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Canada Standard
15-05-2025
- Business
- Canada Standard
Low Snowpack, Early Melt Could Force B.C. to Import Power from U.S.
British Columbia could be forced to buy electricity from the United States for the third summer in a row, an expert warns, after drier, warmer weather across much of the province last month contributed to an early melt. The local conditions raising concern for widespread drought this summer, The Canadian Press reports, citing the province's latest snowpack and water supply bulletin. The drought is curtailing B.C.'s ability to generate hydroelectricity, said former provincial environment minister Barry Penner, who now chairs the Energy Futures Institute. That puts B.C. is on track to become a net importer of electricity in 2025, buying it from the United States, for the third consecutive year. The power gap comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening Canadian sovereignty, and after Trump slapped steep tariffs on Canadian goods, Penner said. "We have someone in the White House who's actively threatening our country, economically," he told CP Monday. "And right now in B.C., it's us on the receiving end of (electricity) from the United States. It's not the other way around on a net basis." Penner likened snowpack to "electricity in the bank." In times of drought, he said provincial utility BC Hydro holds water in its reservoirs so it's there during peak periods. "They're holding back and importing to make up the difference." View our latest digests The latest provincial bulletin shows snowpack was an average of 71% of normal as of May 1, decreasing from 79% of normal on April 1. The figure is slightly higher than last year, when B.C.'s snowpack was an average of 66% of what would be normal on May 1. By early May, the bulletin said about 5% of B.C.'s annual snowpack has typically melted, but 15% was gone by the start of this month. The low snowpack, early snowmelt, and warm seasonal weather forecasts all point to "elevated drought" this summer, the bulletin concludes. Rivers on Vancouver Island, the South Coast, and in northeastern B.C., where snowmelt is not a significant contributor this spring, are flowing "at or near record low levels for early May," the bulletin notes. Penner said drought is a factor in B.C.'s declining electricity generation. "If you look at BC Hydro's annual reports, you can see it. We've had a significant reduction in how much electricity we're actually making." That drop coincides with growing demand for power, Penner said, noting peak demand in the summer is increasing as more people buy air conditioners. Last week, the B.C. government announced a second call for renewable power with a target of generating up to 5,000 gigawatt hours per year-just under the 5,100 gigawatt hours the massive Site C dam in northern B.C. is expected to generate. It follows a request for proposals in 2024 that resulted in 10 new renewable energy projects partly owned by First Nations. Penner said news of the second call so soon after the first is a signal the government is aware of a "serious issue" and it's trying to respond. Still, Penner said it will take some years for the projects to come online. The snowpack bulletin said spring and summer temperatures and precipitation will also be key factors that will influence drought conditions. Seasonal weather forecasts from Environment Canada in late April indicate a greater likelihood of above-normal temperatures in B.C. through July, it said. The bulletin said May is forecast to be wetter than normal in parts of northern B.C., but drier in the south. Snowpack levels on May 1 were under 60% or "well below" normal in the Upper Fraser West, Lower Thompson, Nicola, Bridge, Skagit, Central Coast, Similkameen, and Skeena-Nass basins, the bulletin said. There is no elevated flood risk based on the current snowpack. However, in areas with low snowpack, the bulletin notes key flood risks shift toward heavy rain, either short-duration events or prolonged periods of wet weather. "It is important to note that May and June are wet months through the B.C. Interior with the potential for extreme precipitation patterns," it said, adding the flood season can extend into July in the Rockies and the northeast. "Therefore, precipitation poses a flood risk through the spring even with limited snowpack," the bulletin said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2025. Source: The Energy Mix
Global News
14-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Could B.C. be stuck importing power for a 3rd year? Drought and snowmelt prompt concerns
British Columbia could be left importing electricity for a third consecutive year, according to one industry expert. Ongoing drought conditions in the province are again cutting into B.C.'s ability to generate hydroelectric power, according to Energy Futures Institute chair and former environment minister Barry Penner. That will leave the province importing power from the U.S. once again, he said. 1:43 B.C. makes plea for more power 'What we've seen over the last couple of years is very disappointing snowpack, so that means we are behind the 8-ball for water to go into our reservoirs, and with BC Hydro being dependent on about 90 per cent hydroelectricity, if we don't have enough water, then we are not generating as much electricity as we normally would,' Penner said. Story continues below advertisement 'We're now entering into our third year of being a large net importer of electricity.' In fiscal year 2024, BC Hydro imported 13,600 gigawatt hours of electricity, about 25 per cent of its total power, at a cost of nearly $1.4 billion. The previous year, it imported about 10,000 gigawatt hours of electricity this year, about a fifth of its total load, at a cost of more than $450 million. 'We just began our fiscal year on April 1, so it really is way too soon to say if we will be a net importer or a net exporter this year; it really does depend on precipitation,' BC Hydro spokesperson Mora Scott told Global News. