Distribution Technical Standards and Guides
Latest updates to the Distribution Technical Standards
- ES54 B standards have been revised and associated advisory 2025-002 released on 2025-05-07
- ES54 A1-02 has been revised and associated advisory 2025-032 released on 2025-05-01
- ES43 C3 standards have been revised on 2025-03-27
- ES54 S0-05 has been revised and associated advisory 2025-022 released on 2025-03-26
- ES43 C2-01, C2-03, and C2-04 have been revised on 2025-03-14
- ES54 E4-01 and E4-03 have been revised and associated advisory 2024-013 released on 2025-03-07
- Primary Guide has been revised and associated advisory 2025-001 released on 2025-02-20
- ES54 S0-04 has been revised and associated advisory 2025-003 released on 2025-01-21
- ES54 S1-02 has been revised and associated advisory 2023-029 R2 released on 2025-01-21
- ES54 S2-01 has been revised and associated advisory 2023-049 R2 released on 2024-12-10
- ES54 Z1-06 has been revised and associated advisory 2024-037 released on 2024-11-20
- ES53 S3-01 (in ES53 S3 - Primary Services) has been revised on 2024-10-31
- ES43 N2-05 has been revised on 2024-10-11
- ES54 C1-02, C1-03, and C1-04 have been revised and associated advisory 2024-026 released on 2024-09-03
- ES54 S1-01 has been revised and associated advisory 2024-014 R1 released on 2024-08-28
- ES43 C2-03 has been revised on 2024-08-13
- ES54 S3-01, S3-02, and S3-03 have been revised and associated advisory 2024-007 released on 2024-06-21
- ES54 S2-01 has been revised and associated advisory 2023-049 R1 released on 2024-06-10
Section quick access
- General Publications
- Primary Guide: Requirements for customer-owned primary services supplied at 4 kV to 35 kV
- Distribution Standards – ES43
- Distribution Standards – ES53
- Distribution Standards – ES54
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section A – Introduction
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section B – Pull/Splices, Service, and Junction Boxes
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section C – Vaults
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section D – Junction Pads
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section E – Switchgear Vaults and Pads
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section F – Transformer Pads and Vaults
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section G – Drainage Assemblies
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section H – Duct
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section J – Joint Trenching
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section M – Pilasters, Terminal Poles
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section P – Public Safety
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section R – Grounding
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section S – Services
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section U – Engineering
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section W – Construction Specifications
- ES54 Underground Civil – Section Z – Material Catalogue
- ES54 Information Bulletins
- Distribution Standards – ES55
- Class of Work Specifications
- Revenue metering requirements
- Distribution Generator Interconnections Technical Requirements
- Revenue Metering Bulletin
General Publications
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Underground transformation options for space constrained urban developments [PDF, 323 KB] | June 6, 2022 | June 6, 2022 |
Primary Guide: Requirements for Customer-Owned Primary Services Supplied at 4 kV to 35 kV
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Guide 2025 (Revision 4) [PDF, 6.5 MB] | February 20, 2025 | June 30, 2025 |
| Information Bulletin – Release of Primary Guide Revision 4 (2025 Edition) [PDF, 158 KB] | February 20, 2025 | February 20, 2025 |
| Primary Guide 2021 (Revision 3.1) [PDF, 9.3 MB] | April 30, 2021 | September 30, 2021 – June 29, 2025 |
| Primary Guide Checklist (fillable checklist) [PDF, 199 KB] | January 30, 2025 | January 30, 2025 |
| Statement to BC Hydro Regarding Primary Voltage Service Entrance Equipment (fillable form) [PDF, 222 KB] | January 10, 2025 | January 10, 2025 |
ES43 Overhead Electrical - Sections B and C - Clearances and Joint and Secondary Use
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| ES43 B - Clearances [PDF, 2.5 MB] | April 9, 2024 | May 2, 2024 |
