC Hydro is providing the funding to the Northern...
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Aug 29, 2012
Graduation marks the start of new opportunities for REnEW graduates: FortisBC and BC Hydro program continues to support training in energy efficient construction
SURREY, B.C. – August 28, 2012: Ten participants in the Residential Energy Efficiency Works (REnEW) training program, funded by Forti...
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Aug 20, 2012
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro is advising Surrey, Langley, Quesnel, Fort Nelson, Powell River, Kamloops, Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe residents that crews will be out replacing power poles in their regions over the next several months. The work is part of BC Hydro’s ongoing maintenance program that will s...
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Jul 9, 2012
July 9, 2012
Vancouver Island First Nation celebrates new BC Hydro service
Port Alberni – A First Nations community on central Vancouver Island now has more reliable power thanks to ...
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Jun 28, 2012
June 28, 2012
Preventable Drowning Deaths Highest in July and August
Shifts in attitudes are key to preventing serious injuries
Vancouver, BC – As we head into the July long weekend, Preventable, along with the Canadian Red Cross and BC Hydro are reminding everyone to practice water safety this s...
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Jun 8, 2012
June 11, 2012
PRINGE GEORGE – BC Hydro is building a new regional operations centre in Prince George. At an event today, Hon. Pat Bell, MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie,Hon. Shirley Bond, MLA for Prince George-Valemount, Shari Green, Mayor of Prince George, Councillor Louella Nome, Lheidli T’enneh...
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Jun 7, 2012
Transport Canada and BC Hydro reach agreement on next stage of Rock Bay clean up
Victoria, British Columbia – Transport Canada and BC Hydro have reached an agreement to complete the next phase (Stage 3) of the Rock Bay Remediation Project in Victoria. This will help restore the bay and foreshor...
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Jun 4, 2012
June 4, 2012
Help shape B.C.’s energy future: BC Hydro seeks public feedback on long-term power plan
Vancouver – BC Hydro has developed a draft plan to meet provincial electricity demand forecasted to grow by 50 per cent over the next 20 years as a result of economic expansion and population grow...
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Apr 28, 2012
April 28, 2012
BC Hydro and Columbia Power to complete
Arrow Lakes Reservoir boat ramp improvement
Castlegar, BC – BC Hydro and Columbia Power are pleased to announce a partnership to complete the remaining Arrow Lakes Reservoir boat ramp improvement projects. Under the terms of the ...
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Apr 26, 2012
April 26, 2012
Power to be restored by 6 pm in Aiyansh and Stewart
PRINCE GEORGE, BC – Power is expected to be restored by 6 p.m. tonight to approximately 1600 customers in communities served by BC Hydro’s Skeena-Aiyansh transmission line. This includes Aiyansh, Stewart and other smaller communi...
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Apr 26, 2012
News Release – April 26, 2012
Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program announces Columbia Region funding and projects for 2012-2013
The Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) has confirmed its $4 million budget and key projects for 2012-2013 in the Columbia Region. Funds are provided through...
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Apr 25, 2012
April 25, 2012
Downed transmission towers cause outages in Aiyansh and Stewart
PRINCE GEORGE, BC – Two transmission towers have been downed due to a falling tree on the Skeena-Aiyansh line serving the communities of Stewart and Aiyansh. The towers are located approximately 14 kilometres north of ...
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Apr 23, 2012
Ever wonder what your kids are thinking about? We dropped into Vancouver’s Lord Strathcona School to find out.
On April 19, the leadership students from grade 6 and 7 worked with 35 of their classmates to brainstorm ideas on how to be good to the planet and smart about the future. BC Hydro helped...
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Apr 5, 2012
Vancouver – British Columbia’s largest crown corporation, BC Hydro, is marking half a century of providing clean, affordable and reliable electricity to British Columbian families.
BC Hydro was created in 1962 under the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) Act, which amalgamated ...
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Jan 4, 2012
January 4, 2012
BC Hydro warns customers to beware of telemarketers
offering “Hydro Power Savers”
Vancouver, BC – BC Hydro is warning its customers to be aware of a potential scam this winter season where telemarketers claim to be calling from BC Hydro to sell energy-saving devices called “Hydro ...
