WATCH: A major power project under construction in B.C. has run into a major problem. Keith Baldrey reports.
The ILM Transmission Project is a 247-kilometre transmission line between Merritt and Coquitlam. According to BC Hydro, it will “ensure that homes and businesses in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island continue to receive clean and reliable energy.”
READ MORE: BC Hydro’s high-voltage line between Merritt and Coquitlam reaching completion
However, the project is now a year behind schedule, and an original budget of $600 million is now $725 million. Steel used in the project by the original contractors were below standard, forcing Hydro to take responsibility for sections of work.
The issue was brought up by the NDP in Question Period today.
“Doesn’t this mess demonstrate the failures of B.C. Liberal and B.C. Hydro contracting policies?” asked opposition critic Adrian Dix.
But Energy Minister Bill Bennett argued that Hydro was “doing a good job with its capital budget.”
“It is necessary today to spend $2.4 billion a year on building out transmission and building out generation and building out distribution so that we can meet the demands of a growing population and a burgeoning economy.”
However, outside the legislature chamber he seemed to admit that things could have been done better.
“It’s all necessary to keep the system going, but with that scale of construction you’re not going to be without some problems, and there are some problems with this project,” he said.
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