The cost of electricity in British Columbia is about to rise as the provincial utility moves to cover the cost of replace its aging facilities.

British Columbians are facing higher electricity prices as the Crown-owned hydro utility moves to replace aging facilities.British Columbians are facing higher electricity prices as the Crown-owned hydro utility moves to replace aging facilities.
(CBC)

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority is set to apply to the British Columbia Utilities Commission for the right to increase the price of its service by about $5 per bill.

BC Hydro spokeswoman Gillian Robinson Riddell said the rate increase is necessary to upgrade aging power lines and hydro dams. Most of the dams in the province were built in the 1950s and 1960s.

However, Robinson Riddell says the company doesn't know when the proposed increase would be in place.

The current average hydro bill in B.C. is about $60 a month.

With files from the Canadian Press