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Dec 19, 2011
December 19, 2011
Prince George woman wins BC Hydro Team Power Smart Photo Contest
Prince George, B.C. – Christmas is coming early this year for Prince George resident Tammy Gock. Gock has won BC Hydro’s 2011 Team Power Smart Photo Contest for her creative depiction of a power-saving tip:...
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Dec 9, 2011
December 12, 2011
Operation Cereal Box: BC Hydro partners with food banks to distribute energy savings kits to low-income customers
Vancouver, B.C. – Thousands of cereal boxes headed for Metro Vancouver food banks this month don’t just pack nutrition. They also include a tip and an o...
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Dec 8, 2011
December 8, 2011
Holiday lighting tips for a bright, safe and energy-efficient season!
Vancouver – Part of the charm and tradition of the holiday season are the lights: colourful twinkling lights brightening up the long nights and lighting up people’s homes. With that in mind, BC Hydro is offeri...
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Dec 1, 2011
December 1, 2011
Keep warm and save money this winter using BC Hydro’s top 7 tips
As the days gets shorter and the weather gets colder, energy demand across the province almost doubles as people turn up the heat and keep lights and electronics on for longer. In fact, space heating costs alone can...
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Oct 31, 2011
October 31, 2011
Charles Reid named BC Hydro’s Acting President and CEO
VANCOUVER, BC – Dan Doyle, Chair of the Board of BC Hydro announced today that the Board of Directors has named Executive Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer Charles Reid as BC Hydro’s Acting Preside...
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Oct 25, 2011
October 25, 2011
Book a smart, romantic dinner out in B.C. on October 27
Vancouver, BC – Candlelight will set the mood for romance and conservation on October 27 during the Candlelight Conservation Dinner as more than 120 restaurants in British Columbia turn off the lights and invite custome...
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Oct 19, 2011
October 19, 2011
President and CEO Dave Cobb leaving BC Hydro for leadership position in private sector
VANCOUVER, BC – Dan Doyle, Chair of the Board of BC Hydro announced today that BC Hydro President and CEO Dave Cobb ...
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Oct 4, 2011
Oct. 4, 2011
Think you’re so power smart? Take a picture and show us!
Vancouver, B.C. – A picture’s worth a thousand words and, during Power Smart month, that picture could win you a thousand-dollar-plus camera! Take a photo of how smart you are with your power and you could win a Nikon ...
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Sep 26, 2011
Sept. 26, 2011
BC Hydro representatives will be at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention in Vancouver this week to provide delegates with information the Smart Metering program.
Here are some facts about smart meters and wireless networks:
The radio frequency from traffic control associated w...
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Aug 5, 2011
3:30 p.m. PDT - Friday, August 5
SURREY – BC Hydro is taking the next significant step in securing and stabilizing a 500-kilovolt transmission tower on the south side of the Fraser River near the Port Mann Bridge. On Saturday, Aug. 6 crews will begin driving eight 100-foot-high steel piles 36 f...
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Jul 26, 2011
SURREY – BC Hydro will be using a low flying helicopter this afternoon as part of the work to install a guy wire (support wire) between the leaning 500 kilovolt transmission tower near the south side of the Port Mann Bridge and the next closest inland tower 1,743 feet away. This work will further...
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Jul 18, 2011
Tumbler Ridge Transmission Structure Update July 18, 9:00 a.m.
BC Hydro advises that its crews have made progress over the weekend in constructing new transmission structures on both sides of High Hat Creek that will bypass the threatened structures. Despite challenging field conditions, access t...
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Jul 16, 2011
Please read the latest, July 18 9:00 a.m. update
Tumbler Ridge Transmission Structure Update July 15, 10:00 p.m.
BC Hydro advises that the wooden transmission structure servicing Tumbler Ridge continues to be impacted by unstable soil and excessive water. Our primary concern is for the safety o...
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Jul 16, 2011
Please read the latest, July 18 9:00 a.m. update
Tumbler Ridge Transmission Tower Update July 14, 5:30 p.m.
