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Phase 2 of the Comprehensive Review of BC Hydro

Last updated on January 30, 2023

The Province and BC Hydro have released recommendations from Phase 2 of the BC Hydro Review.  Guided by input from a panel of external energy industry experts, government and BC Hydro have developed recommendations with a focus on achieving the CleanBC climate targets and supporting clean economic development (July 2021), keeping rates affordable (August 2021), and on getting more electric vehicles on the road (September 2021).

The first release identified recommendations to maximize B.C.'s clean energy advantage and continue to electrify the province, while also looking at more innovative opportunities to position B.C. as a global clean energy leader.

The second release focused on potential initiatives to keep electricity rates affordable and support the greater use of B.C.'s clean, renewable electricity in homes, buildings, vehicles and businesses.

And the third release announced recommendations to encourage more people and businesses to switch from gasoline and diesel vehicles to electric vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

In addition, as part of the Draft Action Plan to advance the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, the Province, in collaboration with the First Nations Leadership Council and First Nations Energy and Mining Council, launched the Indigenous Clean Energy Opportunities (ICEO) engagement with First Nations on November 17, 2021 to identify and support new clean energy opportunities for Indigenous Peoples related to CleanBC, the BC Hydro Review and the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) Inquiry on Indigenous Utilities.  The ICEO engagement is co-designed and co-led by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation and the First Nations Energy and Mining Council.  Further background and ongoing updates related to the ICEO engagement can be found on the ICEO website.

The recommendations flowing from Phase 2 of the Review support the development of BC Hydro's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to be filed with the B.C. Utilities Commission in 2021. The IRP outlines how BC Hydro plans to safely provide reliable, affordable, clean electricity to meet customers’ needs now and into the future.

The Phase 2 Review was initiated in July 2019 and was guided by the Comprehensive Review of BC Hydro Phase 2 - Terms of Reference (PDF, 320 KB).

Incorporating advice from the nine external energy experts, a Phase 2 Interim Report was released March 6, 2020. The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation received feedback from Indigenous Nations and organizations, stakeholders and customer groups in response to the interim report that were considered as part of the Review’s final recommendations to Government. Feedback on the Phase 2 Interim Report can be found below:

Contact information

Please contact the Electricity and Alternative Energy Division with any further questions.

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1-778-405-1732