The background to the application of a 138 kV 600 MW braking resistor, actually three banks at 200 MW each, on the BC Hydro system in order to meet design stability requirements is described. The design and construction of the resistors is then discussed briefly. The original resistor banks were installed in the 1960s, but one was replaced in 1987 with a new type of resistor. A load test was run on site to verify the capability of the resistor, and the test and its results are described.