| ES43 C – Joint and Secondary Use [PDF, 1.7 MB] | March 27, 2025 | March 27, 2025 |
ES43 Overhead Electrical – Section L – Street lighting
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| ES43 L – Street Lighting [PDF, 1.3 MB] | September 2020 | November 2020 |
ES43 Overhead Electrical - Section M - Terminal Poles
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| ES43 M1-10 – Terminal Poles Pilaster Location [PDF, 1.2 MB] | July 6, 2020 | July 6, 2020 |
ES43 Overhead Electrical – Section N – Secondaries and services
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| ES43 N0 – Table of Contents [PDF, 807 KB] | November 2012 | November 2012 |
| ES43 N1 – General [PDF, 1.7 MB] | November 2012 | November 2012 |
| ES43 N2 – Service Connections [PDF, 1.2 MB] | October 2024 | October 2024 |
ES43 Overhead Electrical – Section R
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| ES43 R2-01 – Bonding and Grounding Ground Electrode Installations Ground Rods at Wood Poles and Multiple Ground Rods [PDF, 1.2 MB] | March 2018 | March 2018 |
ES53 Underground Electrical – Section S – Services
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| ES53 S0 – Table of Contents [PDF, 627 KB] | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 |
| ES53 S1 – Secondary Services Single Phase [PDF, 899 KB] | November 17, 2023 | November 17, 2023 |
| ES53 S2 – Secondary Services Three Phase [PDF, 1.7 MB] | March 2011 | March 2011 |
| ES53 S3 – Primary Services [PDF, 175 KB] | October 2024 | October 2024 |
| ES53 S4 – Ornamental street lighting services up to 50A [PDF, 444 KB] | October 2003 | October 2003 |
| Information Bulletin 2023-029 – Limited Release of Single-Phase Secondary 320 A 120/240 V Services with Self-Contained Metering [PDF, 1.5 MB] | November 17, 2023 | November 17, 2023 |
| Information Bulletin 2023-018 – Revised ES53 S1-01 for 120/240 V Single-Phase Secondary Services up to 600 A [PDF, 2.3 MB] | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 |
| Information Bulletin – Equipment and Connection Changes for Secondary Underground Customer Services, 120/240 V up to 600 A, Single-Phase [PDF, 1.8 MB] | July 2017 | July 2017 |
Title: ES54 Section A – Introduction [PDF, 1.6 MB]
Issue date: 2025-05-01
Effective date: 2025-05-01
Title: ES54 B – Pull/Splice, Service, and Junction Boxes [PDF, 2.8 MB]
Issue date: 2025-05-07
Effective date: 2025-05-07
Title: ES54 C – Vaults [PDF, 3.0 MB]
Issue date: 2024-12-20
Effective date: 2024-12-20
Title: ES54 D – Junction Pads [PDF, 325 KB]
Issue date: 2017-09
Effective date: 2017-09
Title: ES54 E – Switchgear Vaults and Pads [PDF, 2.5 MB]
Issue date: 2025-03
Effective date: 2025-03
Title: ES54 F – Transformer Pads and Vaults [PDF, 2.9 MB]
Issue date: 2022-09
Effective date: 2022-09
Title: ES54 G – Drainage Assemblies [PDF, 369 KB]
Issue date: 2016-03
Effective date: 2016-03
Title: ES54 H – Duct [PDF, 2.1 MB]
Issue date: 2023-04
Effective date: 2023-04
Title: ES54 J – Joint Trenching [PDF, 1.2 MB]
Issue date: 2021-09
Effective date: 2021-09
Title: ES54 M – Pilasters, Terminal Poles [PDF, 313 KB]
Issue date: 2016-03
Effective date: 2016-03
Title: ES54 P – Public Safety [PDF, 1.6 MB]
Issue date: 2023-11-17
Effective date: 2023-11-17
Title: ES54 R – Grounding [PDF, 1.4 MB]
Issue date: 2017-09
Effective date: 2017-09
Title: ES54 U – Engineering [PDF, 1.6 MB]
Issue date: 2025-03
Effective date: 2025-03
Title: ES54 W – Construction Specifications [PDF, 524 KB]
Issue date: 2024-05-06
Effective date: 2024-05-06
Title: ES54 Z – Material Catalogue [PDF, 2.5 MB]
Issue date: 2024-11-20
Effective date: 2024-11-20
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Information Bulletin 2025-002 – Revised ES54 Section B Pull and Splice, Service, and Junction Box Standards [PDF, 293 KB] | May 7, 2025 | May 7, 2025 |
| Information Bulletin 2025-032 – Released ES43/53/54/55/65 A1-02 Clarifying Application of CSA Codes, Jurisdictional Boundaries, and Legal Basis for Distribution Standards [PDF, 120 KB] | May 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 |
| Information Bulletin 2025-022 – Revised ES54 S0-05 General Notes Service Ducts and Trenches [PDF, 704 KB] | March 26, 2025 | March 26, 2025 |
| Information Bulletin 2024-013 – Revised ES54 E4-01 and E4-03 Above Ground Switchgear Over-Vault 4-Way and 5-Way [PDF, 131 KB] | March 7, 2025 | March 7, 2025 |
