Statement

After more than three decades of key contributions and strong leadership, we are announcing today that Tom Bechard, President & CEO of Powerex, BC Hydro’s electricity market subsidiary, has advised he will be retiring in Spring 2025.

Tom first joined BC Hydro in 1990 and held various roles in engineering and operations until moving to Powerex in 1997. At Powerex, Tom held several leadership roles, and was instrumental in building the company’s portfolio of trading businesses at the time. In 2010, he became a Managing Director for the Trading team, with a primary focus on interprovincial and U.S. energy trading.

Over the last seven years, Tom has served as President and CEO, successfully positioning Powerex to advance a range of energy trading opportunities within the rapidly evolving markets across western North America. To this day, Powerex’s energy marketing and trading activities have helped support keeping BC Hydro’s customer rates low, allowing for some of the lowest electricity rates in North America. Under his leadership, Powerex has also become one of the Top Employers in British Columbia.

“On behalf of BC Hydro, I want to congratulate Tom on his retirement and express our deep appreciation for his many contributions over the past three decades. In support of his planned retirement in Spring 2025, we look forward to an orderly and staged leadership transition,” shared BC Hydro President & CEO Chris O’Riley, “The Board of Powerex has initiated a search for this key leadership role and we are confident that the transition to new leadership will ensure that British Columbians continue to benefit from the operations of Powerex in the years ahead.”

Contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
e. media@bchydro.com
p. 604 928 6468