B.C. Hydro’s capacity depends on water

Re: “Want to save the planet? Use electric lights,” letter, April 4.

The “want to save the planet” letter displays a common misunderstanding regarding the power grid and B.C. Hydro’s ability to increase overall output.

Hydroelectric production is based on precipitation (water behind the dams). So far, humans have not devised a way to increase rainfall or snowfall. B.C. Hydro has to work with what water it gets.

It can fluctuate power output over short time intervals (hours, days, weeks), but not on an ongoing basis; essentially it is controlled by the weather. So, no matter what we add to the grid (electric cars, electric trains, low-wattage light bulbs), B.C. Hydro cannot raise its overall output — unless you carried enough buckets of water to the reservoir to accommodate the new load.

B.C. Hydro will produce what electricity it is able to each year, whether sold here in B.C. or exported. If tomorrow everyone in B.C. bought electric cars, B.C. Hydro would not be able to produce any more power to charge them; it would likely export less but still produce the same overall amount.

Interestingly, if B.C.’s power consumption dropped substantially, the corporation would just export more power to avoid wasting reservoir water. If we wish to power more items with hydroelectric energy, we must build more hydroelectric facilities (dams such as Site C?).

Adding additional loads to our current hydroelectric production facilities in no way increases their output, not even adding a single light bulb. Mark Henry Victoria