BC Hydro

BC Hydro is a provincial Crown corporation, owned by the government and people of British Columbia, Canada. BC Hydro's integrated system safely provides clean, reliable and affordable electricity to 95 percent of BC's population. However, not everyone in BC Hydro's service area is connected to the integrated system. BC Hydro serves many communities through remote microgrids, which we call non-integrated areas (NIAs).

BC Hydro's 14 NIAs are permanently isolated microgrids made up of electrical generation and distribution systems that are not connected to the integrated provincial grid. These systems are powered by a combination of diesel and renewable energy sources. In some NIAs, diesel is the primary power source, while in others it serves as a co‑generation or backup source. Collectively, the 14 NIAs serve nearly 7,500 customer accounts in 28 communities and 12 First Nations, with a total annual generation of approximately 120 GWh. Today, nearly 50% of the aggregate electricity generated on the microgrids comes from hydroelectricity. BC Hydro is working with local First Nations to develop community renewable energy projects.  We will enter into agreements to purchase this energy and upgrade the microgrids to integrate this energy in order to further offset our diesel generation.