Electricity Purchase Agreement (EPA) Renewal Program

BC Hydro has developed an electricity purchase agreement (EPA) renewal program for independent power producers (IPPs) who have existing EPAs for clean or renewable projects set to expire before April 1, 2026. The program offers EPA renewals at market-based prices to help ensure continued availability of these facilities to meet domestic electricity needs. The program encompasses 19 clean or renewable projects ranging from less than 1 MW to 50 MW in nameplate capacity, with total capacity exceeding 200 MW and annual generation surpassing 900 GWh. The qualifying projects include 16 run-of-river hydro facilities, one storage hydro project, and two biogas projects distributed across British Columbia locations including Whistler, Prince Rupert, Port Alberni, Gabriola Island, West Vancouver, Lions Bay, Saanich, Sechelt, Gold River, Pemberton, Revelstoke, McBride, Squamish, Delta, and Lillooet.

The EPA Renewal Program was finalized in October 2022 with minor amendments made in January 2023. The program documents include the EPA Renewal Program Rules, Final Term Sheet, and Specimen EPA. Key program dates include the initial information session held on February 16, 2022, clarification meetings conducted in summer 2022, a second information session on July 19, 2022, written feedback submission deadline of September 16, 2022, final documents delivery on October 26, 2022, and minor amendments finalized in January 2023.

Important program parameters include that the program creates no legally binding obligations until both parties have signed final agreements, may be discontinued at any time, terms and conditions may be updated, and the Specimen EPA shall prevail in case of differences with other documents. The program is part of BC Hydro's 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and serves as a Near-Term Action to implement the Base Resource Plan over the next five years.