Share your feedback on West Kelowna’s future power supply

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Date of Issue: Tuesday, April 28, 2026

The City of West Kelowna Council wants to hear from the community regarding the BC Hydro West Kelowna Transmission Project.

Join the conversation and help shape the future of energy in our community, by attending the Tuesday, May 26 Regular Council Meeting, starting at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Share your feedback about the proposed route configurations and options. Advanced registration is not required. Speakers can sign up when they arrive.

Power reliability is a key strategic priority of Council and they wish to hear directly from the community before providing feedback to BC Hydro about the options to strengthen and reinforce the electricity network serving the City of West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, the District of Peachland, and surrounding areas.

BC Hydro is planning a new transmission connection between West Kelowna and Kelowna, to create a second, independent source of power. Today, the region relies on a single transmission line from Merritt, which runs through remote terrain and is vulnerable to severe weather and wildfire-related outages.

The proposed project would:

Improve reliability by providing a backup power source
Reduce wildfire risk impacts on the transmission network
Interconnect the grid in West Kelowna with FortisBC's network in Kelowna
Protect our vulnerable and senior populations during times of extreme cold or heat events
Protect our businesses and economy from prolonged power outages

BC Hydro has gathered input through recent open houses, engagement with the syilx Okanagan Nation, discussions with local governments and FortisBC, and technical and environmental studies. By the end of 2026, BC Hydro expects to identify a preferred route, and construction may begin as early as 2029.

Your voice matters. Join the conversation and help shape the future of energy in our community.

West Kelowna Council has been strongly advocating for a redundant power supply to increase West Kelowna and the Greater Westside’s resiliency in the face of disasters and other events that threaten the community’s primary power supply. This is a key Council priority under the Foster Safety and Well-being pillar.

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