Every year Nelson Hydro starts and finishes many projects to repair, maintain, and upgrade the reliability of the electrical system for its more than 13,000 customers in all areas of the utility; generation, transmission, and distribution. Here's a bit about what is going on...

Mount Nelson Power Line Upgrade

The distribution power line servicing a Nelson Hydro customer at the top of Mount Nelson, also known as Elephant Mountain, has reached the end of its life and must be replaced to maintain reliable electric service. It is visible as the purple line going up the mountain in the graphic left. The line was originally constructed in 1967 and many of the power poles are original within the corridor. Assessments have determined that the old poles are in poor condition and are no longer safe for crews to climb. Climbing is necessary because of the steep terrain and lack of roads for bucket trucks. Construction work will be challenging and will require the use of helicopters to transport materials and crews to worksites. Detailed engineering is expected to be complete by Q2 2026, with construction beginning soon thereafter.

Dam Safety Project

In 2023, Nelson Hydro completed a safety review of the 120-year-old Bonnington Falls Generating Station. Because the plant was built long before today’s safety standards, engineers found several areas that need repair to keep the facility strong and reliable. Early estimates show that all the work needed over the next decade could cost more than $10 million. Some smaller fixes, like sealing off old penstocks that are no longer used, have already been completed, and other minor projects are underway. Larger jobs—such as repairing the spillway, upgrading the gates, and relining the penstocks—are now being planned in detail in 2026. These bigger projects may require longer powerplant shutdowns, so we are carefully scheduling them to reduce the impact on customer rates, since we must buy extra power from FortisBC during outages. Nelson Hydro is committed to taking good care of this historic facility and is acting early to address aging infrastructure so it can continue serving our community for many years to come.

Automated Meter Infrastructure (AMI)

Nelson Hydro is preparing for the future by exploring options to replace our aging electric meters. Our current meters are reaching the end of their approved life span, and we’re working now to plan a responsible and efficient path forward. This project will develop a business case that assess the feasibility of AMI for Nelson Hydro Customers. For more information on the project please visit https://letstalk.nelson.ca/AMI-Project.

For a breakdown of how all the various stages of AMI work together, please visit the AMI Project page