November 4, 2025

On October 31st, BC Hydro filed its 2025 IRP with the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC). The “... IRP looks at a 20-year time frame and will guide decisions on its integrated system to meet the future electricity needs of its customers,” including:

• The resources that will be needed;
• When they will be needed; and
• “... how much energy and capacity they'll provide.”

To achieve its energy needs, BC Hydro plans on:

• “Advancing conservation and energy management initiatives including customer solar;”
• Acquiring “... up to 5,000 GWh/year of additional clean and renewable energy by 2034 ...,” and they “... expect to award Electricity Purchase Agreements (EPAs) in early 2026;”
• Upgrading and adding to their generating facilities; and
• Reinforcing/expanding their transmission system; and
• Utilizing additional firm power sources, such as large-scale batteries in the short-term and potentially geothermal as well as pumped storage in the long-term. This would assist in providing electricity during peak periods and would “... serve as back-up power to wind and solar resources.”

Brad Jones, Chief Development Officer of Wesgroup Properties, represented UDI on the Technical Advisory Committee for the Plan along with UDI staff. The IRP is now before the BCUC. If you are interested in further information or participating in the proceeding, please see the BCUC’s web page on the 2025 IRP. BC Hydro also has a webpage for it. 

June 18, 2024

BC Hydro is developing a 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) that will include a load forecast for the province’s electricity needs up to 2050 and provide strategic direction on how to most cost effectively and sustainably deliver the needed power, while taking into account the impacts of climate change over the 25 year period.    

The IRP process will be looking at generation and transmission capacity needs, and BC Hydro has been requested by the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) to also comment on distribution capacity – although much of this work is being addressed by other BC Hydro initiatives. They are also looking at Demand Side Management options. 

They will be holding public/customer virtual sessions about the IRP on: 

• June 24, 3 to 4 p.m.; and  
• June 26, 9 to 10 a.m.     

BC Hydro also has a survey on the IRP.   

The IRP will go to the BC Hydro Board for approval in October 2025 and will be concurrently reviewed by the BCUC.