BC Hydro Westbank Substation Upgrade Project
OPEN HOUSE INVITATION
Dear Neighbour,
Please join us at an upcoming Westbank Substation Upgrade Project Open House to learn about the project, have your questions answered, and provide input on the project plans. The Westbank Substation is located on Shannon Lake near Kinsmen Athletic Park in West Kelowna.
Open House information:
| Date (2024) |
Location |
Time |
RSVP details |
| Monday, June 17 |
Westbank Lions Community Centre (2466 Main Street, West Kelowna)
|
Drop in anytime between 4:30pm and 6:30pm |
Not required. We welcome you to drop in at your leisure.
Light refreshments will be available. |
| Thursday, June 20 |
Virtual (online session) |
6:30pm-7:30pm |
Email Kayla by June 18, 2024, to register: Kayla.bordignon@bchydro.com |
About the Westbank Substation Upgrade Project:
Westbank Substation serves more than 27,000 customers. Demand in the area is growing and is expected to continue. We’re working to upgrade the Westbank Substation so that we can continue to provide clean, reliable energy to Westbank First Nation, West Kelowna, Peachland, and Summerland. As part of our commitment to strengthening relationships with First Nations, BC Hydro is collaborating with Okanagan Nation led by Westbank First Nation during all phases of the Westbank Substation Upgrade Project (the project).
The Project will increase the substation’s capacity, replace end-of-life equipment, and ensure that we can accommodate a new connection for the new transmission line that is planned as part of the West Kelowna Transmission Project. Specifically, the project will include the following activities:
- Expanding the substation footprint;
- Managing vegetation including tree clearing in the expansion area;
- Preparing the site including leveling the ground and other works;
- Adding new equipment including a transformer;
- Building a new control building and removing the existing building;
- Providing space for a new transmission line to connect, and,
- Applying for required permits and authorizations to undertake the work identified above.
We’re reviewing two possible expansion locations adjacent to the substation including the land to the west (by acquiring Crown land) or the land to the east (by acquiring private property). We’ll provide more information on our expansion plans at the Open Houses.
We’ll continue to access the site from Shannon Lake Road onto the existing road leading to the substation. Based on the final design of the substation expansion and the long-term access needs to the site, we’ll identify any required upgrades or modifications to the existing access. Where new or better access is needed, we may develop new roads or upgrade existing roads by ditching, brushing, improving subgrades, surfacing, installing/repairing drainage structures or other means identified as the studies advance.
We’d also like to let you know that we’ve started planning of the Westbank Distribution Feeder Project which will help ensure we can continue to provide reliable power to our customers until the substation upgrade is complete. This project, which will start from Westbank Substation, will involve installing about 3 km of new underground infrastructure from Shannon Lake Road to Daimler Road along Old Okanagan Highway (crossing the highway at Daimler Road) and upgrading about 4 km of existing overhead power lines along Daimler Road, East Boundary Road, Ross Road, Brentwood Road, and on Hudson Road towards Boucherie Road.
We hope to see you at one of the upcoming Open Houses. For more information on the Westbank Substation Upgrade including the schedule and project updates, please visit the Project website: www.bchydro.com/westbanksub or contact Kayla at Kayla.bordignon@bchydro.com.
Sincerely,
Kayla Bordignon
Kayla.bordignon@bchydro.com
Stakeholder Engagement Advisor
BC Hydro
www.bchydro.com/westbanksub | Email: projects@bchydro.com | Phone: 604 623 4472 | Toll free: 1 866 647 3334