At the West Kelowna city council meeting yesterday, BC hydro announced that they won’t have a decision on the preferred route for a second power line until 2020 at the earliest.
In 2016, three alternative routes were brought forward after a year and a half of assessment.
Council showed favour for Alternative 2, which would mean a route from the Merritt substation into West Kelowna.
In a letter to council, BC Hydro official Sabrina Locicero specified that the cost estimate for the new transmission line is higher than expected.
She states that the company will be reviewing costs in detail and look at “all alternatives” to deliver clean, reliable electricity to West Kelowna and Peachland.
In the meantime, BC Hydro will complete an environmental overview assessment, engineering studies and a geotechnical and wildfire assessment for the existing transmission line in the coming weeks.
Councillor Rick De Jong expressed deep frustration over the decision.
“How can this be an alternative when the goal of the project is to provide redundancy?” said Councillor De Jong
He says back in 2014/2015, BC Hydro acknowledged the need for an alternative electrical supply in the event of a disaster and that maintenance to the existing line should be ongoing.