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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 30,000 homes and businesses downtown.

What's new

October 2025

We've recently updated our West End Substation project schedule and we're now working towards starting construction in late 2026, with completion expected in late 2031.

Advancing the start of construction by one year means the community will benefit from a safe, modern substation sooner, while also achieving cost savings that benefit all ratepayers.

We'll continue to work with stakeholders and the community, including sharing more information about construction timelines and plans, well before we start any work.

If you have any questions about this update, please reach out.

What we're doing

We're planning to build a new substation to power the West End 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.

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 30,000 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 up to five years to build the new substation. For about three years, we'll 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 two 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. We also shared our design and asked about public art preferences, and we're incorporating what we heard into our design. You can review our past consultation materials and commitment memos below.

As our plans progress, we'll continue to share them with the community and ask again about possible impacts, and communicate potential mitigation measures. Over the coming months, we expect to share information about:

  • How we'll bring electricity into and out of the substation,
  • How people will be affected by construction and how we might mitigate the effects, and
  • The best ways to keep the community informed.

Well before we start construction, we'll convene a Community Construction Advisory Committee, 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

2025 materials and notifications

From April 28 to May 20, 2025, we're sharing our updated design and asking for feedback on the design of the visible elements of the substation. You can find out information here and complete an online survey to share your input.

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.

Contact us

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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