Provide wireless service for your customers
Attach wireless and radio equipment to our transmission structures with the transmission wireless attachment program. These structures provide an opportunity to install multiple antennas connected to your control equipment.
How it works
Here’s the complete process for attaching your equipment to our transmission structures:
1. Initial consultation
Before submitting your application, we recommend contacting us to discuss the overall project and your proposed attachment plans. Please email us at attachments@bchydro.com with the location of interest (latitude and longitude) and a high-level scope summary.
2. Master Services Agreement and Program Schedule
If you don’t have a Master Services Agreement, follow our instructions for new customers.
3. Attachment application
Complete the appropriate request form based on whether you’re installing new equipment or modifying an existing installation:
- New attachment request form [PDF, 87 KB]
- Modification request form [PDF, 98 KB]
- Decommissioning application [PDF, 108 KB]
Submit the required documents as outlined in the application form, including the application fee, to attachments@bchydro.com.
Once we receive your complete application, we’ll evaluate it to determine the proposal’s feasibility. If your request is approved, we’ll send you a letter outlining the costs and documentation required to complete a structural analysis. In most cases, it takes us approximately two months to finish our review and send you the cost letter, depending on the structure type, and how many other applications we’re processing at the same time.
4. Structural analysis phase
Once we receive the structural analysis funding and all required documentation, we’ll analyze the proposed attachment’s structure based on proposed loadings and review any applicable ground-based equipment. This assessment determines whether any BC Hydro make-ready work is needed to support the attachment to our tower.
Following the analysis, we’ll issue a cost letter outlining the design and construction costs of any required BC Hydro make-ready work and the installation of the wireless equipment onto our tower.
In most cases, it takes us approximately six months to complete our analysis and send you the design and construction cost letter, depending on the number of requested attachments, permitting requirements, and how many other applications we’re processing at the same time.
5. Design and construction phase
Once we receive design and construction funding, we’ll complete the work identified during the structural analysis phase. This may include activities such as detailed design and installing the wireless equipment on the tower.
In most cases, it takes approximately six to nine months to complete our design and construction work, depending on the extent of the make-ready work required, construction resource availability, and seasonal restrictions.
You’re responsible for obtaining all necessary permits, including land tenure, for installing your ground-based equipment.
6. Close-out phase
Upon project completion, we’ll reconcile the actual costs and issue reconciliation cost letters accordingly. You’ll be required to submit As-Built drawings for our records that meet the transmission structure As-Built requirements [PDF, 75 KB].
Contact us
If you have questions or need support with the application process for the transmission wireless attachment program, email us at attachments@bchydro.com.
Applicable standards
All ground-based equipment near our transmission towers must follow IEEE and the Canadian Electric Code. Refer to ES43 S4-01 for applicable standards.