Introduction

Coal Furnaces and Ovens

Steam Generators

Steam Generators

Coal has been used since the 19th century to generate electricity. The earliest power plants in BC used coal or wood to heat water and create the steam that ran the turbines.¹⁰ Private companies that ran these plants contracted with cities to provide power to their streets and buildings. They strung electric wires to all these locations at the cities’ expense. In larger cities like Vancouver and Victoria, the companies also operated electric railways.¹¹ In many resource centres, coal or lumber companies created subsidiary power enterprises dependent on the parent companies for fuel and financial backing.¹²

"B.C. Electric Railway Work Car taking coal to downtown hotels during the 'Big Snow' of 1916, Victoria, Feb., 1916" BCARS H-03106

At first, towns and cities depended on these local power companies for their electricity. Many people continued to use coal oil lamps, stove-heated irons and ice box refrigerators rather than similar electric lights and appliances. Over time, power lines were strung linking communities to other power plants. All the electricity from each plant was fed into a "grid" serving entire regions. This helped alleviate power shortages caused by overuse or breakdowns in equipment. It also brought electricity to smaller communities formerly without power.

"Brentwood steam auxiliary plant, Vancouver Island Power Company Limited," 1920s BCARS I-52571

This changeover signaled the end of small power companies and the emergence of larger power corporations. In the mid 1890’s, the Consolidated Railway and Light Company, the forerunner of BC Electric, absorbed bankrupt streetcar companies in Vancouver, Victoria and New Westminister.¹³ In 1922, the East Kootenay Power Company was incorporated and assumed control of indebted hydroelectric plants near Elko and Bull River.^14,15 The company later took over steam power plants in Fernie, Cranbrook and Sentinel. In the 1960’s, these and other regional power companies were in turn absorbed by the newly created crown corporation, BC Hydro.¹⁶

"East Kootenay Power Co. diversion dam on the Bull River," 1920s BCARS 1-52502

Regional power companies built larger plants to serve growing populations that were using increasing amounts of electricity. Most of these new plants produced electricity from falling water. Huge hydroelectric dams produced more Watts than steam generators ever had. The days of small thermal generators in BC were numbered.

"Construction of Mica Dam, 1973" BCARS I-27454

Today, all power plants in BC are hydroelectric. Following the Columbia River Treaty of 1961, three dams were built in the Kootenays, including the Mica and Revelstoke hydroelectric dams.¹⁷ The W. A. C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River, built in 1968, added greatly to the province’s power supply.¹⁸ To this day however, BC depends on coal for some of its electricity. A 500 kilovolt transmission line brings power to the province from coal-fired generators in Alberta.¹⁹

"Aerial, Bennett Dam, 1966" BCARS I-14428