Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change

Environmental Achievements

• Achieved a 50% reduction in emissions compared to the 2007 baseline.
• Reduced GHG emissions from buildings by 16% compared to the 2007 baseline (excluding Site C construction camp).
• Reduced GHG emissions from fleet by 8% below the 2007 baseline.
• Reduced SF₆ and CF₄ emissions by 86% below the 2007 baseline.
• Reduced paper emissions by 76% below the 2007 baseline.
• Reduced air travel emissions by 52% below the 2007 baseline.
• Reduced IPP emissions by 57% compared to the 2007 baseline.

Social Achievements

• Continued flexible work model for office-based workers, reducing commuting emissions (not quantified).
• Implemented a corporate-wide LED lighting upgrade in several facilities.
• Upgraded building systems at Surrey Construction Services and Edmonds Operation Centre, resulting in significant CO2e reductions.
• Upgraded Surrey Material Management Business Unit building with energy-efficient systems.
• Expanded the Power Smart program to help customers reduce their GHG emissions.
• Increased electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
• Improved customer connections (15% increase over previous years).
• Implemented demand-side management programs in 10 of 14 Non-Integrated Areas.
• Expanded partnerships with Indigenous communities to support energy efficiency projects and diesel reduction initiatives.

Governance Achievements

• Updated SF₆ environmental standard and program.
• Established a telematics program to improve fleet fuel economy.
• Implemented a corporate-wide LED lighting upgrade.
• Implemented a long-term resource plan framework for Non-Integrated Areas.
• Created eight working groups with Indigenous communities to advance clean energy projects.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Supply chain issues impacting the availability of GHG-reducing alternatives for the fleet.
• Increased Non-Integrated Area emissions due to changes in electricity demand.
• Extreme drought conditions affecting water levels at some facilities.
• Significant GHG emissions from Independent Power Producers (IPPs), particularly the McMahon gas-fired cogeneration facility.

Mitigation Strategies

• Piloting zero-emission vehicles and implementing a telematics program to improve fleet fuel economy.
• Collaborating with communities to increase the supply of low-carbon renewable energy in Non-Integrated Areas.
• Managing reservoirs and flows to reduce environmental impacts during drought conditions.
• Working to acquire electricity from low-carbon or renewable resources as IPP contracts expire.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Engaging key suppliers about their GHG emissions.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Wildfires
• Flooding
• Droughts
• Extreme weather events

Transition Risks

• Regulatory changes
• Market shifts

Opportunities

• Electrification
• Demand-side management

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Canadian Environmental Protection Act, BC Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act, BC Climate Change Accountability Act, Carbon Neutral Government Regulation

Third-party Assurance: Third-party verified

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced GHG emissions by 61% compared to the 2007 baseline.
• Reduced SF₆ and CF₄ emissions by 88% below baseline.
• Reduced paper emissions by 75% below baseline.
• Reduced thermal generation emissions by 52% below baseline.
• Reduced IPP emissions by 66% below baseline.

Social Achievements

• Implemented a flexible work model, reducing commuting emissions (quantification pending).
• Expanded public EV charging network.
• Partnered with Ulkatcho First Nation on a solar farm project.
• Implemented energy efficiency programs in 10 of 14 Non-Integrated Areas.
• Increased paperless billing adoption among customers (67.2%).

Governance Achievements

• Published inaugural ESG report, "Powering a Sustainable B.C."
• Updated thermal emission targets through 2030.
• Set annual reduction targets as part of the Annual Service Plan.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Extreme weather events (wildfires, storms, drought) impacting assets and operations.
• Increased electricity demand (15% projected increase by 2030).
• Emissions from Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
• Emissions from Non-Integrated Areas (NIAs) reliant on diesel generation.

Mitigation Strategies

• Improved weather forecasting and hydroclimate monitoring.
• Wildfire risk management and vegetation management programs.
• Investing in capital projects to increase system resilience.
• Expanding and diversifying electricity system to meet growing demand.
• Collaborating with First Nations to develop renewable energy projects in NIAs.
• Implementing energy efficiency initiatives.
• Investing in and piloting alternative technologies (e.g., EVs, hydrogen fuel cells, ePTO systems).
• Replacing SF6 and CF4 equipment with environmentally friendly alternatives.
• Promoting paperless billing and reducing paper consumption.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Engaging with key suppliers on Scope 3 reporting.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Wildfires
• Storms
• Drought

Transition Risks

• Regulatory changes
• Market shifts

Opportunities

• Electrification
• Renewable energy development

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Canadian Environmental Protection Act, BC Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act, BC Climate Change Accountability Act, Carbon Neutral Government Regulation

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
• Goal 13 (Climate Action)

BC Hydro's initiatives contribute to these goals through electrification, renewable energy development, and GHG emission reductions.

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Maintain the resiliency of our system and enable B.C.’s energy future
• Manage the impact of our business on the environment
• Work toward lasting and meaningful reconciliation
• Power the potential of our people
• Act in the public interest

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced GHG emissions by 61% since 2007
• Decreased SF₆ and CF₄ emissions by 88% since 2007
• Installed new medium-voltage gas-insulated switchgear using dry air instead of SF₆ at Capilano substation
• Created 19 hectares of fish habitat at Wilder Creek
• Upgraded 24 hectares of farmland using excavated materials from Wilder Creek

Social Achievements

• Signed a Community Energy Purchase Agreement with the Ulkatcho First Nation for a 3.8 MW solar farm
• Launched an Indigenous Career Exploration Program
• Provided more than $90 million in rebates for ZEV purchases through CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program
• Installed more than 4,400 AC units for lower-income and vulnerable customers
• Administered the CleanBC Social Housing Incentive Program

Governance Achievements

• Published UNDRIP Implementation Plan
• Developed a Distribution Action Plan incorporating 39 recommendations to improve vault system safety
• Maintained gold standing in Progressive Aboriginal Relations certification

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• High number of planned outages to maintain system reliability
• Impact of wildfires on system reliability
• Increased electricity demand due to electrification, population growth, and electric vehicle adoption
• Explosion and fire in an underground vault in Vancouver
• Need to increase Indigenous representation in the workforce

Mitigation Strategies

• $4.3 billion invested in FY 2024 to upgrade aging assets and build new infrastructure
• Proactive measures to protect infrastructure from wildfires (vegetation removal, fire retardant)
• Testing of new fire retardant pole wraps
• Site C project to increase electricity generation capacity
• Indigenous Career Exploration Program
• Two-phase program review of street distribution vaults and implementation of recommendations

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Indigenous procurement

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Wildfires
• Extreme weather events

Opportunities

• Electrification

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: SASB

Certifications: Progressive Aboriginal Relations (Gold)

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 7
• 9
• 13
• 6
• 15
• 17
• 8
• 10
• 11
• 5
• 12
• 16

See pages 10-11 of the report for details.