B.C. Hydro Can Sell Across Border

B.C. Hydro has been given the right to sell surplus power directly to U.S. clients, a decision which could earn the utility millions.

The utility has been trying for almost a year to get authorization from U.S. regulators. Hydro’s request was granted Wednesday after it agreed to allow U.S. power companies the chance to sell electricity in British Columbia.

Observers say the deal is a good one for Hydro.

But it may not be so good for British Columbia’s independent power producers or the industrial customers that might want to buy electricity from them.

Before Wednesday’s decision by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, B.C. Hydro could only send its power as far as the U.S.-Canada border.

Customers would then have to arrange for a U.S. middleman to transmit the power south.