B.C. has introduced a competitive bid process for data centres and AI companies to secure electricity from B.C. Hydro, aimed at managing demand from these high-load sectors. Energy Minister Adrian Dix noted that this structured approach is necessary to avoid overwhelming the power utility and to ensure reliability and affordability for existing customers. Bids will be assessed on criteria like environmental benefits and First Nations participation, with the first tranche allowing competition for 400 megawatts over two years. The B.C. Conservative Party criticized the government for rationing electricity and warned that the new process could hinder the construction of data centres due to insufficient power generation infrastructure.
