How design connections work

• Service location, including the design project address and GPS coordinates.
• The identification number on our assets located closest to your project. This could be a pad-mounted transformer or pole.
• The estimated number of amps and volts needed.

• Gather any available drawings and documents.
• Submit a request for an electrical design project online by logging in to MyHydro.
• Alternatively, you can make a request by calling 1 877 520 1355.
• All pole relocation requests must be done by phone.

• Review and discuss the initial application. If appropriate, we'll expedite the request by deeming it an express connection request.
• Verify that you meet all of the requirements to initiate an electrical design project connection.
• Request any documentation and drawings you may already have available that will help us with the design review.

• Understand how to work safely and responsibly during construction [PDF, 186 KB].
  
• Log in to MyHydro and give your team representatives access to the project so that they can view and update information.
• Coordinate with other utilities, including TELUS at engineering.BC@telus.com, to arrange for their designs, costs, and construction scheduling.
• Coordinate with local governments to ensure that construction and major renovations comply with local bylaws, the building code and health and safety standards by obtaining the necessary permits.
• Meet the requirements of our distribution technical standards and guides within your project design. If site-specific constraints prevent you from meeting our standards, submit a variance request.
• Provide updated or additional supporting documentation and drawings through MyHydro (150 MB file size limit) or as directed by our team. When sharing via email, please submit the documents using a secure download link or, if the files are less than 10 MB, as an email attachment.
• Ensure that you're hiring a contractor who's part of the registered civil contractor list if your project requires construction of civil works on public or private property. Refer to the customer civil construction guide [PDF, 77 KB] for more information on installing civil works for BC Hydro use.

• Review project feasibility and determine preliminary scope of our work.
• Request updated or additional supporting documentation and drawings.
• Advise on project requirements that may need more time in the design or construction phase, such as construction permits, service agreements or statutory rights-of-way [PDF, 178 KB].

Payment: We may send you a design deposit invoice that must be paid before the project can proceed to the next stage.

You should submit a Request for distribution standards variance form [PDF, 114 KB]  if:

• Your electrical connection request does not meet our distribution technical standards and a standard solution cannot be found and;
• The request doesn't impact safety, reliability, or increase the associated costs incurred by us for installing, operating, maintaining and replacing the equipment.

You can apply for a variance from distribution technical standards project for either our assets or customer-owned assets. Keep in mind that submitting this request later in the design phase can lead to project delays.

Learn more about the variance process [PDF, 86 KB]

• Obtain any necessary agreements required to complete your project as requested by our team.
• Provide updated or additional supporting documentation and drawings through MyHydro (150 MB file size limit) or as directed by our team. When sharing via email, please submit the documents using a secure download link or, if the files are less than 10 MB, as an email attachment.
• Advise us of any changes to your project requirements or timeline.
• Provide any updated revisions of drawings already provided to us.

• Schedule on-site meetings to verify any site restrictions, requirements or risks.
• Confirm project requirements and communicate responsibilities.
• Complete a detailed design in coordination with your project team.
• Request updated or additional supporting documentation and drawings.

• Provide the documentation that we requested during the design stage through MyHydro (150 MB file size limit) or as requested by our team. When sharing via email, please submit the documents using a secure download link or, if the files are less than 10 MB, as an email attachment.
  
• Submit payment for invoiced design costs.
  
• Identify any site-specific environmental and archaeological sensitivities and requirements.
• Inform us once mitigation of any site-specific environmental and archaeological sensitivities is complete.
• Meet electrical room and area of installation requirements.

• Prepare a cost invoice for your project.
• Obtain any permits necessary for our construction.
• When necessary, provide detailed civil drawings with specifications after all payments have been received.

Payment: We'll send you a design and construction invoice that must be paid before the project can proceed to the next stage. The invoice is valid for 90 days, after which a new estimate and invoice will be generated.

To ensure our crews can work efficiently and safely, the electrical room and area of installation must be:

• Accessible by our crews. This includes providing key(s) to the electrical room(s).
• Free of obstacles and building materials. This may involve removing and/or trimming trees and vegetation as required on both public and private property.
• Well-lit.

Learn more about the requirements in our distribution technical standards.

• Work with a registered civil contractor to construct civil works on public and private property.
• Schedule a pre-job conference with a civil inspector to review all drawings, project specifications, materials lists and instructions for picking up civil materials supplied by us.
• Pick up and deliver BC Hydro-supplied civil material to the construction site within 90 days of the pre-job conference date.
• Provide record drawings of all civil work that your civil contractor completed.
   

For a detailed list of requirements, see the civil pre-job meeting and inspections guide [PDF, 93 KB].

• Review and accept record drawings, noting any changes from the original design.
• Provide any applicable technical drawings and the Class of Work Specification for Construction of Underground Electrical Distribution Structures by a Customer (No. 1323).
• Provide a list of BC Hydro-supplied materials available for pickup.
• Inspect your team's construction ensuring it meets our requirements and standards.

• All construction work must meet our distribution technical standards.
• If a customer-owned pole is required as part of your project, it must meet the pole and installation requirements.

We'll perform an inspection to confirm your construction meets our standards and that it's safe to proceed to the next stage.

• Provide access to our crews if construction is on private property and/or construction sites. See Electrical room and area of installation requirements.

• Schedule and construct the civil infrastructure required to be built by us.
• Schedule and construct all electrical infrastructure in preparation for establishing your project's electrical connection.

• Obtain and provide electrical contractor authorization and electrical permit from Technical Safety BC or your municipality.
• Complete the electrical service declaration through MyHydro or the metering inspection and declaration form [PDF, 352 KB], if applicable.
• Meet electrical room and area of installation requirements.
• Schedule a site inspection with your designer.
• Complete all Primary Service Connections requirements if applicable.
• If multi-meter installation is required as part of your project, there are additional responsibilities outlined in the Metering installation section below.

• Install revenue meters and associated metering equipment.
• Provide site inspection for our approval.
• Schedule and energize connection.

If a metering installation is required as part of your project, it must meet the electric metering requirements [PDF, 352 KB].

We'll perform an inspection to ensure your construction meets our standards and is safe to proceed.

Multi-metering

If we energized your site with temporary construction metering, permanent meters will be installed when you've completed the necessary work to meter the individual units or areas. This usually applies to larger multi-residential connections as well as commercial connections or industrial services.

Your metering installation checklist:

• Meet all requirements of the metering guidelines [PDF, 335 KB].
• Provide us with key(s) to metering closets.
• Complete our multi-metering declaration form [PDF, 335 KB].

Our metering installation checklist:

• Provide site inspection to ensure it meets our electric metering requirements.
• Install revenue meters and associated metering equipment.
• Schedule meter installation.