s a provincial Crown corporation, BC Hydro reports to the Minister of Employment and Investment and is regulated by the Utilities Commission.

We're the third largest electric utility in Canada.

We serve more than 1.5 million customers in an area containing over 94 per cent of British Columbia's population.

BC Hydro generates between 43,000 and 54,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, depending on prevailing water levels.

This last year domestic electric sales volume reached 43,292 gigawatt hours.

Last year BC Hydro paid the province of B.C. $823 million in tax and dividend payments ($280 million in water rentals, $366 million in dividends, $143 million for school taxes and grant-in-lieu of general taxes, and $34 million in Corporation Capital taxes).

More than 80% of electricity is produced by major hydroelectric generating stations on the Columbia and Peace rivers.

Electricity is delivered through a network of 73,000 kilometres of transmission and distribution lines.

We operate 61 dams at 43 locations.

There are 32 hydroelectric facilities, one major gas-fired thermal power plant and two combustion turbine stations.

The provincial government announced a freeze of basic tariffs, for all classes of customers until March 31, 2000.

This results in a 7-year rate freeze, since BC Hydro has not had a general rate increase since April 1, 1993.

In calendar year 1997, more than 1.1 million people visited the 16 reservoir recreation areas developed by BC Hydro, up by 40,000 over the previous year.

At March 31, 1998, BC Hydro had 4,821 regular and 558 temporary employees.

Our Mission is to provide integrated energy solutions to customers in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

Related Link:
Ministry of Employment and Investment.