Who’s who in BC energy development

Electricity transmission lines (Photo by Guam/Wikimedia Commons)

In this article we will explore the many public and private agencies and departments involved in the production of energy in the province of British Columbia, clearly identifying the role of each in the process of creating and developing any new power project.

At the top of the food chain, so to speak, is the BC Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. The Honorable Blair Lekstrom is the current appointed head of this area of government.

The Electricity and Alternative Energy Division (EAED)

Comprised of many divisions, the one we are most interested in for the purpose of our discussion is the Electricity and Alternative Energy Division, EAED, which facilitates thriving, competitive, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible electricity, alternative energy and energy efficiency sectors for the benefit of British Columbians.

The division leads the implementation of the electricity and alternative energy components of the BC Energy Plan: A Vision For Clean Energy Leadership, among others. The EAED is responsible for:

• Legislation, policies and programs to support all forms of electrical power generation and transmission;
• Province-wide energy conservation and efficiency measures;
• Alternative energy development;
• Renewable and low-carbon transportation fuels;
• Policy advice and direction to electirical utilities and their regulator, the British Columbia Utilities Commission;
• Fostering private sector investiment in new electricity resources;
• Operational and policy support for independent power producers and
• The LiveSmart BC Energy: Efficiency Incentive Program.

BC Transmission Corp

British Columbia Transmission Corporation is the provincial Crown corporation that plans, builds, operates and maintains the province’s publicly-owned electrical transmission system.

BCTC was created in 2003 with the express purpose of ensuring fair and open access to the transmission system and so that the province has continued access to electricity trade revenues, including BC-based independent power producers and industrial customers. BCTC manages the assets of BC Hydro and is responsible for:

• Planning the system, its upgrades and ensuring that BC has a reliable electricity supply for the future;
• Building new infrastructure including circuits and substations to ensure that the system expands to meet BC’s growing needs,
• Ensuring the transmission of electricity through wires and transmission facilities from its state-of-the-art control centre and
• Keeping electrical equipment safe and reliable, managing trees and vegetation and developing innovative solutions to extend the life of transmission assets.