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Chronological Overview: 1972 - 1990
1973
March. Mica Dam, the third and final Columbia River Treaty dam is declared operational. At the time, it is the highest earthfill dam outside the USSR.
June. New regional administration building opened in Vernon.
August. Pacific Northwest reservoir levels in US drop to all-time low. Throughout the year, BC Hydro is able to use thermal capacity from its system to assist US utilities affected by electric energy crisis.
October. First unit of 100,000-kW gas turbine generating station comes on stream at Prince Rupert, supplying electricity to the North Coast Region.
First use of 20/34-kV distribution on rural extension to Alexis Creek-Chilanko Forks area in Chilcotin. Higher voltage required because of extreme length of distribution line (107 miles).
1974
March. Long-time employee Norman Olsen appointed General Manager of BC Hydro after a nation-wide search.
May. BC Hydro regains responsibility for managing its rail freight service from BC Rail.
August. BC Hydro takes delivery of an electric battery-powered van, which it demonstrates around the province.
Construction begins on Peace Canyon Dam.
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1975
September. First stage of Kootenay Canal hydroelectric project is completed and power brought onstream.
October. J. H. Rhodes replaces David Cass-Beggs as chairman.
Agreement reached with Cominco and West Kootenay Power and Light Co. to coordinate generation from all plants with the operations of BC Hydro's integrated system.
BC Hydro establishes energy services division to coordinate energy-conservation study and activities.
Construction begins on Seven Mile project.
1976
January. Robert Bonner replaces J. H. Rhodes as chairman.
May. Annual report states that electricity sales in the previous year have experienced the first decline (0.4 percent fewer kilowatt hours) in the corporation's history. The year also saw the greatest loss to date on passenger transportation.
First stage of Mica project brought onstream, with three 434,000-kW units.
1977
January. Among other activities to promote energy conservation, BC Hydro announces program providing financial assistance to customers wishing to upgrade insulation in their homes.
October. Official opening of Mica Dam, marking the completion of the Columbia River Treaty projects. Total generating capacity is 1,736,000 kW.
BC Hydro establishes steering committee promoting opportunities for men and women within the company.
Construction begins on Revelstoke Dam.
1978
February. Snowslide destroys eight towers on the 500-kV transmission lines from the Mica generating station. Power imported from Bonneville Power Administration helps to meet peak loads till repairs are complete.
June. Norman Olsen is appointed president and chief operating officer.
Last links of 500-kV transmission line from Prince George to Terrace are completed, joining the North Coast Region to the integrated electric system.
BC Hydro initiates educational program to help teachers in elementary and high schools cover energy questions.
1979
April. Responsibility for BC Hydro's interurban bus services is transferred to Pacific Coach Lines. BC Hydro co-sponsors community forum called "Growth Alternatives for British Columbia."
Solar Fair, distributing information about solar energy alternatives.
December. In the Lillian Brown decision, the BC Court of Appeal finds that aboriginal people living on reserves do not have to pay provincial sales tax on their electricity bills.
December. First generating unit at Seven Mile project placed in service ahead of schedule.
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1980
January. National Energy Board of Canada hearings authorize BC Hydro to continue exporting electricity for the following four years, but the board rules that BC Hydro may not plan, construct, or operate its system for export purposes.
February. Tenth and final unit at the G. M. Shrum Generating Station begins operation, increasing plant capacity to 2,416,000 kW.
April. Responsibility for BC Hydro's transit systems in Victoria and Vancouver is transferred to the Metro Transit Operating Co. and the Urban Transit Authority.
May. Research and Development Centre opens in Surrey. It includes Canada's second-largest high-voltage laboratory.
June. Official opening of Seven Mile project.
September. Provincial government proclaims the Utilities Commission Act, creating the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) and bringing BC Hydro's electricity and gas operations under regulatory control for the first time.
September. Peace Canyon project is dedicated. All four 175,000-kW units are already in service.
Average residential electric service costs 3.5 cents per kilowatt hour.
1981
March. Beginning of one-year test of vertical axis wind turbine at Christopher Point on Southern Vancouver Island.
