Underground residential development program
Program update
September 2024 – We've updated the eligibility criteria for our underground residential development program, formerly known as the customer build program. See the updated criteria below.
Underground electrical service for subdivision and townhome construction
The underground residential development (URD) program supports developers with the design and construction of underground electrical infrastructure for new developments of fee-simple, strata, public-road access or First Nations reserve residential subdivisions and townhomes.
The program, formerly known as the customer build program, has been available on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland since 2012.
The offer
Get access to select, certified professional electrical engineering firms. These engineering service providers deliver underground electrical infrastructure design, along with project and construction management services, that align with our construction standards and design requirements.
Program benefits
You can benefit from the streamlined involvement and output from the electrical engineering service provider. This allows your project to progress with self-driven design and construction schedules, which may improve efficiency in project delivery and cost effectiveness.
How it works
- You select and contract directly with one of the program's engineering service providers to get underground electrical infrastructure design for your project.
- Designs are reviewed and accepted by us at all stages of construction to ensure they adhere to BC Hydro civil and electrical standards and BC Hydro design best practices.
- Projects are implemented with engineering service providers, power line contractors, and materials that are all pre-qualified by BC Hydro to meet our safety procedures. Developers may continue to use registered civil contractors to install civil infrastructure.
- All work is completed under the supervision and seal of a professional engineer registered with Engineers and Geoscientists BC.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this program, the project must meet all the following criteria:
- Be a new residential development serviced from underground BC Hydro infrastructure.
- Be a new, fee-simple, strata, public-road access or First Nations reserve residential subdivision or townhome development.
- Have a minimum of four lots or townhouses. This includes stacked townhouses with one unit stacked above another, each with its own exterior entrance and no shared internal corridors.
- Receive electrical service at secondary voltage with at least four meters, including at least one new BC Hydro underground transformer.
Examples of eligible developments:
- A new, fee-simple 15-lot subdivision with underground electrical infrastructure.
- A new 20-unit townhouse or row home development.
The program is limited to communities on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, including the following municipalities and areas:
- All Vancouver Island
- Lower Mainland
- Vancouver
- Burnaby
- North Shore (North Vancouver, West Vancouver)
- All communities north of West Vancouver including Horseshoe Bay, Lions Bay, Squamish, Furry Creek, Whistler and Pemberton
- Sunshine Coast, including Sechelt and Powell River
- Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody)
- Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge
- Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and points east (Agassiz, Harrison, Hope) to Boston Bar
- Langley, Surrey, Richmond, Delta, and White Rock
Here are some examples of developments that are not eligible for this program.
- Properties zoned for multiplex developments.
- Mixed-use (residential and commercial) developments.
- Multiple-storey residential buildings, such as condo and apartment buildings.
- Residential towers.
- Developments outside the Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland communities listed above.
Resources
The following external organizations are certified to provide services as part of our underground residential development program.
DMD & Associates Electrical Consultants Ltd.
MCW Consultants Ltd.
12 - 17358 104A Avenue
Surrey, B.C., V4N 5M3
David Son, 604 589 9010
1400 - 1111 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, B.C., V6E 4M3
Harman Malhi, 778 327 5278
Primary Engineering and Construction Corp.
207 – 39 Ave NE
Calgary, AB, T2E 7E3
Geoff Costin, 250 415 5200RAM Engineering Ltd.
700-409 Granville Street
Vancouver, B.C., V6C IT2
403 966 2633
Kiyomi Le, P.Eng., PMP
Site Power Engineering Ltd.
107 - 7162 West Saanich Rd.
Brentwood Bay, B.C., V8M 1P6
Trevor Stemo, 587 439 1447
Have questions?
If you have questions about the underground residential development program, email our team.