A planned 10-year, $725 million upgrade to the Langley power grid will help meet growing future demand, including up to 140,000 new homes, increased numbers of electrical vehicles and the arrival of SkyTrain.
It was announced at a Wednesday morning, June 19, briefing at B.C. Hydro's McLellan substation, which serves Langley, but is located just inside Surrey.
McLellan will be upgraded, two new substations will be built, and other improvements will be made, said Jodie Osborne, provincial Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.
"We need to make sure we're ready to meet the growing demand for clean power and that we can get the power where it's needed and when it's needed," Osborne said.
Charlotte Mitha, B.C. Hydro Executive Vice President of Operations, said upgrading and expanding the electrical infrastructure across Langley is necessary because "we know that the system of the past is not going to serve all the needs of the future."
Langley East MLA Megan Dykeman, who served as emcee for the event, described the announcement as "really good news for Langley."
"As the world shifts away from fossil fuels to reduce carbon emission, these capital infrastructure projects will bring affordable energy to homes and developments and attract new businesses and industry to our growing community," Dykeman commented.
A provincial government press release noted Langley was experiencing "significant growth in the Willoughby, Brookswood and Gloucester neighbourhoods."
It explained the McLellan substation expansion will be done in two phases that are expected to be in service in 2026 and 2028 and will power an additional 40,000 to 70,000 homes;
A new Campbell Heights substation will be in service by 2032 and will power an additional 20,000 to 35,000 homes, a new Willoughby-Clayton substation will be in service by 2032 and will power an additional 20,000 to 35,000 homes; and there will be "underground and overhead infrastructure extensions"in Willoughby-Clayton, Brookswood and Gloucester.
Investments are also being made in transmission and distribution infrastructure for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain, and that work is expected to be completed by spring 2025.
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