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'While we have seen drought conditions ease, the province did remove drought classifications on nearly all watersheds across the province last fall, we do know that snowpack this year is below average. It is something we are obviously keeping a close eye on.' Much of the power came from the U.S. and Alberta, where it was generated by burning fossil fuels. 1:48 BC Hydro imports record amount of electricity Opposition Leader John Rustad pinned the blame on the NDP government, who he said scrapped legislation that required B.C. to be energy self-sufficient under former premier John Horgan. Story continues below advertisement 'Now, unfortunately, we are going to be paying the piper,' he said. Rustad said the U.S. Pacific Northwest is expected to be a net importer of power itself starting in 2027, meaning B.C. won't be able to buy electricity from the south. 'So when you look at the fact that we are now continually being reliant on buying power from the United States, especially the fact that Site C is coming on stream right now, that puts us in an incredibly vulnerable situation,' he said. 'Wind and solar is great to add the mix, but we need to get serious about power generation in British Columbia.' But B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix said the figures don't paint a full picture of the situation, adding that in eight of the last 16 years the province has been a net exporter. 2:07 BC Hydro importing power as drought drags on in province's northeast Dix said that while drought is currently having an effect, B.C. has still turned a net profit on electricity in the last half-decade. Story continues below advertisement 'The power we export is worth way more than the power we import, such that the last five years, even though we've been importing more, we make $550 million for the ratepayers on the exchange,' he said. That's because B.C.'s power is stored as water in hydroelectric dams, meaning the province can import power when it is cheap and export it when it is expensive. 'That is why we have had electricity rates 12 per cent lower than inflation since this government came to office,' he said. The province is, however, focused on increasing electrical generating capacity, Dix said, pointing to its recent calls for private investment in new power projects. The province has approved nine new Indigenous-led wind power projects that will be eligible for fast-tracked permitting, and which it says will produce the equivalent amount of electricity as the Site-C dam. Site C will come fully online by the end of this year, while the wind projects are projected to be completed towards the end of the decade. The province launched a second call for power this year and aims to award those electricity purchase agreements early next year.
National Observer
13-05-2025
- Business
- National Observer
BC's low snowpack, melt signal drought, raises concerns for hydro power
Drier, warmer weather in much of British Columbia last month has contributed to an early melt, raising concern for widespread drought this summer, the province's latest snowpack and water supply bulletin says. The drought, in turn, is curtailing BC's ability to generate hydroelectricity, where most of the province's power comes from, said former provincial environment minister Barry Penner, who now chairs the Energy Futures Institute. Penner said BC is on track to become a net importer of electricity in 2025, buying it from the United States, for the third consecutive year. The power gap comes as US President Donald Trump is threatening Canadian sovereignty, and after Trump slapped steep tariffs on Canadian goods, Penner said. "We have someone in the White House who's actively threatening our country, economically," he said in an interview on Monday. "And right now in BC, it's us on the receiving end of (electricity) from the United States. It's not the other way around on a net basis." Penner likened snowpack to "electricity in the bank." In times of drought, he said BC Hydro holds water in its reservoirs so it's there during peak periods. "They're holding back and importing to make up the difference." The latest provincial bulletin shows snowpack was an average of 71 per cent of normal as of May 1, decreasing from 79 per cent of normal on April 1. The figure is slightly higher than last year, when BC's snowpack was an average of 66 per cent of what would be normal on May 1. By early May, the bulletin said about five per cent of BC's annual snowpack has typically melted, but 15 per cent had melted by the start of this month. The low snowpack, early snowmelt and warm seasonal weather forecasts all point to "elevated drought" this summer, the bulletin concludes. Rivers on Vancouver Island, the South Coast and in northeastern BC, where snowmelt is not a significant contributor this spring, are flowing "at or near record low levels for early May," the bulletin notes. Penner said drought is a factor in BC's declining electricity generation. "If you look at BC Hydro's annual reports, you can see it. We've had a significant reduction in how much electricity we're actually making." It coincides with growing demand for power, Penner said, noting peak demand in the summer is increasing as more people buy air conditioners. The BC government announced last week a second call for power that would come from renewable sources with a target of generating up to 5,000 gigawatt hours of energy per year — just under the 5,100 gigawatt hours the massive Site C dam in northern BC is expected to generate. It follows a call for power in 2024, which resulted in the confirmation of 10 new renewable-energy projects partly owned by First Nations. Penner said news of the second call so soon after the first is a signal the government is aware there is a "serious issue" and it's trying to respond. Still, Penner said it will take some years for the projects to come online. In the meantime, he said BC should look at measures to curtail electricity demand, such as removing or moderating electric vehicle