It is the purpose of this study to examine the development of the electricity industry in British Columbia from its beginnings in 1883 until 1961, in order to see what relationship exists between this development and technological change; new uses of electricity; the part played by government; and the economic growth of the province. The study is divided by approximate growth periods and within each there is some description of major electric facilities; an examination of these in relationship to the factors listed above; and some assessment of the causes and consequences of the total development. Electric generating capacity has grown from zero in 1883 to over three million kilowatts in 1961. The increase was rapid until 1931 and then slackened off during the Depression. New plants were being scheduled when the shortages of labour and materials causes by World War II forced utilities to halt construction. New construction began immediately after the War, and at such an increased rate that over four-and-a-half times as much generating plant was added between 1945 and 1961 as was built in the preceding years. Technology has never been a decisive feature for generating plants and transmission lines in British Columbia. Larger and more efficient stations were always developed before they were needed. Transmission line technology also advanced with the need for longer lines at higher voltages. Government, both municipal and provincial, played an important role in the growth of the electricity industry in British Columbia. Municipalities were often responsible for introducing electric power into a community. It was only when the demands for power increased beyond the capability of the local power plant that some of these communities were forced either to sell the plant to a larger utility or to close the generating plant and purchase power from a larger producer. In 1944 the provincial government became involved in the electricity industry. Because the population of the province was small and consequently the number of customers few and scattered, there were many small generating plants and long transmission lines. This meant a high cost per customer. In order to overcome this to some extent and also to provide more rural electrification, the B.C. Power Commission was set up by the government. Expansion followed. Between 1945 and 1961 several of the major undeveloped water resources had been studied with a view to large scale hydro-electric development. Only the Kitimat - Kemano project materialized. However, in order to guarantee a major market for power from at least one more of these resources, the provincial government, in 1961, expropriated the B.C. Electric Company. This was, in 1962, amalgamated with the other provincial power agency to form the B.C. Hydro and Power Authority. Demand for electricity did not always keep pace with the generating capability. During the nineteen-twenties there was a wide gap between capacity and actual generation. This reflected, primarily, the larger scale construction programme being carried on. Also, because most of the customers of the municipal and private utilities were residential or commercial, the load factors were low; there was a great difference between the base and peak load. Since there had to be sufficient capacity to cover the peak load, it meant that there was idle plant during much of the time. Load factors increased during the 1930 to 1944 period as there was little new construction. The population grew and, after the early days of the depression, consumption per capita increased. That the capacity added after the War was needed is evinced in the fact that load factors remained quite high. Indeed, with expanded industrial production, higher labour income and new uses for electricity, consumption per capita increased so that in 1961 it was three times what it was in 1945; while residential consumption was almost five times what it had been. It was stated that the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships, if any, between the development of the electricity industry and technological change, new uses of electricity, the part played by government, and economic growth. New technology, while allowing for expansion in the electricity industry, has never been a decisive factor. However, throughout the study it is apparent that distinct relationships do exist between the development of the electricity industry and governmental action, new means of using electric power and economic growth. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

Our society has become heavily dependent on inputs of energy. Recently, however, concern has been expressed that the future supply of energy will be inadequate to meet our demands. It seems that future supplies of energy will be available only at relatively high cost. Moreover, conscious public policy attempts to reduce consumption may be attempted by raising the price of energy. A problem arises in the equitable distribution of our energy resources. To understand the equity issue and the price elasticity of demand question, a study was undertaken of the patterns of electricity consumption among residential consumers in Vancouver. The hypotheses proposed are that the proportion of income devoted to electricity consumption declines as income increases; the demand for electricity is price elastic; and, the ability to reduce electricity consumption increases with income. The methodology used to study these questions involved two steps. Firstly, a questionnaire was administered to 291 Vancouver households to identify variables potentially significant in determining, residential electricity consumption. Questions were also asked to determine perceptions of the ability or willingness to reduce or increase electricity consumption patterns under various hypothetical price intervention policies. Secondly, electricity consumption histories were obtained from B.C. Hydro and Power Authority for these 291 respondents. The study shows that absolute electricity consumption is not significantly affected by income. Hence, the proportion of income devoted to electricity declines as income increases. Secondly, it was found that the demand for electricity is sensitive to price increases, but not to price decreases. Thirdly, low income consumers are less responsive to price increases in electricity. They are less willing/able to switch from electricity to natural gas as a fuel source, and are less willing/ able to reduce electricity consumption levels when the price is increased. The results indicate that across the board price increases in electricity will bear very heavily on the poor. Various price schemes were examined with respect to their implications for equity, allocative efficiency and environmental quality. The preferred scheme sets allocative efficiency and environmental quality as constraints. Included in the package is a redistribution of income to achieve equity. The second best alternatives are pricing based on income and increasing block pricing. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

This study focuses on the institutional problems involved in planning for large-scale energy and resource projects in B.C. Fundamental to planning for these projects is the resolution of the tension between economic growth and environmental quality. Concern is expressed that, to date, planning has stressed economic values at the expense of environmental values held in society. A more equitable planning structure is needed whereby interested groups in society may present informed views to the planners and decision-makers to help them achieve solutions that more nearly represent the public interest. To reach a solution that reflects the public interest an advocacy approach to planning is suggested in Chapter Two. This approach stresses interest group participation in the "planning process" to conduct planning that meets public expectations. In order that environmental interests are incorporated into the planning and decision-making for major power and resource projects, an environmental review agency is proposed. This agency would have the power to conduct is own investigations into issues that might affect the environment and advocate its findings in the debate over the proposed Projects. To test the suitability in British Columbia of the advocacy approach a number of criteria are developed, The criteria reflect some basic democratic values held in our society and the problems associated with institutional design. The criteria include public participation and representation, information generation, efficiency, equality, professional humility, natural justice, liberty and political leadership. The characteristics of B.C.'s political milieu are examined in Chapter Three to see what problems the implementation of the advocacy approach for environmental and resource planning might face in the province. Three characteristics of the political milieu are seen as possible constraints on the effective implementation of a review agency - materialist values held in the province, lack of strong interest groups and the dependence on resource extraction for economic prosperity. A case study of the planning and decision-making for the Bennett Dam on the Peace River, presented in Chapter Four, outlines the inadequacy of the planning process. Even though there have been some changes in planning procedures since the initial planning for the Peace project, two principal deficiencies remain - there is virtually no scope for public involvement in the planning process and the information produced is too highly technical to make for effective public participation. As a consequence major energy and resource planning will likely produce results that favour energy and development interests. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate