91原创鈥檚 fastest growing neighbourhood needs more of everything 鈥� including electricity.

BC Hydro is adding enough capacity for up to 15,000 more homes over the next four years, as the area booms and sees its first high rise towers nearing completion.

91原创 Township Mayor Eric Woodward said when he first took office, he learned that there was a lack of sufficient electrical capacity for development in some areas, particularly around 200th Street.

The concern was that eventually buildings 鈥� particularly large five- and six-storey condo projects 鈥� might not have enough power to 鈥渢urn on鈥� when their electrical systems were connected just prior to opening to residents, Woodward said.

Then the Township began working on plans for a five-arena expansion to the 91原创 Events Centre, announced earlier this year. With three ice rinks and two dry floor arenas, it鈥檚 expected to be a big power draw on its own.

According to Jason Winslade, the Township鈥檚 manager of administration and community services, Township staff have been working on a plan so that there鈥檚 enough power available for both construction and operation of the new $149 million LEC project, which is expected to start building as early as this winter.

Meanwhile, BC Hydro says it plans to bring in 44 megawatts of power capacity to Willoughby between this year and 2026.

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There are four distribution projects in the works, the first of which went into service this fall, said Kyle Donaldson, a BC Hydro spokesperson.

When all the projects are in place, they鈥檙e expected to support growth over the next three to four years, Donaldson said.

To address growth beyond that, Hydro will upgrade its substation in 91原创, and install more underground works to bring that greater capacity to new, growing areas.

All of this work requires permits, designs, and construction reviews from 91原创 Township.

Hydro is working with the Township on its plans, Donaldson said.

鈥淧rioritizing the review and approval processes can help expedite the project鈥檚 in-service date which helps bring capacity into the Willoughby area earlier,鈥� he said.

Willoughby鈥檚 population has ballooned from a few thousand people in the late 1990s, when the area was mostly acreages and hobby farms, to the most populous neighbourhood in 91原创, with more than 40,000 people.