(

Dawson Creek-Chetwynd AreaTransmission (DCAT) Project

June 2010

BChydru CI

Proposed Agenda

(- About BCTC and BCH- Transmission in NE BC- Dawson Creek-Chetwynd Area TransmissionProject (DCA T)• Drivers• Alternatives• Regulatory and environmental• Preliminary schedule

- Questions and discussion

Roles of BC Hydro and BCTC

BC Hydro is the asset owner of the transmissionsystem

BCTC plans, operates and maintains BC Hydro'stransmission system

As part of recent government directives, BCTC willmerge with BC Hydro this summer

BChyd,,!?~~

The Transmission System

More than 18,000 km oftransmission lines

• 75,000 hectares of ROW

• Almost 300 substations

State of the art systemcontrol centre and backupfacility

Interconnections to USAand Alberta

BChyd,:?_ ,m

ExistingPeace AreaTransmissionSystem

0_0----D _ .. -----

DCATProject Drivers

- Increasing local demand for electricity

• Forecasted to exceed system capacity in thearea

• Largely driven by natural gas production

• Load growth projected to be higher in theDawson Creek Area than the average forPeace River Area

~~~~biaTransmission BChydru ~

1

B-36

(

Implications of Doing Nothing

• Not meeting customers' needsPower shortagesLoad shedding - shutdown of customer sites

• Risk of cascading outages

BChydru m.

DCAT Plan

(

BChydru m,_,

- New and expanded station and transmission line assets to:

Increase supply to the Dawson Creek Area

• Integrate into potential long-term transmission needs forNortheast BC

- P1anned in-service date of 2013

- Project currently at definition phase

The definition phase is the stage where we examinealtematives, conduct studies, seek input trom First Nations,stakeholders and the public, and apply for regulatory approvals

The BCUC approved the definition phase in BCTC's F2010Capital Plan

DCAT Project Alternatives

- Alternalives being invesligated :New 138 or 230kV transmission line between DawsonCreek Substation and Bear Mountain Station (about 12 km)New 230 kV or 138 kV line between Bear Mountain Stationand a new Sundance Station east of Chetwynd (about 60km)Expansions to existing Bear Mountain and Dawson Creekstations.

- The line will follow existing transmission line ROWs. Wherethis is not possible, alternative routing will be investigated.

BChyd,:?_~

Regulatory and Environmental

-Project will require a Certificate of Public Convenienceand Necessity (CPCN) from the BC Utilities Commission

-The project does not trigger assessment under the BCEnvironmental Assessment Act

-The project does not appear to trigger assessment underthe Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

• Project will be built to minimize environmental impacts

• AMEC has been retained to carry out environmentaland archeological studies

BChydro ~

Environmental Studies

• Planned studies:- Archaeology

- Fish and aquatic

- Wildlife

- Vegetation

• Opportunities to participate in field work willbe available

BChydro III"

2

..

(

(

Preliminary Schedule

- First Nations and Public Consultation (Spring 201 0 - ongoing)

- Environmental study work (Spring 2010- Fall 2010)

- CPCN process (Winter2010-Fall 2011)

- Right of way/land acquisition (2010 - 2011)

- Construction (Spring 2012 - Summer 2013)

- In-service (Fall 2013)

BChydro m,,_,2

Discussion

• Questions?• Desired consultation process• Next steps

BChyd~_~

3