Article content

VICTORIA — After stubbornly defending the Site C budget and construction schedule for much of the year, B.C. Hydro threw in the towel this week via a confessional letter to the B.C. Utilities Commission.

“It has been very important to us in this process to be forthcoming with timely and accurate information,” wrote B.C. Hydro president and chief operating officer Chris O’Riley in a letter made public Thursday.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Vaughn Palmer: Hydro president admits cracks in Site C costs, contracts Back to video

“Today’s filing provides an opportunity for us to share new information with the commission and the public.”

There followed a discouraging update on the progress of the main construction contract for hydroelectric dam at Site C on the Peace River.

“We have now determined that we will not be able to meet the current timeline for river diversion in 2019,” O’Riley disclosed. “We estimate that this development in the project is expected to increase its cost by 7.3 per cent or $610 million, for a total forecast project cost of $8.945 billion.”