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For The Record

FACTS ON THE VANCOUVER ISLAND TRANSMISSION PROJECT (VITR)

Aug. 20, 2008
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
 

Here are the facts on the Vancouver Island Transmission Project which is currently being constructed by the BC Transmission Corporation (BCTC) and will supply power to Vancouver Island:

  • There has been three years of extensive public consultations, two separate independent studies and input from federal and provincial health organizations.  After extensive review of the project, the BC Utilities Commission approved the VITR project in July 2006.
  • BCTC builds to meet standards for public health set by national and international health authorities.  The electronic magnetic field (EMF) levels in all areas of VITR will be well within the exposure guidelines endorsed by the World Health Organization.
  • In response to requests by a Tsawwassen community group, the Government commissioned two separate independent studies into the costs and timing of undergrounding the Tsawwassen segment using horizontal directional drilling (HDD).
  • The studies showed the estimated costs to undergrounding the lines at $27-million to $37-million and the timelines to be in the range of 22 to 27 months.
  • Any additional costs would be borne by ratepayers and extending the timelines could jeopardize the in–service date of fall 2008 as well as reliable power to Vancouver Island.
  • The upgrade in Tsawwassen will result in a reduction of poles along an existing right-of-way from 78 to 20 poles.  This right-of-way has existed for over 50 years as a transmission corridor.
  • All but one of the property owners along the existing right-of-way purchased their properties with the current transmission facilities and the right-of-way already in place.
  • BCTC completed construction of the new transmission line in October 2008.
  • BCTC has a duty to supply a safe and reliable supply of electricity to everyone in B.C., and this includes the 700,000 residents and businesses on Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands.