WHEREAS specific companies have been granted water licences by the Province of BC to generate power in support of their industrial operations; AND WHEREAS companies may be able to sell power that is surplus to what they need for local industrial and domestic consumption; AND WHEREAS companies may be able to sell additional power if industrial production is curtailed or stopped, resulting in the sale of power which goes beyond what is normally sold on the open market and contrary to the intended purpose when the water licences were originally granted: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC be requested to manage and administer the water licences issued to industrial companies such that power generated as part of their operations be utilized for its original intended purpose.
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT Power plants are designed and built for long term use and the amount of power generated each year also depends on the level of water supply during that year. Industrial customers commercial category can sell the excess power generated to the grid, and this power is treated like any other IPP licensee for water rental purposes. The Water Regulation allows the selling of power generated in excess of the industrial needs. Restricting the power generation to meet the industrial needs only may result in spilling of water and lost benefits. This would result in economic losses to the Province of British Columbia lost power and water rentals, and also may create environmental impacts flooding, dissolved gas, etc.. The Ministry of Environment encourages maximum beneficial use of water by power generation.