BC Hydro & Technical Safety BC Information Sharing Agreement

To improve safety and make it easier for customers with electrical service connection requirements to do business with us.

As of October 25, 2017 we will no longer require you to provide copies of your Technical Safety BC permits to us. 

If you use MyHydro, you can now complete your connection request fully online by providing your Technical Safety BC or municipal permit number with the date the inspection passed. There is no need to attach documents.

Please note: if your permit was issued by the City of Victoria, you will continue to be required to upload or email a copy to us. 

Other BC Hydro and Technical Safety BC requirements and processes are unchanged, including:

• A valid permit must be taken out with Technical Safety BC, or the applicable municipality. Permits with the BC Safety Authority name are still valid and part of Technical Safety BC's permitting service.
• A BC Hydro Declaration will still be required online, or by email.
• For situations that currently require you to provide a copy of the Technical Safety BC permit onsite (e.g. reconnects issued through our trouble center), a copy of the permit will still be required onsite.

Technical Safety BC will be able to better identify cases where safety is an issue at a site, and take the appropriate actions to avoid immediate and future unsafe situations.   

Technical Safety BC is now informed when BC Hydro issues a service connection-related order to field crews, and is provided details of the connection request. Technical Safety BC can contact BC Hydro to put a hold on a service connection request in the following situations:

• Non-compliance with the safety act and regulations

• No permit taken out

• An incorrect permit number

• False contact information 

• An unlicensed electrical contractor or uncertified FSR

Technical Safety BC will also determine if a hold needs to be in place where no service connection declaration (inspection request) has been sent to Technical Safety BC.

A service connection declaration to Technical Safety BC is required as per the Electrical Safety Regulation 17.5(b) and 19.4(b). This is to declare that the work done at the site is safe and meets regulations. A similar declaration is required for some municipalities who issue their own permits and perform service connections.

BC Hydro requires that all requests for electrical service connections be submitted by a valid Field Safety Representative (FSR) or electrical contractor, and that a valid permit has been taken out to perform the work at the site. You also need to submit a BC Hydro Declaration to confirm your compliance with BC Hydro standards and requirements.

Learn more.