BC Hydro to invest $200M in Newell Substation upgrades

BC Hydro has announced a $200 million investment to modernize and expand the Newell Substation in Burnaby, British Columbia. The facility, which has served the region for nearly 70 years, requires renewal as its equipment reaches the end of its operational life.

The upgrades are designed to increase capacity to serve approximately 15,000 additional customers, supporting regional growth, new housing, and electrification. The project will also improve reliability for nearly 60,000 existing customers. Key technical improvements include replacing the aging outdoor feeder section with a new feeder building, installing a new transformer, and upgrading critical electrical infrastructure throughout the site.

Construction is expected to be completed by 2031. This initiative is part of a broader strategy by BC Hydro to modernize infrastructure in Burnaby, which includes planned expansions at the Horne Payne, Lougheed, and Barnard substations to meet increasing electricity demand.