Working Together with Leading Industry Partners
Columbia Power is pleased to work together with our industry partners. Since our inception we have proudly worked with Columbia Basin Trust to deliver our original mandate from the Province of BC. In the case of the Waneta Expansion Project, a third partner was added – Fortis Inc. In 2012 Columbia Power partnered with BC Hydro to complete the Arrow Lakes Boat Ramp Project. In the future we look forward to continuing to partner with BC Hydro, Fortis, Columbia Basin Trust and others.
Columbia Power + Columbia Basin Trust
Pursuant to the Columbia Basin Accord (1995), the original mandate of Columbia Power was to undertake power project investments as the agent of the Province in partnership with Columbia Basin Trust (the Trust). Columbia Power and the Trust together received $500 million to develop, as joint venture partners, three power projects in the Columbia River Basin.
Columbia Power’s role is to operate these projects on behalf of the partnership. Income from these projects is distributed equally to the Trust and Columbia Power. The Trust uses its income to support efforts by residents of the region to create social, economic and environmental well-being in the Basin. Columbia Power uses the income to reinvest in facility operations and pay dividends to our shareholder, the Province of BC. Columbia Power also uses the income to sponsor community groups and events, offer bursaries and scholarships to secondary schools and community colleges and develop and deliver environmental intiatives. As partners in these projects Columbia Power and the Trust enjoy a close working relationship.
Columbia Power + Fortis
FortisBC acts as the operations and maintenance manager for the Arrow Lakes Generating Station, the Brilliant Dam and Generating Station, the Brilliant Expansion Generating Station and the Waneta Expansion Generating Station. FortisBC also acts as the dispatch operator for the Brilliant Dam, Brilliant Expansion and Waneta Expansion facilities.
Columbia Power has long-term power purchase agreements in place with FortisBC for the Brilliant Dam and the Brilliant Expansion. Surplus capacity from the Waneta Expansion is sold to FortisBC under a long-term capacity purchase agreement. The electricity from the Waneta Expansion is sold to BC Hydro under a long-term energy purchase agreement.
In 2010, Columbia Power and Columbia Basin Trust (the Trust) formed a partnership with Fortis Inc. to construct the Waneta Expansion Project. The agreement saw Fortis with a 51 per cent share of the project, Columbia Power with 32.5 per cent and the Trust with a 16.5 per cent share. Columbia Power acted as project manager on behalf of the partners during construction. The Waneta Expansion Generating Station came into service in 2015. In January 2019, Columbia Power and the Trust announced their intent to purchase Fortis Inc.’s 51 per cent interest in the facility to become 50/50 owners; the sale was concluded in April 2019.
Columbia Power + BC Hydro
Columbia Power has long-term power purchase agreements in place with BC Hydro for the Arrow Lakes, Brilliant Expansion and Waneta Expansion Generating Stations. BC Hydro also acts as the dispatch operator for the Arrow Lakes Generating Station.
Beginning in 2012, Columbia Power developed and constructed three public boat launch facilities on the Arrow Lakes Reservoir on behalf of BC Hydro. The projects included replacement of the Nakusp ramp, a new ramp at Anderson Point, and upgrades to the existing Edgewood boat ramp. The ramps were completed in 2015.
In 2014, Columbia Power undertook a study of potential options for BC Hydro’s Elko Dam and Generating Station; BC Hydro deferred redevelopment of the facility in 2016.