A transmission system is made up of the infrastructure and operations in place that ensures electricity can travel from where it is produced to where it needed – when it is needed.  BCTC manages BC’s publicly owned transmission system which includes transmission towers, high-voltage lines, substations and rights-of-way across the province. The transmission lines, cables and substations that move electricity across the province are monitored and controlled from one main control centre and one backup control centre. While much of this activity is automated through computerized Energy Management Systems, highly trained operating staff at the control centres work around the clock to respond to varying external conditions or system disturbances and ensure high levels of safety and reliability.

Currently, BCTC’s operates and maintains:

All large generation facilities, whether they use water, wind or natural gas to produce electricity, connect to the transmission system to deliver their electricity to consumers. The regional system includes transmission power lines and substations operating at various voltages.

In BC, the transmission system is divided into three main components – the bulk transmission system, the regional transmission systems and the interties.