FortisBC, looking to update facilities for better energy efficiency that will better serve the needs of the area, is going ahead with plans to build a Kootenay Operations Centre in Ootischenia. The company will be submitting an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC). Upon approval, construction is scheduled for spring, 2016.

The new Kootenay Operation Centre will have 23,000 sq. ft. of office space, 7000 sq. ft. of warehouse space and be located at 120 Ootischenia Road on land the company purchased from the city of Castlegar in 2014. It will house operations for the Electricity branch of of FortisBC.

As to the choice of location, FortisBC spokesman David Wylie explained, “That location really is central for us. It will help us to better serve our customers in the region and to continue to meet the operational requirements for the region.”

Wylie continued, “This is a long term solution for FortisBC for replacing aging facilities and ones that are reaching the end of their useful life in the Kootenays.”

One of those aging facilities is the South Slocan Operations Centre, “It is over a hundred years old. It has reached the end of its life as a comfortable and safe workplace for our employees, which is why we are looking at building something that is more energy efficient and would better serve our needs in the area.”

Upon completion of the new project, the South Slocan Operations Centre will close and the employees will be relocated to the new location.

According to Wylie, FortisBC has completed a traffic impact study to ensure there is no negative impact the flow of traffic in the area.

More information on the project can be found at FortisBC.com and you can also submit feedback on the project.

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