Request for Expressions of Interest for new power
FortisBC Inc. issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) to identify potential electricity-generating projects both within and outside our electricity service area that would help meet growing electricity needs in British Columbia’s Southern Interior.
Meeting the growing demand for electricity
FortisBC owns four hydroelectric generating plants on the Kootenay River which allow our customers to receive approximately 1,609 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy supply annually. We meet the remainder of our customers’ energy requirements by purchasing electricity through contracts with BC Hydro, other producers within the province and on the wholesale market.
To meet B.C.’s rising energy needs, we’re aiming to add up to 1,100 GWh of energy supply as soon as 2030. This RFEOI marks the initial step in identifying projects to address the growing demand for electricity.
RFEOI responses will be accepted between September 10 and November 26, 2024. We have extended the response deadline to allow additional time for preparing responses. Please make submissions at your earliest convenience. We expect the RFEOI process to follow the schedule below:
Event | Date(s) |
|---|---|
Release of RFEOI | September 10, 2024 |
September 17, 2024, at 10 a.m. | |
Question period | September 11 – October 14, 2024 |
Answer posting date | Ongoing through October 25, 2024 |
RFEOI response deadline | November 26, 2024 |
Review of responses | November 27 – December 31, 2024 |
Optional: commercially confidential meetings | January 6 – March 31, 2025 |
Initiate procurement process | April 1, 2025 |
RFEOI resources
Review the documents below which include additional information about the RFEOI and our electric transmission system:
We’ve seen a sooner-than-expected rise in customer demand for electricity with population and economic growth in the B.C. Southern Interior region, and increasing electrification of parts of the economy.
We’re using an RFEOI to identify existing or potential generation projects within or outside our service territory in B.C. that can help meet energy demand. The responses will give us a better understanding of the potential power supply available, and the community involvement of project developers. This will help us determine the next steps with regards to procurement.
We hope to have the additional power as soon as 2030, but if there are existing generation projects with available power, we could begin using it sooner.
We hope to review all RFEOI submissions by the end of 2024, and, should we opt to do so, begin contacting respondents with feasible projects to engage in confidential meetings to discuss projects further during the first quarter of 2025.
If the RFEOI reveals feasible projects, we may proceed to a commercial process which could involve any of the following:
- a competitive process with evaluation criteria (e.g. request for proposals)
- bilateral discussions with one party; or
- bilateral discussions with multiple parties.
Questions?
Ask your questions about the RFEOI process by emailing us at [email protected].