BC Hydro has said that power demand has dropped across British Columbia during the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in an increased risk of flooding as reservoirs fill up.
In a report released from the Crown Corporation, BC Hydro said demand for electricity is down 10 per cent and uncertainty over B.C.’s economic recovery could push the decrease to 12 per cent by April 2021.
According to BC Hydro’s data, that is more than double the decline following the 2008 recession.
The drop in power demand coupled with high inflows from spring snowmelt and a limited export market has created a large surplus in the organization’s system, said BC Hydro in a press release issued Monday.
In addition to surplus challenges, the majority of the Independent Power Producers (IPP) BC Hydro has agreements with are producing the most amount of energy at this time of year. This capacity accounts for about 29 per cent of BC Hydro’s total generation.
To cut flood risks while protecting communities and hydro equipment, the Crown Corporation says the following measures are being taken in the immediate future:
- Shutting down operations at some of its smaller plants to reduce generation.
- Spilling water at its facilities, including Seven Mile and Revelstoke, to balance generation and the province’s electricity load in real-time when needed.
- Reducing generation from other sources, including invoking provisions within its contracts with some of its large IPPs to reduce power purchases during the spring.
- Powerex – BC Hydro’s trading subsidiary – will export electricity to other jurisdictions.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created an extraordinary situation with our system that we’re working to address,” said Chris O’Riley, BC Hydro President and CEO. “We’re confident that through these measures, we’ll be able to avoid the public safety and environmental risks that would be created by excessive spilling at our facilities.”
BC Hydro added that it will be actively monitoring the situation and take further action if required to ensure its “system remains safe and reliable.”
With files to the Canadian Press
CHEK News
