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West End Substation

Image overlooking West End Vancouver

The downtown Vancouver electricity system needs upgrades and one key step is building the West End Substation – a new underground substation at the Vancouver School Board's Lord Roberts Annex site. It will replace the Dal Grauer Substation, which is aging and can't be rebuilt where it is, and ensure we can continue to provide clean, reliable power to about 50,000 homes and businesses downtown.

What's new

August 2026

Working with the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Park Board, we've identified a new layout for Bute Street through construction that enables us to retain the three trees on the northwest side of Bute Street, closest to the Nelson Street intersection. This layout will continue to provide space for cyclists as well as construction trailers.

Check the updated tree management plan [PDF, 804 KB].

We've also updated our tree replanting plan [PDF, 991 KB]. During spring 2026 consultation, project materials incorrectly stated that 45 replacement trees would be planted within the Lord Roberts Annex site. The original plan included 45 replacement trees across the Annex site and adjacent areas, including 22 trees within the Annex site itself.

The latest planting plan now includes 29 replacement trees within the Lord Roberts Annex site and 56 replacement trees in total across the Annex site, Nelson Street boulevard and adjacent areas of Nelson Park.

We'll continue working with local authorities and our landscape and tree consultants to review tree removals and plan for replanting.

What we're doing

We're planning to build a new substation to power the downtown Vancouver community. In substations, high-voltage electricity is reduced to a lower voltage for use in your homes and businesses.

The West End Substation will be built at the Vancouver School Board's Lord Roberts Annex property and connected to the existing power system through Nelson Park. Over recent years, we've worked with the Vancouver School Board, City of Vancouver and Vancouver Park Board to obtain the property agreements we need to build and power the new substation.

The new substation will be built to the highest safety standards and will contain state-of-the-art technologies. It's being designed to operate safely, efficiently and to rigorous environmental standards. Like hospitals and fire stations, it is being designed to withstand a very large earthquake – the kind that experts only expect to happen once in every 2,475 years.

Once the West End Substation is operating, it will work quietly and all you'll see are the vents, a small entrance structure, and our employees visiting from time to time.

Renderings 2026

West End Substation - cut away view
Aerial rendering of a school campus with a playground, sports field, outdoor gathering areas and trees.
The rendering shows the school concept as submitted for Development Permit to the City of Vancouver and updated to show the full landscape design after several years of tree growth upon the completion of the school. This rendering is subject to change as the project evolves and Provincial funding is confirmed.
West End Substation - from Nelson Street view
West End Substation - vent view

Why we're doing it

Our electricity system in downtown Vancouver is aging and needs upgrades to ensure our customers continue to have reliable power.

The new substation will replace the Dal Grauer Substation on Burrard Street, which was energized in 1953. Since then, the West End community has grown and its energy needs have changed. About 50,000 homes and businesses in the area are currently served by the Dal Grauer Substation, but this substation is nearing end-of-life, doesn't meet current seismic standards, and can't be rebuilt where it is.

Over recent years we've explored locations for a new substation downtown. Building the new West End Substation underground on public property means our property acquisition funds are being reinvested locally in new schools and park improvements.

Our alternative approach would be to build an above-ground substation that would occupy almost half a city block. In the West End, where most land is being used for housing, our approach protects the limited housing stock.

Where we'll be working

Map of details involving the West End Substation Project

The West End Substation will be built at the Vancouver School Board's Lord Roberts Annex property and connected to the existing power system with underground lines through Nelson Park.

We won't be working in the dog park, and don't expect to need to ask the Vancouver Park Board to close the dog park at any time.

Timeline

We expect to start construction no earlier than late 2026.

Between now and start of construction, we'll:

  • Refine the substation design,
  • Have our project reviewed by the B.C. Utilities Commission, and
  • Continue working with the community and stakeholders to understand their interests and how we might mitigate the impacts of construction.

Once we start construction, we expect it will take about three years to excavate the site and build the structure up to ground level, including the roof. This is a similar approach to building condo foundations and parking structures. Over the following years, we'll install the substation equipment underground, which will be less visible work.

We'll also need to connect the substation to the existing electrical system downtown with new underground powerlines. To do that, we'll dig two trenches through Nelson Park, install cables, and refill the trenches. This should take no longer than three months, and will be completed during the winter when the farmers market has closed for the season and the park is less busy.

Consultation

We know that the construction of a substation in the West End will have temporary impacts on those who live, work, play and learn in the community and we're committed to sharing information about our plans and exploring practicable impact mitigations.

During previous rounds of consultation, we heard the community's interests and concerns and made commitments about how we might mitigate those impacts.. You can review our past consultation materials and commitment memos below.

A Community Construction Advisory Committee has been convened, made up of representatives from the local neighbourhood. This group will meet regularly through to the end of construction to share community input and hear in-depth information about the project.

To stay informed about our plans for the West End Substation, subscribe for project updates.

Consultation materials and community notifications

2020 materials and notifications

In 2019, the Vancouver Park Board completed an impact assessment study and engagement on our request for rights-of-way in Nelson Park. Read about the Vancouver Parks Board’s process and our response memo below.

Project reports and documents

Stantec preliminary technical, environmental and socio-economic report

Stantec is an internationally-recognized, independent consulting firm. In 2017, it completed a preliminary study on our proposal for new underground substations in downtown Vancouver. The independent study considered two locations: the Lord Roberts Annex property and Emery Barnes Park.

We have since decided to proceed with the West End Substation project. Emery Barnes Park is not part of this project or a property BC Hydro is currently pursuing. The information in the study about the Lord Roberts Annex site is still applicable.

Get in touch

If you'd like to learn more about the project, please contact us at:

Email: westendsub@bchydro.com
Phone: 604 341 1304
 

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