The power demand of the City of Victoria and the surrounding municipalities is supplied by the hydro electric developments situated, one at the mouth of the Jordan River, some 37 miles away along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with an installed capacity of 24,400 horse power, and the other on the Goldstream river, about 15 miles from Victoria, with an installed capacity of 3,100 horse power. There is also an auxiliary steam plant at Brentwood bay, 11 miles from Victoria, with an installed capacity of 6,000 horse power. The work of construction on the Jordan River project was begun in 1909, and the initial installation was complete in 1923. A further addition was made and put in operation by the fall of 1914.
 
Bear Creek Reservoir
 
At a point approximately one mile above the junction of Bear Creek with Jordan River, a reservoir has been erected by means of a hydraulic fill dam with a steel core. The storage capacity is 7,500 acre feet, which is equivalent to 5,752,727 kilowatt hours at the power house. The area flooded is 285 acres and the drainage area above the dam 8 square miles. The length of the crest of the dam is 1,020 feet. The spillway, which is excavated in solid rock, has a length of 47 feet 6 inches. The present height is 57 feet, but it is contemplated to increase this to a maximum of 87 feet, in which case the storage would be increased to 14,000 acre feet.
 
Jordan River Reservoir
 
The Jordan River dam is an impounding dam and is situated about 7 1/2 miles upstream from the power house. It is a reinforced concrete hollow structure of the Ambursen flat slab and buttress type, with a crest elevation of 1,268 feet above sea level. Its crest is 891 feet, and its maximum height 126 feet. The storage capacity is 14,000 acre feet, which is equivalent to 10,135,000 kilowatt hours at the power house.
 
Water is diverted at the Jordan River dam and conducted for a distance of 5.3 miles in an open wooden flume. The static head at the power house is 1,145 feet.
 
Brentwood Bay Auxiliary Steam Plant
 
At Brentwood bay, in the Municipality of Saanich, the company has erected a steam stand-by plant as an auxiliary to the Jordan River water power. Construction was begun early in 1912, and the first unit placed in operation by November of the same year.

In 1923 electric power was first received from the Jordan River hydro electric power plant. From this date the growth of the electric light and power business in Victoria and district was particularly rapid, necessitating the installation of a second unit of 6,000 horse power and shortly afterwards, a third unit of 13,000 horse power at Jordan River.

1908 - Jordan River hydro-electric development taken in hand.
 
1909 - 10 cent fare on Esquimalt line abolished and five cent fare substituted. Work started on first unit of Jordan River hydro electric development.
 
1911 - Decision made to install a second unit at Jordan River, thereby doubling the capacity called for in the original plans. Contract awarded for construction of Saanich interurban.
 
1912 - Power first received from Jordan River. Construction of auxiliary steam plant at Brentwood bay started. Construction work started on large storage dam at Jordan River. Steam plant at Brentwood bay put in service.
 
1913 - Saanich line (interurban) opened for freight and passenger traffic.
 
1914 - Third unit (13,000 h.p.) installed at Jordan River, doubling the then capacity.