B.C. threatens to seize Canada’s oldest hydroelectric plant
The 128-year-old, family-run powerhouse — using Nikola Tesla's original AC technology — faces shutdown as BC Hydro’s Crown monopoly tightens its grip.
For 128 years, Silversmith Power & Light, a family-run hydroelectric plant, has generated clean, reliable power in and around Sandon, B.C.
Despite that being exactly what the B.C. NDP government claims to champion, and the powerhouse's use of Nikola Tesla's original AC technology, plant owners Hal and Vida Wright say the province is now threatening to “seize and dismantle” the national treasure.
After years of what the couple describes as unfair electricity pricing, obscure policies, and energy funding structures that favour government-aligned or Indigenous-preferred projects, the province is now using Crown land leases to impose ultimatums on the powerhouse that, if followed, would make continued operation nearly impossible.
Land rights are also at stake. The family has poured everything they have left into the plant — including more than a million dollars in funding — yet they say they were never given the promised path to purchase the land beneath it. Instead, they remain trapped under temporary licences that leave the historic facility vulnerable to government seizure.
The situation offers insight into why other private energy producers such as the Wrights have already gone out of business and how Crown-owned BC Hydro continues to strengthen its monopoly, acting as both a competitor and the gatekeeper that controls grid access and power purchasing.
Just before the plant received its latest 'comply-or-else' directive from the province, I travelled to Sandon to show you from the ground what’s at stake if this living piece of Canadian history is wiped out under the NDP.
Since then, Hal and Vida have told me they are still doing everything they can to save their plant and push for fairness in the energy market, including pleading their case to elected officials. While their pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears with both the B.C. NDP and B.C. Conservatives, the Wrights say their local Conservative MP, Scott Anderson, has responded and is currently looking at ways to help move forward on a better path.
Drea Humphrey
B.C. Bureau Chief
Based in British Columbia, Drea Humphrey reports on Western Canada for Rebel News. Drea’s reporting is not afraid to challenge political correctness, or ask the tough questions that mainstream media tends to avoid.
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COMMENTS
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Roman Kierzek commented 2025-12-25 13:53:02 -0500This site can or should be designated as a historic site. That should provide protection. Perhaps since the land is owned or will all be owned by the indigenous people they can wield a big stick and neutralize the communists. -
Bernhard Jatzeck commented 2025-12-22 21:33:28 -0500It’s not as if this facility was going to be another Site C dam, the latter having received heavy opposition, even in the Peace River Block where it’s located.
No, the problem appears to be that the NDP government loathes, fears, and despises an independent power producer, one which it would find difficult to control, especially if the market for that electricity is in the immediate area.
But we can’t call it communism, can we? -
Bruce Atchison commented 2025-12-22 21:23:17 -0500This is socialist collectivism in action. Fools figure that government can run everything fairly. But socialism is highly unfair and always devolves into totalitarianism. And we must keep explaining this fact to people since the socialist mind virus is so hard to destroy.
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John Landry commented 2025-12-22 19:29:35 -0500The Ontario Government did the same many years ago, taking out many highly efficient hydro power stations. They still don’t consider hydro power “Green Energy”.
