By Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun, September 8, 2011

The fight against climate change, partnerships with first nations and an emerging industry will all be undercut should the B.C. Liberals slacken their drive to make the province self-sufficient in electricity.

WENDY STUECK, Globe and Mail, Aug. 28, 2011

As the British Columbia government mulls its energy future, self-sufficiency remains a goal.

But the goal posts could move.

Kathryn Burnham And Larissa Johnston, Times Colonist, August 28, 2011

With smart meters rolling out across the province, some households are taking active steps to block the change at their homes. However, B.C. Hydro maintains there is no other option and that every house will have its old meter changed to the new Wi-Fi meters.

By Chad Skelton, Vancouver Sun, August 20, 2011

Significantly reducing reliance on independent power producers would save utility hundreds of millions of dollars

BC Hydro CEO Dave Cobb says he disagrees with a government panel's suggestion that the utility's salaries are too high. (Photograph by: Gerry Kahrmann, PNG Files, Vancouver Sun)

BC Hydro president Dave Cobb has told his staff that he expects Victoria to soon abandon its current energy selfsufficiency policy, a move that would free Hydro from buying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of electricity that it doesn't need from independent power producers.

Government of British Columbia, June 2011

Excerpt from the Executive Summary

On March 1, 2011, BC Hydro filed its most recent application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission, seeking approval for rate increases of 9.73% for each of the next three years (a cumulative increase of 32%). Significant concerns were expressed regarding the impact the rate increase would have on BC families and other power consumers. As such, the Premier and the Minister of Energy and Mines on behalf of the Province of British Columbia, as the sole shareholder of BC Hydro, requested a review of BC Hydro in order to provide recommendations and options for minimizing the rate increase.This was to be accomplished by examining both the operating and capital requirements for the corporation.

By Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun, August 20, 2011

Energy from independent sources historically pricier, but panel suggests it could lower rates

Intended or not, British Columbia's private-electricity sector has become a lightning rod for public attention thanks to the recent government review of BC Hydro's operations.

By Marvin Shaffer, Times Colonist, June 9, 2011

Utility forced under legislation to buy more power than it needs

If it is not already a fundamental law of economics, it should be: When government says we must pay whatever it takes, we inevitably pay too much. So it is with the B.C. government's energy policies.

By Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun, June 10, 2011

Easing the self-sufficiency requirement would reduce pressure on electricity rates

When the B.C. Liberals enacted their Clean Energy Act a year ago, they touted it as a route to "green energy, renewable energy," and above all, "electricity self-sufficiency."

Christopher Pollon, BC Business, June 6, 2011

Hydro rates are going up in B.C. – the only question is 
by how much.

By Marvin Shaffer, Vancouver Sun June 7, 2011

Government's cost-be-damned policies play significant role in forcing BC Hydro costs and rates higher

If it is not already a fundamental law of economics it should be: When government says we must pay whatever it takes, we inevitably pay too much. So it is with the B.C. government's energy policies.

Paul Willcocks, Times Colonist, May 11, 2011

School districts across B.C. are chopping budgets because they don't have enough money.

At the same time, they're being forced to fork over millions for globalwarming carbon offsets - and some of the money is handed over as subsidies to profitable corporations.

Editorial, Times Colonist, April 05, 2011

Energy Minister Rich Coleman's review of planned B.C. Hydro rate increases is a useful first step. The prospect of soaring electricity costs is grim for consumers and the economy, erasing what has been seen as a B.C. competitive advantage.

Arthur Caldicott, February 25, 2011

Energy legislation in California can break the BC government's hope of positioning BC as a major renewable electricity supplier to the state. Specifically, the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) defines certain attributes of generation facilities which effectively eliminate most of BC's generation projects.

News Release, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, February 10, 2010

If British Columbia ramps up production to become a major electricity exporter there is no guarantee the province will gain new market access, warns new research out today from the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS).

John Horgan, Times Colonist, December 10, 2010

Most of us don't spend much time thinking about where our electricity comes from or the policies and politics behind it. We just flick on the switch and there is light; we turn on the tap and there's hot water. However, in light of the recent announcement that B.C. Hydro plans to raise your rates by 50 per cent over five years, perhaps we should all be taking a closer look.

Chuck DeVore, California State Assemblyman, chuckdevore.com, August 14, 2010

California and the International Green Energy Racket

Rebecca Lindall, Globe and Mail, July 29, 2010

David Parkins for the Globe and Mail

Will the Clean Energy Act clear the way for British Columbia to become a significant exporter of clean energy?

By Marvin Shaffer, Vancouver Sun, June 14, 2010

New legislation to force energy 'self-sufficiency' on BC Hydro flies under the radar as the hated HST garners public attention

While the HST has captured all the attention, the province's passage of the Clean Energy Act in the recent legislative session is a far more serious matter.

MARK JACCARD, Vancouver Sun, June 4, 2010

British Columbia's proposed clean energy act has triggered extreme statements pro and con.

"Great, because our elected representatives are taking responsibility for electricity policy."

"Disastrous, because it reduces utilities commission control over BC Hydro."

Justine Hunter, Globe and Mail, June 01, 2010

Liberal MLA voices opposition to – and says he will vote against – certain parts of the proposed bill

The B.C. government’s proposed Clean Energy Act – a centrepiece of the legislative agenda this year – is flawed and unrealistic, says a government backbench MLA.

Editorial, Vancouver Sun, May 13, 2010

Responsible governance demands that when voters are going to hold the government politically accountable for the actions of an agency that provides a public service, whether it is ferries, health or utilities, the government needs to have the levers in place to exercise some political direction over that organization.

Brian Lewis, The Province, May 06, 2010

Silly me. If it hadn't happened right before my eyes, I'd have sworn there's no such thing as the Divine Right of Premiers.

Tom Fletcher, BC Local News, Victoria News, May 04, 2010

VICTORIA – As the B.C. government was unveiling its new Clean Energy Act last week, a brown stain bloomed in the Gulf of Mexico, visible from outer space.

By Scott Simpson, Vancouver Sun, April 30, 2010

Committee supportive of Clean Energy Act

BC Hydro's major industrial customers are happy, finally, about the way the provincial government will structure its plan to develop export electricity inhouse markets for renewable power.

By Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun, April 29, 2010

B.C. Liberals seize control of all major decisions about projects and pricing

-Portrait of a power grab.

Premier Gordon Campbell and his B.C. Liberals came into office in 2001 promising to restore regulation of electricity rates in B.C. by a fully independent B.C. Utilities Commission.