BC Hydro launches Mount Pleasant substation expansion, investing $90 million to add third transformer

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 21, BC Hydro announced the start of the Mount Pleasant substation expansion project in Vancouver, investing $90 million to install a third transformer and associated electrical equipment, with completion expected in early 2029. Upon completion, the substation will have the capacity to serve approximately 50,000 additional customers.

Located at the southwest corner of West 6th Avenue and Alberta Street, the Mount Pleasant substation was built in 2014 with two transformers and space reserved for a third. This expansion involves installing the new transformer in the reserved space, with the new equipment standing about two storeys tall. The new transformer is expected to arrive in early September, marking a key milestone for the project. Most of the construction will take place within the existing substation fence line, minimizing impact on nearby residents and businesses.

The expansion is designed to support rapid growth along Vancouver's Broadway corridor and surrounding areas. According to the City of Vancouver's Q2 2026 Broadway Plan progress report, the area currently has 169 active development projects, with approximately 25,000 residential units in the development pipeline. The Mount Pleasant substation serves more commercial and industrial customers in Metro Vancouver than any other urban substation. The area is also home to the Telus large-scale AI data centre, which is expected to become operational later this year.

BC Hydro President and CEO Charlotte Mitha stated that space was reserved for future growth when the substation was built in 2014, and this expansion leverages that planned capacity. BC Hydro Vice President Melissa Holland noted that expanding on existing land and within existing buildings using existing infrastructure is an efficient and cost-effective approach. British Columbia's Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions Adrian Dix said this investment will enhance grid reliability and ensure the community receives clean, reliable power for decades to come.

The Mount Pleasant project is part of BC Hydro's broader grid investment in Vancouver, with other ongoing projects including the Mainwaring substation modernization (upgrading a 70-year-old facility to improve power reliability for over 60,000 homes and businesses) and the West End substation project (replacing the aging Dal Grauer substation).