BCUC Approves BC Hydro’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 27, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) has accepted BC Hydro’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which outlines the utility’s strategy for meeting the province’s electricity needs over the next 20-plus years. This plan follows from the BCUC’s previous approval of BC Hydro’s 2021 IRP, ensuring that the utility can adapt to changing customer demands.

According to the BCUC, electricity demand in British Columbia is expected to continue growing, although the exact pace and extent of this growth remain uncertain. The 2025 IRP is designed to address these evolving needs by acquiring new energy resources and generation capacity. BC Hydro is directed to acquire 5,000 gigawatt hours of clean or renewable energy from new facilities by 2034, as well as 400 megawatts of generation capacity by 2030. This additional capacity is necessary to reliably serve customers and meet the growing demand.

The BCUC emphasized the importance of BC Hydro’s flexible approach to planning, which allows the utility to respond quickly to changes in electricity needs. To ensure timely decision-making, the BCUC conducted an efficient and transparent public review of BC Hydro’s IRP, considering feedback from interveners and the general public. The BCUC determined that the IRP is in the public interest and supports adaptive, proactive planning to meet customers’ long-term electricity needs.

In addition to accepting the IRP, the BCUC also directed BC Hydro to continue using the natural gas peaking plant on Vancouver Island and the natural gas cogeneration plant in northeastern BC for the short term. However, as the electricity system continues to grow, BC Hydro is encouraged to pursue clean energy resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with provincial climate objectives.

The BCUC recognized public concern about the potential electricity demands from emerging industries such as liquefied natural gas facilities and data centers. The BCUC’s review focused on whether BC Hydro had considered a reasonable range of potential future electricity demand scenarios from these and other industries, and whether the utility had an adequate plan to respond. The review did not evaluate whether supplying electricity to these industries is appropriate, as this is a matter of government policy.

BC Hydro is required to file its next long-term resource plan with the BCUC no later than December 31, 2028. This ongoing process ensures that the utility remains responsive to the evolving needs of its customers and the broader energy landscape in British Columbia.