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NORTH COAST TRANSMISSION LINE (NCTL) - PHASE 1

Written by Canadian Indigenous Investment Summit | Dec 4, 2025 12:15:00 AM

Executive Summary (Phase 1)

B.C. Hydro’s North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL) is a proposed high-voltage transmission expansion intended to increase reliable, low-cost, clean electricity supply across Northwest British Columbia, while enabling major industrial electrification and improved service resiliency for communities in the region. The project has been referred to Canada’s Major Projects Office (MPO) for consideration and consultation for designation.

Phase 1 focuses on the first major segment of the build-out, advancing new and upgraded transmission infrastructure from the Prince George/Williston area toward the central-north corridor (including the Prince George to Glenannan/Fraser Lake reach). BC Hydro describes Phase 1 as an approximately 170 km line from the Williston Substation (near Prince George) to the Glenannan Substation, along with associated upgrades. B.C.’s project framing also describes Phase 1 as running from Prince George to Fraser Lake (about 164 km).

Once fully operational (all phases), the Province of B.C. projects the NCTL could deliver material economic and climate outcomes, including approximately 9,700 direct full-time jobs, nearly $10B/year in GDP, and about $950M/year in public revenues, while helping avoid 2 to 3 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

Project Overview 


Proponent: B.C. Hydro
Sector: Electricity transmission
Location: Northwest British Columbia
Status: Referred to MPO for consideration and consultation for designation

What the project is designed to do

BC Hydro is proposing to expand and reinforce the North Coast transmission system by:

  • Building new 500 kV transmission lines from Williston Substation (near Prince George) to Skeena Substation (Terrace)
  • Developing new 500 kV infrastructure north of Terrace toward Bob Quinn Substation
  • Completing system upgrades to existing lines and substations to increase transfer capability and reliability

The project also includes the installation of fibre optic cable on new or existing transmission structures and other supporting infrastructure (for example, capacitor station expansion and substation upgrades), improving grid operations while strengthening regional telecommunications capacity.

Strategic context and value proposition

Why NCTL now

Northwest B.C. is currently supplied by approximately 450 km of 500 kV radial transmission from the Williston area near Prince George to the Terrace area (Skeena Substation), and demand growth is expected to exceed the capacity of the existing corridor without expansion.

What NCTL unlocks

NCTL is positioned as enabling:

  • Industrial electrification (including major energy and mining projects)
  • Improved electricity access and resiliency for communities and remote areas

Federal project summaries explicitly link NCTL to the broader “Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor” vision, including support for major projects such as Ksi Lisims LNG and critical minerals development in the Golden Triangle.

Phase 1 scope and deliverables

Phase 1: Prince George to Glenannan/Fraser Lake segment

Core build: A new high-voltage segment from the Williston area (near Prince George) toward the Glenannan/Fraser Lake area. BC Hydro describes this as an approximately 170 km line (Williston to Glenannan).
Government phase framing: Phase 1 as Prince George to Fraser Lake (~164 km).

Associated enabling work (Phase 1)

  • Upgrades to existing 500 kV infrastructure (for example, thermal upgrades and anti-cascading towers) to increase transfer capability and reduce outage propagation risk
  • Grid-supporting infrastructure such as fibre optic cable, capacitor station expansion, and substation upgrades/expansion to improve reliability and operational visibility

Stakeholders and the partnership model

Key stakeholder groups

  • Indigenous Nations and communities in potentially impacted areas
  • Local municipalities and regional districts
  • Industrial customers seeking interconnection (for example, LNG, mining, ports)
  • Provincial and federal regulators, including MPO pathways

Indigenous partnership approach

BC Hydro states the expansion supports reconciliation objectives and includes an opportunity for First Nations co-ownership of the North Coast Transmission Line, alongside ongoing engagement with potentially impacted Nations.

Expected outcomes and benefits (project-wide)

B.C. has published economic and climate estimates for NCTL once operational, including:

  • ~9,700 direct full-time jobs
  • ~$10B/year in GDP contribution
  • ~$950M/year in annual public revenues
  • Avoidance of ~2 to 3 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually

At the federal level, the MPO listing similarly highlights job creation, public revenue impacts, and the 2 to 3 million tonnes/year emissions avoidance estimate, while emphasising improved electricity and telecommunications access for remote communities.

Schedule and next steps (as published)

B.C. identifies near-term priorities as finalising route details and initiating select construction permitting, with construction expected to start in summer 2026 and phased completion targeted for 2032 to 2034.

 

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