British Columbia

How you connect

Since 1 February 2026, a new data centre in BC Hydro’s area gets power only by winning BC Hydro’s Call for Demand. The 2026 call took projects of 10 to 145 MW, asked for bid security of $25,000 per MW, and closed on 9 March. It drew 15 applications for close to 800 MW. With a provincial election called, BC Hydro has delayed the results until after the government transition later this year. The details are on its emerging industries page.

Winning lets a project go on to BC Hydro’s connection studies; it is not a power contract. Projects under 10 MW, and those that had signed a facilities study agreement or paid a distribution design deposit before 1 February 2026, use the standard process.

How the cap splits

Over the first two years, up to 100 MW for conventional data centres and 300 MW for AI data centres, falling to 50 MW and 150 MW in the third year. No single project can take more than 145 MW.

Bringing your own power

Legal, and the only uncapped route in BC Hydro’s service area. The call does not cover FortisBC’s service area in the southern interior, though BC Hydro cannot sell FortisBC extra power for data centres.

What it costs

There is no separate data centre rate. Winning projects pay at least 10% more than the normal demand and energy charges.

What has happened

1. 22 September 2026 With an election called, BC Hydro delays its Call for Demand results
2. 6 July 2026 New data centre rules do not reach FortisBC’s service area
3. 1 February 2026 BC Hydro opens its first Call for Demand, capped at 400 MW over two years