March. Annual report states that total revenues for the past year exceeded $1 billion for the first time in the company's history.
July. Hat Creek (coal) generating project deferred indefinitely due to reduced rates of growth in projected electricity demand.
Peace Canyon trout hatchery opens.
November. BCUC begins public hearings on Site C proposal that last almost a full year.
1982
March. BCUC directs BC Hydro to establish a Rate Stabilization Account into which income from export sales is to be placed, for use in minimizing changes in rates to domestic customers.
May. Dunsmuir substation bombed.
December. Severe storm causes massive damage to electric distribution system on Vancouver Island.
1983
March. BC Hydro and Ontario Hydro sign cooperative agreement on sharing of information and patents for destruction of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
July. BC Hydro begins offering rate incentives to major industrial customers to encourage consumption of a temporary surplus of electricity.
October. Filling of Revelstoke Reservoir begins.
November. Cheekye-Dunsmuir transmission line between the mainland and Vancouver Island is placed in service. It is the world's first 500-kV submarine cable, completed at a cost of $837 million.
Provincial government policy permits commitments to export surplus electricity for periods longer than six months.
Longest strike in BC Hydro history by IBEW lasts from November to February.
Ahousat on Vancouver Island and McBride in the Central Interior are connected to BC Hydro grid.
1984
January. BC Hydro concludes agreement with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for export of surplus energy.
May. Cathedral Square substation opens in downtown Vancouver, built entirely underground and covered with an urban park.
First two generating units of Revelstoke Dam powerhouse come into service.
Alouette Dam is replaced with new one farther downstream.
Chester Johnson replaces Robert Bonner as chairman.
Gas turbine plants at Port Mann and Chemainus are mothballed.
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1985
February. BC Hydro receives approval to offer discount rates to industry for electricity used to offload oil-fired turbogenerators.
August. Official opening of Revelstoke hydroelectric plant, adding 1,834 mW to system.
1986
January. A 500-kV link with TransAlta is placed in service, spanning the 108 kilometres from Cranbrook to the BC-Alberta border.
1987
February. Larry Bell replaces Chester Johnson as chairman.
1988
July. Mainland gas division sold for $741 million.
August. Rail service sold for $38 million.
December. BC Hydro export subsidiary POWEREX is launched.
1989
February. Two subsidiaries created from BC Hydro's Computer and Management Systems Division: Westech Information Systems Inc. and Western Integrated Technologies Inc.
February. Victoria gas service sold for $17 million.
March. Power Smart initiative launched to reduce future demand for electricity by encouraging more efficient energy use by customers. (Energy savings by end of March 1990 estimated at 70 gigawatt hours.)
October. Provincial order-in-council requires BC Hydro to make an annual financial contribution to the province.
Independent Power Producers (IPP) program launched as a cooperative effort between BC Hydro and the private sector to provide new sources of electricity. BC Hydro begins to receive proposals for wood waste, natural gas, and small-scale hydro projects.
Self-Generation/Load Displacement program launched to encourage industrial customers to generate more of their own energy, thereby freeing up electricity for use by others.
Agreement reached between the Ingenika Band (Tsawkey Dene), BC Hydro,and the federal and provincial governments to compensate the band for the flooding of its community in 1966.
Head office building at 970 Burrard Street is sold for $41 million. Two new office towers, one in Vancouver and one in Burnaby, are planned.
The community of Stewart is added to the integrated system.
Average residential electric service costs 5.4 cents per kilowatt hour.
Resource Smart initiative launched to ensure that full economic use is made of the capacity and energy potential of existing facilities. (Energy savings by end of March 1990 estimated at 380 gigawatt hours.)
1990
November. BC Hydro subsidiary Power Smart Inc. created. British Columbians are asked to turn off all unnecessary lights on "Power Smart Night." Energy saving is estimated at 244,000 kilowatt hours.
Hydro announces Site C construction is indefinitely deferred, along with upgrades to the Hugh Keenleyside Dam and Murphy Creek projects.
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