FortisBC investing in electricity system to help meet customers' growing energy needs

More power generation and upgraded substations are helping meet Southern Interior's power needs

KELOWNA, BC, Sept. 15, 2026 /CNW/ -- FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) is now serving about 200,000 electricity customers in southern B.C., reflecting a 9.5 per cent growth since 2020.¹ With electricity demand rising, FortisBC is expanding its energy system to meet customers' growing electricity needs over the long term, and ensure the system remains safe and reliable for the future. The company has recently completed upgrades to three substations, is building or expanding six more and is advancing new sources of lower carbon energy.²

"We expect the demand for electricity to continue to grow in the future across our service area, and we're investing today to ensure our customers have the reliable energy they need for years to come," said Michael Leclair, vice president, operations and major projects, FortisBC. "By expanding key infrastructure and supporting additional sources of electricity supply, we're helping build stronger and more resilient communities throughout B.C.'s Southern Interior."

"FortisBC's growing number of Southern Interior electricity customers by nearly 10 per cent is a promising indicator of the growing demand for clean electricity across B.C. that aligns with our government's approach," said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. "I also applaud FortisBC's commitment to upgrading older substations to maximize existing investment to improve reliability and capacity."

In Kelowna, FortisBC completed upgrades to the Glenmore and Duck Lake substations earlier this year, increasing their capacity and helping improve system reliability. Upgrades to the Saucier and DG Bell substations are also underway and are expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Across the Southern Interior, FortisBC is building new substations in Christina Lake and Fruitvale, upgrading substations in the West Kootenay and Boundary regions and has installed a new transformer and breaker at the substation serving Keremeos.

As part of its approved capital plans, FortisBC will invest approximately $133 million³ between 2025 and 2027 in new infrastructure projects, including upgrades to substations and transmission lines to expand its electricity system.

Expanding its substations is only part of the plan. FortisBC is also expanding its supply of power. To help meet the region's future energy needs, FortisBC is nearing completion of its initial call for power for new electricity generation projects from wind energy sources, seeking to collaborate with power producers that can deliver local power and with Indigenous communities in the Southern Interior. Projects must have a minimum of 25 per cent Indigenous equity ownership and include comprehensive Indigenous participation plans.

Legislative changes and regulatory actions by the Government of British Columbia are helping accelerate the expansion of FortisBC's electricity system to meet growing energy demand across the Southern Interior. These include establishing the BC Energy Regulator as the single window for permitting of prescribed renewable energy projects, and streamlining regulatory processes for new substation projects and for future independent power producers selling electricity to FortisBC.

Later this year, FortisBC will file its new Long-Term Electric Resource Plan to 2050 with the British Columbia Utilities Commission that will outline how additional investments in electricity infrastructure will help meet its customers' future needs, while supporting affordability and helping to lower energy consumption in homes and businesses.

Visit fortisbc.com/electricresourceplan for more information on FortisBC's Long-Term Electric Resource Plan and how it will meet the energy needs of customers for the future.

Backgrounder

Current FortisBC electricity infrastructure projects. These upgrades will help FortisBC meet its customers' growing energy needs, now and in the future, safely and reliably.

Project	Community	Description	Investment	Status
Duck Lake substation	Kelowna and Lake Country	Add second transformer, new switches and breaker and other equipment upgrades	$6.5 million	Completed
Glenmore substation	Kelowna	Upgrade equipment to increase capacity (low voltage capacity upgrade)	$1.8 million	Completed
Keremeos substation	Keremeos	Upgrade the transformer and breaker to increase capacity	$3.1 million	Completed
Saucier substation	Kelowna	Add new second transformer, new control room, new breakers and upgrade and reconfigure station equipment to increase capacity and reliability	$18.6 million	Expected completion end of 2027
DG Bell substation	Kelowna	Add new transformer, new circuit breakers and other equipment to increase capacity and improve reliability	$11.4 million	Expected completion end of 2027
Christina Lake substation	Christina Lake	Build new, higher capacity substation on existing site	$8.2 million	Expected completion end of 2027
Fruitvale substation	Fruitvale	Build new, higher capacity substation	$18.9 million	Expected completion end of 2027
Warfield Terminal Station	Trail	Replace the A.S. Mawdsley Terminal Station by expanding the Warfield Terminal Station and increasing the capacity and reliability of Warfield Terminal Station by adding new high voltage transformers and circuit breakers	$35.2 million	Expected completion beginning of 2027
Grand Forks Terminal Station	Grand Forks	Upgrade the existing transformer and circuit breakers to increase reliability	$13.1 million	Expected completion end of 2027

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About FortisBC Inc.:

FortisBC Inc. is a regulated utility focused on providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity. FortisBC Inc. employs approximately 607 British Columbians and serves approximately 199,300 direct and indirect customers in B.C.'s Southern Interior. FortisBC Inc. owns and operates four regulated hydroelectric generating plants and approximately 7,380 kilometres of transmission and distribution power lines. FortisBC Inc. is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electricity and gas utility industry. FortisBC Inc. uses the FortisBC name and logo under license from Fortis Inc. For further information on FortisBC Inc., visit fortisbc.com. For further information on Fortis Inc., visit fortisinc.com.

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¹ Sources: FortisBC 2025 Sustainability Report, page 41, and 2024 Sustainability Report, page 39.

² FortisBC uses the term lower carbon energy to refer collectively to electricity and the lower carbon gases or fuels that the utility can produce, use and/or acquire under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation ("Regulation"). The Regulation identifies different sources of electricity and gas that are prescribed based on their feedstock and production processes. FortisBC's lower carbon energy portfolio includes Renewable Natural Gas (also called "RNG") and electricity. Other gases and fuels may be added to the portfolio over time. FortisBC's lower carbon energy portfolio is lower carbon when compared to conventional natural gas.

³ Application for Approval of a Rate Setting Framework for 2025 through 2027, page C-104, Table C3-27.

SOURCE FortisBC Inc.

MEDIA CONTACT: Gary Toft, Senior corporate communications advisor, FortisBC, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]