Action

For more than 40 years, BC Hydro has provided reliable, inexpensive, and relatively clean electrical power to residential, business, and industrial customers throughout the province.

But, since 2001, Gordon Campbell's Liberal government has set a course to gradually dismantle our public utility.

BC Citizens for Public Power was established to oppose the BC Liberals' plan to deregulate the energy industry and privatize BC Hydro. In 2002, we launched a class action lawsuit in response to the government's efforts to privatize one-third of BC Hydro's internal operations.

Today, we continue to face significant threats of erosion and privatization of our public utility through: the provincial government's plan to have 40% of electricity supplied by private power producers by 2020; environmental damage caused by private hydro projects; integration of BC's electrical system into a US-dominated North American grid; enormous future costs to ratepayers through energy purchase agreements with private power producers, and the loss of local government jurisdiction over private power plants.

Priorities

The next phase of BCCPP's plan focuses on four key priorities and action-based strategies:


Return and maintain public ownership and control of electricity generation.
As a Crown Corporation, BC Hydro provided the third lowest electricity rates in North America, returned billions of dollars in revenue to the province, and produced a stable source of clean, reliable energy.
ACTION: Restore and reaffirm BC Hydro as a publicly held, fully integrated power generation and transmission system.

Despite a demonstrated ability to produce power less expensively and more reliably than the private sector, BC Hydro is prohibited from constructing or operating new power plants, and must purchase additional energy from private power producers at much higher prices.
ACTION: Lift the ban and allow BC Hydro to build new power generation facilities.

BC's power transmission system is being restructured to meet private interests, specifically energy trade and export, without regard to its impact on BC's domestic energy security and supply.
ACTION: Ensure that all existing and new transmission lines remain publicly owned and operated.

The deal to privatize one-third of BC Hydro's employees and operations to Bermuda-based Accenture was signed without either regulatory approval or disclosing details of the contract to the public.
ACTION: Conduct a comprehensive independent review of Accenture's BC Hydro operations.

Maintain low electricity rates.
Public ownership and control of our utility allows electricity rates to be determined by cost of production. Now, prices are being driven up because BC Hydro must purchase electricity from private power producers at market rates.
ACTION: Restore public ownership and control of our electricity, with rates based on cost of production.

Promote conservation and green energy.
Energy conservation preserves the environment, reduces reliance on imports and private power, and keeps rates low.
ACTION: Promote energy conservation through customer practices and replacement energy efficient technologies.

The resources and expertise of BC Hydro should be utilized to research and develop small hydro, wind, tidal and other forms of renewable energy for the province.
ACTION: Permit BC Hydro to investigate and construct small hydro, wind, tidal, and other forms of renewable energy.

Global warming and greenhouse gas emissions can be significantly reduced by decreasing consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear technology for electricity generation.
ACTION: Promote use of renewable sources of electricity.

Although the government has authorized hundreds of small scale private power projects throughout the province, there has been no overall assessment of the cumulative environmental impact of these projects.
ACTION: Conduct a provincial environmental assessment of all private power projects.

BC should be a leader in developing new and more environmentally sensitive technologies for electricity production through coordinated research and the development of technological expertise.
ACTION: Establish BC university research programs to develop environmentally responsible energy technologies.

Ensure energy security and reliability.
Supported by the BC government, the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is using its authority to promote deregulation and privatization of energy throughout North America.
ACTION: Maintain control of our transmission system and do not surrender any part to foreign-controlled organizations.

Private electricity export requires construction of additional transmission lines, has environmental impacts, and ultimately results in BC residents competing with US customers for BC generated electricity.
ACTION: Prohibit the private export of electricity. 

Current & Future Initiatives 

BC Citizens for Public Power is presently concentrating its efforts on public education, outreach, and advocacy to strengthen its constituency of support prior to launching a larger campaign.

We recently redesigned our website as an improved source of current and historical information and research as well as a networking resource for news and events taking place throughout BC. Our new information brochure series will also be developed and distributed in the months ahead.

We are increasing our visibility in the media through interviews as well as Opinion/Editorial contributions. We are participating in public forums, panel presentations, and community meetings in cities, towns, and villages across the province.

Upcoming activities include: organized public meetings, days of action, marketing and media initiatives, and a conference to convene BC public power and environmental activists to strategize on collaborative research projects, lobbying efforts, social action, and other initiatives.

How You Can Help

  • Join our mailing list to receive regular updates on our work
  • Contact your local MLA to express your position on public vs. private power and determine where they stand on the issue
  • Read and respond to media coverage on this issue by writing letters to your local daily and community newspapers, and by sharing your views on phone-in radio interview programs
  • Organize educational forums in your community (contact us for more information)


And, as our more structured campaign takes shape, check back here for details and join us in our efforts.