Call for power
We're aiming to add up to 1,100 gigawatt hours of energy supply as soon as 2030 to help meet the growing electricity needs in B.C.'s Southern Interior. We will launch the initial call for power, specifically targeting wind projects that can directly connect to our electricity system in the Southern Interior and provide energy during winter months.
Working with power providers with local projects and Indigenous communities
This initial call for power is one of the next steps in our work to expand our electricity system and increase power generation in the Southern Interior, working with companies that can deliver local power and with Indigenous communities. Participation in the call for power will be by invitation to organizations that were selected through the Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) process. The competitive procurement process will be concentrated on wind projects that can directly connect to our electricity system in the Southern Interior.
FortisBC recognizes the importance of economic reconciliation and projects must have a minimum of 25 per cent Indigenous equity ownership. We are seeking submissions with comprehensive Indigenous participation plans.
Meeting the growing demand for electricity
We own four hydroelectric generating plants on the Kootenay River which allow our customers to receive approximately 1,609 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy supply annually. We meet the remainder of our customers’ energy requirements by purchasing electricity through contracts with BC Hydro, other producers within the province and on the wholesale market.
In 2024, FortisBC issued a RFEOI for new power to identify projects from lower carbon and renewable1 sources in British Columbia that could add up to 1,100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy supply for its approximately 190,000 electricity customers by 2030. Through the RFEOI, FortisBC received more than 80 submissions representing about 20,000 GWh of electricity.
The call for power is part of the many actions FortisBC is taking to increase the ability of its electricity system to meet the growing energy needs of its customers in the Southern Interior, safely and reliably. As part of its long-term plan, it has been upgrading and building new substations in Kelowna, Grand Forks, Salmo, South Slocan, Beaver Park, Fruitvale and Trail to serve these growing areas.
In addition, the British Columbia Utilities Commission recently approved FortisBC’s plan to invest $133 million by 2027 in new power infrastructure projects, including upgrading the Saucier, Glenmore, Duck Lake and DG Bell substations in Kelowna, increasing the capacity of its substations in Kaleden, Keremeos, Blueberry Creek, Christina Lake, and upgrading the two main transmission lines serving customers in South Okanagan.
We’ve seen a sooner-than-expected rise in customer demand for electricity with population and economic growth in the B.C. Southern Interior region and increasing electrification of parts of the economy.
We hope to have the additional power as soon as 2030, but if there are existing generation projects with available power, we could begin using it sooner.
We used an RFEOI to identify existing or potential generation projects that could help meet energy demand. The responses have given us a better understanding of the potential power supply available, and the community involvement of project developers.
The RFEOI was a public process where power providers had an opportunity to submit proposals for electricity generation projects. We received more than 80 proposals representing about 20,000 GWh of electricity.
Participation in the initial call for power will be by invitation to organizations that were selected through the RFEOI process and focus on wind projects tha tcan directly connect to our electricity system in the Southern Interior. This targeted competitive procurement process will enable us to prioritize projects that can provide energy in winter months when customer demand for power is highest by 2030 in our electricity service area.
Questions?
Ask your questions about the process by emailing us at [email protected].
1FortisBC uses the term renewable and lower carbon energy to refer collectively to electricity and the lower carbon gases or fuels that the utility can acquire under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation, which are: Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane), hydrogen, synthesis gas (from wood waste) and lignin. FortisBC’s renewable and lower carbon gas portfolio currently includes only Renewable Natural Gas. Other gases and fuels may be added to the program over time. Depending on their source, all of these gases have differing levels of lifecycle carbon intensity. However, all of these gases are lower carbon when compared to the lifecycle carbon intensity of conventional natural gas. The current burner tip emission factor of RNG is 0.27 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule of energy (gCO2e/MJ) and the current renewable and lower carbon gas portfolio lifecycle emissions for stationary combustion are -22 gCO2e/MJ. This is below B.C.’s lifecycle carbon intensity threshold of 30.8 gCO2e/MJ as set out in the 2024 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation amendments.
