BC Hydro CEO steps down amid controversy

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Bob Elton is stepping down after six years as president and CEO of Crown-owned BC Hydro, sparking rumours he may have been pushed out by the Campbell government.

Elton has been at the helm of the provincial power corporation during a time of sweeping changes in government energy policy.

But just recently, board chair Dan Doyle issued a brief statement saying Elton would be "transitioning" to a new role as special adviser to Hydro's board and as executive chair of Powertech Labs Inc., a technology-consulting subsidiary of Hydro.

A BC Hydro spokesman said no one — including Elton — would be available to discuss the reason for the shift, but it's no secret that BC Hydro has been caught in the middle of a controversy over the government's policy with the province's independent utilities commission.

B.C. NDP energy critic John Horgan is drawing his own links to the recent controversy.

"The CEO of the company clearly didn't see the world the same way that the premier's office did, the same way that the minister's office did. Consequently they found another place for him to spend his time for the next year or so until he hits retirement age."

The B.C. Liberal government has said that by 2020 half of B.C.'s new energy must be met through conservation, and much of the rest should come from private, independent power producers.

Those independent power producers became a hot issue during the May provincial election when environmentalists raised concerns about the environmental impact of plans to build run-of-the-river power plants on many B.C. rivers.

Then in July, the B.C. Utilities Commission, which regulates the Crown corporation, rejected BC Hydro's long-term plan based on the government's policy.

The controversial decision by the independent commission pulled the plug on BC Hydro's plan to buy electricity from dozens of run-of-river and wind-power projects, saying the long-term acquisition scheme is not practical or in the public interest.

The commission directed BC Hydro to make up the needed power instead by using the Burrard Thermal power plant near Vancouver.

And recently, the province issued a directive telling the regulator and BC Hydro to end reliance on the gas-fired Burrard Thermal plant except in emergencies, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Related News

UK electricity and gas networks making ‘unjustified’ profits

LONDON - Companies that run Britain’s electricity and gas networks, including National Grid, are making “eye-watering” profits at the expense of households, according to a well-known consumer group.

Citizens Advice believes £7.5bn in “unjustified” profits should be returned to consumers who pay for network costs via their electricity and gas bills, although its figures have been contested by the energy industry and regulator.

Ownership of electricity and gas networks came under the spotlight in the run-up to June’s general election, after the Labour party said in its manifesto it would bring both national and regional grid infrastructure to back into public ownership over time.

Electricity sector privatisation began in 1990…

READ MORE
net zero power grid

Can Canada actually produce enough clean electricity to power a net-zero grid by 2050?

READ MORE

electricity prices

U.S. residential electricity bills increased 5% in 2022, after adjusting for inflation

READ MORE

offshore wind turbines

Next Offshore Wind in U.S. Can Compete With Gas, Developer Says

READ MORE

Renewables Surpass Coal in India's Energy Capacity Shift

Renewables Surpass Coal in India's Energy Capacity Shift

READ MORE