The British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) was formed in 1962 by the British Columbia government as a Crown corporation, with the mandate to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity throughout the province. It was created as a way to consolidate and expand the province's existing hydroelectric power resources, which were previously owned and operated by various private companies. The goal was to provide a reliable source of electricity to meet the growing demand in the province and to promote economic development. Additionally, the formation of BC Hydro allowed for greater control over the province's hydroelectric resources, enabling the government to regulate prices and ensure that power is distributed fairly across the province.

Before the formation of BC Hydro, hydroelectric power resources in British Columbia were owned and operated by a variety of private companies. These companies were responsible for generating and distributing electricity to customers in their respective regions. However, as the demand for electricity in the province grew, the government recognized the need for a more centralized and coordinated approach to the development and management of hydroelectric resources.

One of the main reasons for the government's decision to form BC Hydro was to provide a reliable source of electricity to meet the growing demand in the province, and to promote economic development. Additionally, the government wanted to gain greater control over the province's hydroelectric resources, enabling them to regulate prices and ensure that power is distributed fairly across the province. By forming BC Hydro as a Crown corporation, the government was able to bring all of these resources under one organization, which would have the mandate to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity throughout the province.

BC Hydro has a diverse portfolio of assets and projects, including hydroelectric power stations, dams, and transmission lines. Some of the major assets and projects of BC Hydro include:

• W. A. C. Bennett Dam: This dam, located on the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia, is the largest hydroelectric power station in the province. It has a generating capacity of 2,730 megawatts and supplies power to the Peace River region and to customers in Alberta.
• Mica Dam: This dam, located on the Columbia River in southeastern British Columbia, has a generating capacity of 1,805 megawatts and supplies power to customers in the Kootenay and Boundary regions.
• Revelstoke Dam: This dam, located on the Columbia River in central British Columbia, has a generating capacity of 6,480 megawatts and supplies power to customers in the Columbia region.
• Site C Dam: This is a controversial project that is currently under construction on the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia. It will have a generating capacity of 1,100 megawatts and will supply power to customers in the Peace River region.
• Campbell River-Quadra Island Transmission Line: This transmission line, located on Vancouver Island, connects the Campbell River and Quadra Island communities to the mainland power grid.
• Revelstoke-Mica Transmission Line: This transmission line, located in the Selkirk Mountains, connects the Revelstoke and Mica hydroelectric power stations.
• Smart Metering: This project aims to install advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) throughout the province to enable customers to track and manage their energy usage in real-time.

The formation of BC Hydro was met with some opposition from private power companies, which were concerned about the potential loss of their assets and business. However, the government was able to secure the necessary support to pass the legislation that created BC Hydro, and the organization was officially established in 1962.

Overall, the formation of BC Hydro was a political decision made by the government of British Columbia as a way to promote economic development, social and economic equality and gain greater control over the province's hydroelectric resources.