Electrical Connections Frequently Asked Questions

Always contact BC One Call before digging, to find out which underground services are buried on your work site. Call 1 800 474 6886. Read BC Hydro's 3 Keys of Electrical Safety.
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• If you are requesting electric service connections (up to 200 amps) for single family dwellings, duplexes or mobile homes, see How to apply for a connection for more information.
• If you are requesting electric service connections for multi-residential, commercial or industrial projects, see Multi-dwelling/Commercial Connections for more information.
• If you are requesting electric service connections requiring a large connection loads of 5,000 kW or more, see Industrial Connections for more information.

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For residential connections, the work will usually be completed within 10 business days of BC Hydro receiving and processing all the required paperwork for your service request. However, please note that this may be longer due to unforeseen circumstances such as storms, emergencies, trouble calls, high work volume, etc.
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The BC Hydro crew may not be able to complete your service request if your property does not meet BC Hydro Service Requirements, or if access issues (vehicles in the way, locked gates, etc) or obstructions (scaffolding, etc), prevent them from completing the work. See Causes of Service Rejections for more information.
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While we make every effort to have our line technicians at your work site as promptly as possible, unforeseen circumstances (for example, responding to emergency calls) may cause them to be delayed. We appreciate your patience and understanding, and if necessary call our Electric Service Coordination Centre at 1 877 520 1355.
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See Customer Owned Poles for more information.
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See Standard Charges for more information.
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If BC Hydro comes to your work site to but is unable to perform the service, you will be charged a $194 call-back charge for each occurrence.

Incidents that will incur a call-back charge include:

• BC Hydro requirements are not met
• There are access issues to the property
• Obstructions prevent BC Hydro crews from completing the work

See Causes of Service Rejections for more information.

• If they are BC Hydro wires, and are causing an emergency or a safety issue (for example, the wires are within 10 feet of the ground), contact 1 888 POWERON (1 888 769 3766).
• If they are BC Hydro wires, and are not causing an emergency or a safety threat, contact 1 877 520 1355
• If they are not BC Hydro wires, contact the utility that owns the wires.

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The Declaration form is a legal document and cannot be changed by BC Hydro. If the form is not completed, if information is missing, or if the service details change, BC Hydro will need you to resend the form.
Note: BC Hydro only accepts the most recent version of the declaration forms which can be found on the main page of the Electrical Connections section.
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• If the trees are on private property, it is the property owner's responsibility to trim them. They should contact BC Hydro at 1 877 520 1355 and arrange for the power to be disconnected while the trees are being trimmed.
• If the trees are on public property, contact BC Hydro at 1 877 520 1355 to find out who is responsible for trees in your area.

If the trees are actually touching the wires, this is a safety issue. Call the BC Hydro Emergency Centre at 1 888 POWERON (1 888 769 3766).
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BC Hydro only allows mid-span connections with special permission from our design team. Mid-span connections pull our secondary wires, causing them to eventually sag lower than the minimum required height. This causes the service wires to your property to also sag lower, which can become a safety hazard.
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