The proposed Site C hydroelectric project didn't have any bearing on the significant jump in B.C. Hydro rates announced on Tuesday, according to the minister responsible.
Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett said the megaproject planned for the Peace River wasn't factored in to the 10-year plan for the utility because it won't be producing power until at least 2024 or 2025.
"It's not part of the plan for no other reason that it's not built yet and it's not approved yet," Bennett said.
Hydro is hoping to build Site C at an estimated cost of $7.9 billion to help meet future demand in the province. An environmental review will begin next month and will weigh the need for the project against environmental and First Nations concerns surrounding the construction of the dam and operation of the reservoir.
If Site C is approved and built, the cost of construction would go into a deferral account and B.C. Hydro would begin to pay it back once the generating stations start producing power.
While Site C was excluded from the recent analysis, the plan does factor in future liquefied natural gas plants that could be built on the north coast to ship B.C. resources to off-shore markets. The liquefaction plants are major energy consumers, but Bennett said it's possible some or all of them will use natural gas to generate their own power needs.
The 10-year plan is estimating the LNG plants may need upwards of 3,000 gigawatts of electricity annually, or about six per cent of B.C .Hydro's current output.
