NWRFP-24-01 - Utility Long-Term Distribution Planning

The City of New Westminster is seeking a firm with a proven track record in preparing multi-year system plans for electric utility substations and distribution systems to submit proposals for the City of New Westminster Electric Utility Long-term Plan which will be comprised of the 2025-2034 Distribution System Plan (DSP) and Electric Utility Outlook to 2074 (Outlook).

The City's Electric Utility (EU) and BC Hydro face the same challenges to meet their customers’ growing electricity needs.  Energy needs are being defined by increasing low carbon energy mandates, electrification, electric mobility, and electric space heating systems.  The city is facing mandated municipal housing targets to address a housing crisis, charged with alleviating extreme heat impact on habitability of existing residential buildings, and increasing the city’s climate resilience with adaptation.  

As a result, power supply constraints over the immediate and medium term and the assuredness of Electric Utility’s capability to meet new customer load have become a major concern for the city.   Increased summer peak loads, along with other climate impacts, are adding uncertainty to long-term electric system planning. Enhanced system resilience needs to be a key factor in assessing system design improvements and approving capital expenditures.  EU has undertaken analyses that address the City’s ambitious growth targets and known master plan developments, including energy load forecasting and a feasibility study for an additional substation. 

Recognizing the increasing strain on system capacity, EU is now ready to embark on establishing a Distribution System Plan 2025 to 2034 (DSP)to address system needs in the medium term.  The DSP will identify actions and opportunities, along with their technical specifications, that will be capable of improving system capacity and reliability to meet customer demand during the ten-year period 2025 to 2034.   After review with Electric Utility, recommended actions will be assessed for overall economic impact and feasibility.  Recommended actions to address a specific identified deficiency may need further assessment.