mandates and using natural gas rather than American electricity to fill the gaps. The snowpack bulletin notes spring and summer temperatures and precipitation will also be key factors that will influence drought conditions. Seasonal weather forecasts from Environment Canada in late April indicate a greater likelihood of above-normal temperatures in BC through July, it said. The bulletin said May is forecast to be wetter than normal in parts of northern BC, while it's expected to be drier in the south. Snowpack levels on May 1 were under 60 per cent or "well below" normal in the Upper Fraser West, Lower Thompson, Nicola, Bridge, Skagit, Central Coast, Similkameen, and Skeena-Nass basins, the bulletin said. There is no elevated flood risk based on the current snowpack. However, in areas with low snowpack, the bulletin notes key flood risks shift toward heavy rain, either short-duration events or prolonged periods of wet weather. "It is important to note that May and June are wet months through the BC Interior with the potential for extreme precipitation patterns," it said, adding the flood season can extend into July in the Rockies and the northeast. "Therefore, precipitation poses a flood risk through the spring even with limited snowpack," the bulletin said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2025.
CBC
12-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
B.C.'s low snowpack and early melt signal drought, raising concerns for hydro power
Drier, warmer weather in much of British Columbia last month has contributed to an early melt, raising concern for widespread drought this summer, the province's latest snowpack and water supply bulletin says. The drought, in turn, is curtailing B.C.'s ability to generate hydroelectricity, where most of the province's power comes from, said former provincial environment minister Barry Penner, who now chairs the Energy Futures Institute. Penner said B.C. is on track to become a net importer of electricity in 2025, buying it from the United States, for the third consecutive year. The power gap comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening Canadian sovereignty, and after Trump slapped steep tariffs on Canadian goods, Penner said. "We have someone in the White House who's actively threatening our country, economically," he said in an interview on Monday. "And right now in B.C., it's us on the receiving end of [electricity] from the United States. It's not the other way around on a net basis." Penner likened snowpack to "electricity in the bank." In times of drought, he said B.C. Hydro holds water in its reservoirs so it's there during peak periods. "They're holding back and importing to make up the difference." The latest provincial bulletin shows the snowpack was an average of 71 per cent of normal as of May 1, decreasing from 79 per cent of normal on April 1. The figure is slightly higher than last year, when B.C.'s snowpack was an average of 66 per cent of what would be normal on May 1. By early May, the bulletin said about five per cent of B.C.'s annual snowpack has typically melted, but 15 per cent had melted by the start of this month. The low snowpack, early snowmelt and warm seasonal weather forecasts all point to "elevated drought" this summer, the bulletin concludes. Rivers on Vancouver Island, the South Coast and in northeastern B.C., where snowmelt is not a significant contributor this spring, are flowing "at or near record low levels for early May," the bulletin notes. Penner said drought is a factor in B.C.'s declining electricity generation. "If you look at B.C. Hydro's annual reports, you can see it. We've had a significant reduction in how much electricity we're actually making." It coincides with growing demand for power, Penner said, noting peak demand in the summer is increasing as more people buy air conditioners. WATCH | Provincial data shows B.C.'s snowpack at about 72% of normal: Provincial data shows B.C.'s snowpack at about 72% of normal 3 months ago Duration 1:54 A drier-than-normal January has translated to a below-average snowpack in February. New data from the province shows B.C.'s snowpack is about 72 percent of normal. As Michelle Gomez reports, experts say it raises the prospect of drought if precipitation doesn't increase. The B.C. government announced last week a second call for power that would come from renewable sources with a target of generating up to 5,000 gigawatt hours of energy per year — just under the 5,100 gigawatt hours the massive Site C dam in northern B.C. is expected to generate. It follows a call for power in 2024, which resulted in the confirmation of 10 new renewable-energy projects partly owned by First Nations. Still, Penner said it will take some years for the projects to come online. In the meantime, he said B.C. should look at measures to curtail electricity demand, such as removing or moderating electric vehicle mandates and using natural gas rather than American electricity to fill the gaps. The snowpack bulletin notes that spring and summer temperatures and precipitation will also be key factors that will influence drought conditions. Seasonal weather forecasts from Environment Canada in late April indicate a greater likelihood of above-normal temperatures in B.C. through July, it said. The bulletin said May is forecast to be wetter than normal in parts of northern B.C., while it's expected to be drier in the south. Snowpack levels on May 1 were under 60 per cent or "well below" normal in the Upper Fraser West, Lower Thompson, Nicola, Bridge, Skagit, Central Coast, Similkameen, and Skeena-Nass basins, the bulletin said. There is no elevated flood risk based on the current snowpack. However, in areas with low snowpack, the bulletin notes key flood risks shift toward heavy rain, either short-duration events or prolonged periods of wet weather. "It is important to note that May and June are wet months through the B.C. Interior with the potential for extreme precipitation patterns," it said, adding the flood season can extend into July in the Rockies and the northeast.
