Summary

• BC Hydro is investing in new infrastructure to maintain reliable electricity service, support future growth in the downtown Vancouver core
• The West End Substation will replace Dal Grauer Substation and serve approximately 50,000 people
• The East Vancouver Substation will replace Murrin Substation, serving approximately 50,000 people
• Both substations will remain operational during construction to continue providing reliable electricity service to customers

__________

Two new electrical substations in downtown Vancouver will modernize critical infrastructure and ensure clean, reliable electricity service in one of B.C.’s busiest urban centres.

“Much of the infrastructure serving downtown Vancouver today was built more than 70 years ago and is reaching the end of its operational life,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “Projects like the West End and East Vancouver substations are essential to maintain the reliable service people depend on every day, and ensure Vancouver’s electricity system can support the city’s continued growth for decades to come.”

The new substations will replace the aging Dal Grauer and Murrin substations, which have reliably powered homes, businesses, hospitals, schools and other essential services in the city’s core for more than 70 years. Today, both substations are approaching the end of their operational lives. As Vancouver’s population grows and electricity demand increases, BC Hydro is investing in replacement infrastructure to maintain reliability, strengthen resiliency for seismic events and support future growth.

Building for the future

Replacing Murrin and Dal Grauer substations is not as simple as rebuilding them where they stand today. Both sites face significant constraints due to surrounding development, as well as challenges related to worker safety, seismic resilience and accommodating future growth.

To address these challenges, BC Hydro is advancing two new projects that will modernize downtown Vancouver’s electricity system while supporting the needs of a growing city.

West End Substation: Replacing Dal Grauer Substation

The West End Substation will replace the aging Dal Grauer Substation and continue providing reliable electricity service to approximately 50,000 customers in downtown Vancouver and the West End.

Planned beneath the Vancouver School Board’s Lord Roberts Annex property on Nelson Street, the new facility will be built underground, preserving valuable urban land for community uses above ground. Subject to regulatory approvals, BC Hydro expects construction to begin in late 2026, with the substation planned to be in service as early as 2032.

The project builds on BC Hydro’s history of innovation. In 1984, BC Hydro built North America’s first fully underground substation beneath Cathedral Square Park, a facility that continues to operate safely and reliably more than 40 years later.

East Vancouver Substation: Replacing Murrin Substation

The East Vancouver Substation, located near Hastings Street and Clark Drive, will replace the aging Murrin Substation and strengthen the overall downtown electricity network. BC Hydro expects construction to begin in early 2027, with the new substation planned to be in service as early as 2031.

Together, the West End and East Vancouver substations will serve approximately 100,000 customers and provide the reliability, resilience and capacity needed to support Vancouver’s continued growth.

Investing in the next generation of infrastructure

The leaders who built Dal Grauer and Murrin substations in the 1940s and 1950s were planning for the future needs of a growing city. More than 70 years later, BC Hydro is making the same commitment by replacing aging infrastructure before it becomes a reliability concern.

“Murrin and Dal Grauer have served downtown Vancouver for generations and played a vital role in the growth of our city,” said Charlotte Mitha, president and CEO, BC Hydro. “Our responsibility today is to make the same long-term investments that previous generations made. The West End and East Vancouver substations will strengthen reliability, improve resilience and ensure downtown Vancouver has the electricity infrastructure it needs for many decades to come.”

By replacing aging infrastructure before it becomes a reliability issue and finding innovative ways to build within a dense urban environment, BC Hydro is ensuring the next generation of Vancouver residents and businesses continue to benefit from safe, reliable and resilient electricity service.

Quick Facts:

• Murrin Substation (1947) and Dal Grauer Substation (1952) were built by BC Electric, BC Hydro’s predecessor, during the post-Second World War boom.
• The new West End Substation and East Vancouver Substation are expected to enter service in 2032 and 2031, respectively.

Learn More:

• To learn how B.C. is powering growth, visit: https://www.bchydro.com/toolbar/about/strategies-plans-regulatory/supply-operations/powering-growth.html