| Information Bulletin 2025-003 – Revised ES54 S0-04 Secondary Services General Notes [PDF, 475 KB] | January 21, 2025 | January 21, 2025 |
| Information Bulletin 2023-029 R2 – Full Release of Single-Phase Secondary 320 A 120/240 V Services with Self-Contained Metering [PDF, 216 KB] | January 21, 2025 | February 3, 2025 |
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Information Bulletin – Release of New and Revised ES54 Section S Medium-Voltage (Primary) Services Standards [PDF, 2.3 MB] | November 25, 2022 | June 30, 2023 |
| Information Bulletin - Revised ES54 S0-02 Services General Notes and Release of ES54 S0-05 Service Ducts and Trenches [PDF, 205 KB] | November 25, 2022 | June 30, 2023 |
| Information Bulletin - Release of ES54 S0-04 and S1 Standards for 120/240 V Single-Phase Secondary Services up to 600 A [PDF, 292 KB] | November 25, 2022 | June 30, 2023 |
| Information Bulletin – Revised ES54 F Transformer Pads and Vaults, and ES54 H Ducts [PDF, 225 KB] | September 7, 2022 | September 7, 2022 |
| Information Bulletin – Revised ES54 U2-02 Bollards [PDF, 125 KB] | March 7, 2022 | March 7, 2022 |
ES55 Design Standards - Section Q - Power Quality Standards - General
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| ES55 Q1-02 – Electromagnetic Compatibility [PDF, 1.7 MB] | January 2015 | January 2015 |
| ES55 Q1-04 – Apparent Power [PDF, 2.1 MB] | February 2017 | February 2017 |
ES55 Design Standards – Section Q - Low-Voltage Customer Emission Limits: Requirements for customer emissions when supplied at 120 V to 600 V
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| ES55 Q3-04 – Rapid Voltage Changes (RVCs) [PDF, 2.4 MB] | December 2016 | December 2016 |
| ES55 Q3-05 – Voltage Flicker [PDF, 2.4 MB] | December 2016 | December 2016 |
| ES55 Q3-07 – Voltage Unbalance [PDF, 2.4 MB] | December 2016 | December 2016 |
ES55 Design Standards - Section Q - Medium-Voltage Customer Emission Limits: Requirements for customer emissions when supplied at 4 kV to 35 kV
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| ES55 Q4-04 – Rapid Voltage Changes (RVCs) [PDF, 2.4 MB] | December 2016 | December 2016 |
| ES55 Q4-05 – Voltage Flicker [PDF, 2.4 MB] | December 2016 | December 2016 |
| ES55 Q4-07 – Voltage Unbalance [PDF, 2.4 MB] | December 2016 | December 2016 |
| ES55 Q4-09 – Current Harmonics [PDF, 2.4 MB] | December 2016 | December 2016 |
Class of Work Specifications
Revenue Metering Requirements
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary Voltage Revenue Metering – 750 V and less [PDF, 1.6 MB] | March 2025 | March 2025 |
| Requirements for Primary Service Revenue Metering – 4kV to 35kV [PDF, 2.0 MB] | July 20, 2022 | July 20, 2022 |
| Complex Revenue Metering [PDF, 1.6 MB] | March 2014 | March 2014 |
Advisory notice: Multiple occupancy metering requirements and resale of electricityThe purpose of the advisory notice [PDF, 94 KB] is to draw the attention of developers and owners of multiple occupancy buildings, and their electrical consultants and contractors to the requirements of BC Hydro's Electric Tariff [PDF, 7.8 MB] in relation to the electricity supply and metering configurations, including for electrical vehicle charging stations, applicable to these buildings. |
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Distribution Generator Interconnections Technical Requirements
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Distribution Generator Interconnection Requirements [PDF, 560 KB] | 2010 | 2010 |
| Distribution Generator Interconnection Requirements Amendment 1 [PDF, 43 KB] | October 15, 2015 | October 15, 2015 |
| Amendment 2 Requirements for terminals supplying ships capable of running in parallel with BC Hydro (CTT Shore Power) [PDF, 407 KB] | October 17, 2017 | October 17, 2017 |
| Distribution Power Generator Islanding Guidelines [PDF, 143 KB] | June 2006 | June 2006 |
| 100 kW and below Distribution Generation Interconnection Requirements [PDF, 599 KB] | October 17, 2014 | October 17, 2014 |
Revenue Metering Bulletins
| Title | Issue date | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Meter Sockets List [PDF, 142 KB] | January 29, 2025 | January 29, 2025 |
| EATON RCPM 200A Combination Meter Socket and Loadcentre [PDF. 154 KB] | October 25, 2021 | October 25, 2021 |