Hamilton Spectator
12-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
B.C.‘s low snowpack, melt signal drought, raising concern for hydro power
VANCOUVER - Drier, warmer weather in much of British Columbia last month has contributed to an early melt, raising concern for widespread drought this summer, the province's latest snowpack and water supply bulletin says. The drought, in turn, is curtailing B.C.'s ability to generate hydroelectricity, where most of the province's power comes from, said former provincial environment minister Barry Penner, who now chairs the Energy Futures Institute. Penner said B.C. is on track to become a net importer of electricity in 2025, buying it from the United States, for the third consecutive year. The power gap comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening Canadian sovereignty, and after Trump slapped steep tariffs on Canadian goods, Penner said. 'We have someone in the White House who's actively threatening our country, economically,' he said in an interview on Monday. 'And right now in B.C., it's us on the receiving end of (electricity) from the United States. It's not the other way around on a net basis.' Penner likened snowpack to 'electricity in the bank.' In times of drought, he said BC Hydro holds water in its reservoirs so it's there during peak periods. 'They're holding back and importing to make up the difference.' The latest provincial bulletin shows snowpack was an average of 71 per cent of normal as of May 1, decreasing from 79 per cent of normal on April 1. The figure is slightly higher than last year, when B.C.'s snowpack was an average of 66 per cent of what would be normal on May 1. By early May, the bulletin said about five per cent of B.C.'s annual snowpack has typically melted, but 15 per cent had melted by the start of this month. The low snowpack, early snowmelt and warm seasonal weather forecasts all point to 'elevated drought' this summer, the bulletin concludes. Rivers on Vancouver Island, the South Coast and in northeastern B.C., where snowmelt is not a significant contributor this spring, are flowing 'at or near record low levels for early May,' the bulletin notes. Penner said drought is a factor in B.C.'s declining electricity generation. 'If you look at BC Hydro's annual reports, you can see it. We've had a significant reduction in how much electricity we're actually making.' It coincides with growing demand for power, Penner said, noting peak demand in the summer is increasing as more people buy air conditioners. The B.C. government announced last week a second call for power that would come from renewable sources with a target of generating up to 5,000 gigawatt hours of energy per year — just under the 5,100 gigawatt hours the massive Site C dam in northern B.C. is expected to generate. It follows a call for power in 2024, which resulted in the confirmation of 10 new renewable-energy projects partly owned by First Nations. Penner said news of the second call so soon after the first is a signal the government is aware there is a 'serious issue' and it's trying to respond. Still, Penner said it will take some years for the projects to come online. In the meantime, he said B.C. should look at measures to curtail electricity demand, such as removing or moderating electric vehicle mandates and using natural gas rather than American electricity to fill the gaps. The snowpack bulletin notes spring and summer temperatures and precipitation will also be key factors that will influence drought conditions. Seasonal weather forecasts from Environment Canada in late April indicate a greater likelihood of above-normal temperatures in B.C. through July, it said. The bulletin said May is forecast to be wetter than normal in parts of northern B.C., while it's expected to be drier in the south. Snowpack levels on May 1 were under 60 per cent or 'well below' normal in the Upper Fraser West, Lower Thompson, Nicola, Bridge, Skagit, Central Coast, Similkameen, and Skeena-Nass basins, the bulletin said. There is no elevated flood risk based on the current snowpack. However, in areas with low snowpack, the bulletin notes key flood risks shift toward heavy rain, either short-duration events or prolonged periods of wet weather. 'It is important to note that May and June are wet months through the B.C. Interior with the potential for extreme precipitation patterns,' it said, adding the flood season can extend into July in the Rockies and the northeast. 'Therefore, precipitation poses a flood risk through the spring even with limited snowpack,' the bulletin said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2025.
