Teck Metals electricity export application

Summary#

Teck Metals Ltd. has applied to the Canada Energy Regulator to export electricity from Canadian facilities to the United States. The company asks to export up to 3 000 000 MWh per year for 10 years, and the regulator is asking the public and other interested parties for comments before deciding.

What it does#

• The application (dated 26 September 2023) asks permission to export up to 3 000 000 MWh of combined firm and interruptible energy each year for 10 years.
• The applicant says it has interests in these Canadian facilities in British Columbia:
  • Generation: Waneta Hydroelectric Generating Station (Trail) and SunMine Solar Energy Facility (Kimberley).
  • Transmission and switching: Waneta Switching Station (Trail), Emerald Switching Station (Trail).
  • Lines: four 60 kV lines between Waneta and Emerald; and Line 71, a 230 kV line between Waneta Hydro Station and Bonneville Power Administration in the U.S., also connected to BC Hydro at Nelway Station.
• The Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator is asking for written submissions. The deadline to file comments was 26 October 2023, and the applicant could file answers by 10 November 2023.
• The regulator will use the feedback when deciding whether to grant a permit or move the file to a fuller licensing process.

Who's affected#

• Teck Metals Ltd. (the applicant) and its affiliates that own or operate the listed generation and transmission facilities.
• Companies or people in Canada who have declared interest in buying electricity and other potential buyers in Canada. The regulator specifically asked whether these buyers were told about the sale and given a chance to buy on comparable terms.
• Utilities and grid operators that connect with the listed facilities, including BC Hydro.
• Communities and regions in British Columbia where the listed facilities and transmission lines are located.
• Electricity market participants on both sides of the Canada–U.S. border who deal with cross-border power trades.

Why it matters#

• Approving the export would let a Canadian company send a large amount of electricity to the United States for up to a decade. That can affect how much power stays available for Canadian buyers and how electricity flows on regional transmission networks.
• The regulator is checking whether provinces other than the exporting province could be affected, and whether Canadian buyers were given a fair chance to buy the power first.
• This is an application stage, not a final decision. The regulator’s review and any public input can influence whether the export is allowed and under what conditions.