Customer build program

Underground electrical service for residential construction

The customer build program supports developers and other professionals in the design and construction of underground electrical infrastructure, primarily for residential developments on public and private properties.

The program has been available on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland since 2012.

The offer

Through this program, you get access to select, BC Hydro-certified professional electrical engineering firms. These engineering service providers deliver underground electrical infrastructure design, along with project and construction management services, that are in accordance with BC Hydro engineering construction standards and design practice requirements.

We strongly encourage developers to participate in this program. By participating, you'll benefit from the streamlined involvement and output from the electrical engineering service provider, which helps your project progress more efficiently, and therefore more cost effectively.

How it works

1. You select and contract directly with one of the program's engineering service providers to get underground electrical infrastructure design for your project.
2. Designs are reviewed and accepted by us, both prior to construction and prior to energization, to ensure they adhere to BC Hydro civil and electrical standards and BC Hydro design practices.
3. Projects are implemented using approved BC Hydro materials, and electrical installations meet BC Hydro safety procedures. Developers may continue to use their civil contractors to install civil infrastructure.
4. All work is completed under the supervision and seal of an Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. Professional Engineer.

If you choose not to participate in this program and instead work directly with BC Hydro distribution design, you'll be charged a non-refundable design advance before work starts on the design and estimate.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this program, the project must:

• Be a new residential development proposing to be fed from underground BC Hydro infrastructure.
• Contain a minimum of six units or lots that aren't "stacked" on top of each other (e.g. a three-level townhouse/row home is eligible, but a three-level condominium with separately owned units on each floor would not be eligible).
• Have primarily residential electrical infrastructure, but may include other types of construction "embedded" in the development, such as some commercial loads.
• Be single-family dwelling types such as detached homes, townhouses, row homes, duplexes and triplexes.
• Be a fee-owned or strata development.
• Receive service at secondary voltage from BC Hydro underground transformers.

Examples of eligible developments:

• A new, fee-simple 15-lot subdivision with underground electrical infrastructure.
• A new 20-unit townhouse or row home development.

Resources

Have questions?

If you have questions about the customer build program, email our team.