FortisBC Distribution Capital Program

In the North Okanagan, South Okanagan, and Kootenay regions of British Columbia, Lauren partnered with FortisBC to deliver the Distribution Capital Program, revitalizing electrical infrastructure to meet growing demands and ensure unwavering reliability across diverse landscapes. Managing a multifaceted portfolio from urgent repairs and small-scale upgrades through large rebuilds and long-term planning, our team provided full-cycle engineering, coordinated with municipalities and stakeholders, and navigated complex urban and rural environments to minimize disruptions, enhance safety, and align with regulatory standards for sustainable power delivery.

Revitalizing aging infrastructure through comprehensive capital initiatives

This ongoing program encompasses six interconnected workstreams (Distribution Line Rebuilds, Urgent Repairs, Small Planned Capital, Forced Upgrades, Planning Support, and Engineering Support) targeting overhead and underground assets in established urban, suburban, and rural areas. Lauren’s contributions include proactive asset management for minor improvements, rapid restoration of failing infrastructure to safeguard reliability, and responsive modifications driven by third-party requests from developers and telecom providers. Designs incorporate innovative solutions for congested corridors, river and highway crossings, and geotechnical challenges like poor soils or high water tables, while integrating community-sensitive measures such as noise mitigation and public access maintenance to support forecasted load growth and modern standards.

Tackling diverse challenges with adaptive engineering and stakeholder collaboration

The FortisBC Distribution Program presented a spectrum of hurdles inherent to high-visibility, multi-stakeholder environments, which Lauren adeptly resolved through field investigations, targeted adaptations, and robust engagement. Addressing inaccurate as-built records for aging legacy systems, congested urban overhead lines, and tight municipal construction windows required creative designs and close coordination with landowners, utilities, and regulators to prevent scope creep from third-party changes. In rural settings, geotechnical issues like shallow bedrock and high-traffic safety zones demanded meticulous planning, while ensuring minimal public disruption in pedestrian-heavy areas—all executed with strong project controls, QA/QC, and environmental stewardship to maintain timelines and elevate system resilience.

What we delivered

Ongoing since 2022 across North Okanagan, South Okanagan, and Kootenay, British Columbia, this program exemplifies Lauren’s expertise in adaptive engineering and coordinated execution for reliable, community-focused distribution upgrades.

Infrastructure: Large-scale rebuilds of aging overhead/underground lines, urgent repairs for damaged assets, small planned improvements, and forced upgrades including crossings over rivers, railways, and highways.

End-to-End Management: Full-cycle support from scoping and feasibility through detailed design, construction oversight, and stakeholder engagement across urban, suburban, and rural workstreams.

Community and Reliability Focus: Proactive planning, risk mitigation, and environmental measures ensuring safety, minimal disruption, and alignment with regulatory and growth requirements.

• Full-cycle engineering services
• Stakeholder coordination and engagement
• Project controls and QA/QC
• Construction support and field investigations
• Planning and asset management