Photo: BC Hydro

BC Hydro says it will need at least another year to decide on the preferred alternative route for a second transmission line into West Kelowna.

After years of lobbying by the city and MLA Christy Clark, BC Hydro agreed to look at the project. Three potential routes were looked at, with a route from the Merritt substation into West Kelowna identified as the leading alternative in 2016.

In a letter to city council, BC Hydro official Sabrina Locicero indicated estimated costs for the redundant line have grown higher than expected.

And now, she says the company is looking at another alternative, improving the resiliency of the existing transmission line that serves West Kelowna and Peachland.

"We'll begin work on this new alternative in the coming weeks, including an environmental assessment, engineering studies, and a geotechnical and wildfire assessment for the existing transmission line," said Locicero in her letter.

She says a decision on the preferred alternative, expected early this year, is being extended to early 2020 at the earliest.

"By undertaking this additional work, we will ensure a cost-effective solution that will continue to deliver clean, reliable electricity to West Kelowna and Peachland, and help keep rates low for our ratepayers.

About 22,000 customers served by the line from West Kelowna to Summerland were without power for nine hours in early October of 2014.

There were also fears during the summer of that year that the Smith Creek wildfire would take out transmission line, effectively knocking out power for days or more.

The region is the largest in the province that does not have a second power source.