1994 Electricity plan: An introduction to BC Hydro's integrated resource plan

A summary is provided of British Columbia Hydro's 1994 electricity plan. The plan provides up-to-date information on the options available to meet the 20-year forecast of domestic electricity requirements as well as an evaluation of alternative resource acquisitions to assess how to best minimize social cost, fulfill corporate objectives, and meet economic development initiatives of the corporation and the provincial government. The resource evaluations also incorporate the most recent information available on energy capabilities, construction, operation, and fuel supply costs, and environmental and socio-economic impacts. The 1994 plan includes updated estimates of the costs and expected contributions from currently committed resource acquisitions, including the Power Smart and Resource Smart programs and the Burrard Upgrade Project. The continuing uncertainty concerning the return of the Canadian Entitlement to the Columbia River Treaty downstream benefits, the purchase of power from the Kemano Completion Project, and the impact of customer self-generation are also considered in the plan. Considering the forecast net energy load and the existing and committed supply, a deficit in supply is forecast by 2003/04 if the treaty entitlement is not returned and by 2008/09 if it is returned. A dependable capacity balance is forecast to be in a negative position only by 2013/14 with a full sale of the treaty entitlement. A glossary is included. 9 figs., 8 tabs