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PEACHLAND VIEW Friday, November 26, 2021 | www.peachlandview.com
Transmission line progress too slow for town council JOANNE LAYH BC Hydro representatives were virtually in town this week to provide an update on the West Kelowna transmission project and the message they delivered was far from satisfying to most members of Peachland council. The goal of the transmission project or second connection is to provide electrical supply redundancy to communities served by the Westbank Substation, which include Peachland, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and some surrounding areas. About 23,000 BC Hydro customers are served by the Westbank Substation and a single 138 kilovolt transmission line. The existing transmission line is 80 km long and runs from the Nicola Substation near Merritt through rugged, remote terrain to West Kelowna. As many residents were reminded during last summer’s Brenda Creek wildfire that threatened to take out power to the entire westside, the terrain is susceptible to forest fires and landslides. BC Hydro project manager Rachelle Trent attended Peachland’s committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday to provide council with a progress report on the project. Council members were frustrated to hear that there is no time estimate as to when the project will be completed or even when a final decision will be made. Trent said the project is currently in their capital plan as a priority for the company but declined to comment on estimated completion timelines when asked. BC Hydro has been studying a number of alternatives over the years and has yet to make a decision. Alternative 2, a new transmission line from Nicola Substation to Westbank Substation, had once been the “leading alternative” but BC Hydro is currently focused on exploring variations of Alternative 3. Continued on Page 3
BC Hydro alternatives map (detail).
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