BC Hydro advises that the wooden transmission structure located 68 kms south of the WAC Bennett Dam, between Hudson’s Hope and Chetwyn that services Tumbler Ridge is at greater risk of fall...
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May 25, 2011
You always hear people say that individual actions can add up to make a difference. Now, we are seeing proof of that with the Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup playoff run.
With some simple interpretation of the provincial electricity load it seems that overall electricity demand drops during game ...
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May 12, 2011
May 12, 2011
BC Hydro and RCMP increase safety on Highway 23 North from Revelstoke to Mica dam
Revelstoke, B.C. – BC Hydro and the RCMP are working together to make Highway 23 N...
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Apr 27, 2011
Call it a case of accidental energy conservation. It turns out that Vancouver Canucks playoff games mean lower electricity use in B.C. During game 7 of the Vancouver and Chicago series Tuesday night, BC Hydro estimates an average drop in electricity demand of about 3.6 per cent (244 MW) compared ...
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Mar 27, 2011
Encouraging sign for ongoing conservation
VANCOUVER – British Columbians saved 117 megawatt hours of electricity and reduced the provincial electricity load by 1.8 percent during Earth Hour last night – almost twice as much as the 64 megawatt hours and 1.04 percent saved last year – and the equiv...
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Mar 4, 2011
BC Hydro signs benefit agreement with Nisga’a Nation in respect of Northwest Transmission Line project
New Aiyansh, B.C. – BC Hydro announced today the signing this week of a benefit agreement with the Nisga’a Nation that will provide the Nisga’a Nation with financial and other benefits related t...
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Mar 1, 2011
March 1, 2011
BC Hydro doubles local trades training funds as Mica expansion starts this spring
Revelstoke, B.C. – With the start of construction on the Mica Units 5 and 6 Projec...
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Feb 22, 2011
Vision Critical Inc. of Vancouver was commissioned by BC Hydro to conduct a poll of 1,000 British Columbians in BC Hydro’s service area between February 14 to 18. The following are highlights of this poll.
Almost three quarters (72%) of British Columbians indicate they are confident or very confi...
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Jan 14, 2011
REVELSTOKE, B.C. – In an effort to benefit fish and fish habitat, and following four years of data collection on mid-Columbia river productivity, BC Hydro has changed its operations at Revelstoke Dam to discharge water at or above a minimum flow.
This minimum flow, as recommended by the 2007 Col...
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Jan 6, 2011
NEWS RELEASE
Quesnel – Cariboo Pulp and Paper Company and BC Hydro have reached an agreement that will allow the mill to upgrade its systems to create 160 gigawatt hours of steam-generated clean electricity to sell to BC Hydro each year – enough to power more than 14,500 homes annually. The upgra...
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Jan 5, 2011
January 5, 2011
Government and BC Hydro initial historic Final Agreement with St’át’imc
Lillooet, B.C. – The Province of British Columbia and BC Hydro have initialled a Final Agreement with the St’át’imc and each of its 11 member bands that, once ratified, will address the longstandi...
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Dec 15, 2010
NEWS RELEASE
The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) and BC Hydro are pleased to announce that the transfer of four Arrow Lakes community drinking water systems to RDCK services will be finalized on January 4th, 2011.
Both organizations would like to invite local residents to attend an ...
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Nov 27, 2010
Posted by Sally Masters
This year, BC Hydro made its 12th annual contribution to Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area (CVWMA), an important local initiative in the Creston Valley.
This year’s contribution was $380,310. The work undertaken by the CVWMA supports BC Hydro’s long-term environmen...
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Nov 12, 2010
First communities hooked up through BC Hydro's Remote Community Electrification program
TIPELLA, B.C. – Four St'at'imc communities in the Lillooet Valley – Skatin, Baptiste Smith, Port Douglas and Tipella – are now connected to the BC Hydro grid system and will now receive clean and reliable powe...
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Tags
Minister Rich Coleman, conservation, Power Smart, Dave Cobb, Northwest Transmission Line, Interior to Lower Mainland, Mica Expansion Project , Greg Reimer, economic development, infrastructure, Site C, impact benefit agreement, generation, Mica, First Nations, Canucks, regulatory review, Smart Meters, capital investment, capital expenditures
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