The province of British Columbia is considering changes to the Utilities Commission Act to impose stricter regulations on Bitcoin mining operations. This could potentially lead to a ban on utility services for these miners.

Despite the rapid growth of the Bitcoin mining industry in recent years, British Columbia is hesitant to support these operations. Lawmakers in the province are concerned about the excessive use of electricity by cryptocurrency miners.

Energy Minister Josie Osborne announced that British Columbia will not prioritize large-scale projects for private cryptocurrency miners. Instead, the focus is on ensuring a stable electricity supply for the province's future needs in partnership with BC Hydro. Osborne stressed the need to regulate electricity services for energy-intensive crypto miners, as they do not create many local jobs.

The abundance of hydroelectric power in British Columbia has attracted Bitcoin mining activities, which require constant operation of powerful computer arrays. In late 2022, the province stopped all new crypto connections and suspended 21 projects that would have consumed more energy than two Site C projects annually.

Earlier this year, a provincial court supported the decision of British Columbia and BC Hydro to reject additional power connections for crypto firms. Justice Michael Tammen stated that allocating a large portion of the available electrical power to one industry could lead to increased costs for other residential and industrial customers in the province.