What a BC Hydro service application actually is
The BC Hydro service application is the workflow that BC Hydro uses to authorize a new electrical service, or a change to an existing service, on a property. It is separate from the electrical permit your contractor pulls with City of Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Coquitlam, or Technical Safety BC. The two work in parallel and have to be coordinated, but they cover different parts of the electrical system.
BC Hydro owns and is responsible for everything from the pole (or vault) to the meter base. The electrical permit authority is responsible for everything from the meter base inward through the customer's panel, branch circuits, devices, and fixtures. The transition point is the line side of your meter base.
If you are doing any work that affects the BC Hydro-owned portion, you need a service application. That includes the most common driver in 2026: upgrading from a 100A service to a 200A service, which usually requires a new mast, new service entrance conductors, and a new meter base. It also includes mast relocations, meter base relocations, conversions from overhead to underground service, single-phase to three-phase conversions, temporary service for new construction, and any new service for a property that did not have one before.
When you need a BC Hydro service application in 2026
Common BC triggers in 2026 that require a service application:
- 100A to 200A residential upgrade. The most common single trigger. Driven by heat pump conversions, EV chargers, induction ranges, secondary suite legalization, and combinations of those.
- Single-phase to three-phase commercial conversion. Restaurant kitchens, light-industrial properties, larger commercial fit-outs, EV DC fast charging.
- Mast or meter base relocation. Renovation projects that change the building envelope on the side where the service drops can require the mast to move.
- Overhead to underground service conversion. Common on character-home renovations and on streetscape rebuilds.
- Service for new construction. Every new house, every new commercial building, every laneway home with its own service needs an application.
- Temporary service for construction sites. Larger commercial sites need temporary service for cranes, hoists, site offices.
- Flood construction level (FCL) remediation. On Richmond and Delta parcels, BC Hydro requires the meter base above the FCL elevation; if it is currently below, a service application is needed to relocate it.
You do not need a service application for: like-for-like replacement of breakers inside the customer panel, branch-circuit additions that do not change the main service capacity, EV charger installs on existing 200A panels with capacity headroom, fixture and device replacements, or anything entirely downstream of the meter.
2026 timeline by job type
The BC Hydro lead time clock starts when the licensed contractor submits the application through the BC Hydro contractor portal, not when the homeowner first calls. Allow one to three business days between accepting the LGD quote and the application being filed. After that:
- Residential 100A to 200A overhead. Four to six weeks from application filing to energization in 2026.
- Residential 100A to 200A underground. Five to eight weeks. Slightly longer because the underground conductor route may need a BC Hydro civil engineer review.
- Residential mast relocation only (no capacity change). Three to five weeks.
- Commercial single-phase 200A upgrade. Five to nine weeks.
- Commercial single-phase to three-phase conversion under 100kVA. Eight to ten weeks.
- Commercial single-phase to three-phase conversion over 100kVA. Ten to twelve weeks, sometimes longer if a transformer pad is needed.
- New residential service for new construction. Six to ten weeks.
- Temporary service for construction. Two to four weeks.
These are 2026 working numbers, not the BC Hydro published service standard. The published standard understates real-world timelines because it does not include the back-and-forth on engineering review.
2026 BC Hydro fees
BC Hydro charges directly to the property owner of record. The fees are not part of the LGD invoice; LGD itemizes them on the quote so there are no surprises but the homeowner pays BC Hydro directly through the BC Hydro online portal once the application is approved.
- Residential 100A to 200A service change (overhead). Approximately $1,200 total in 2026.
- Residential 100A to 200A service change (underground). Approximately $1,400 to $1,800 total in 2026, depending on whether new conductor or new conduit is needed.
- Mast or meter relocation only. $400 to $900 depending on whether new conductors are pulled.
- Commercial single-phase 200A upgrade. $1,800 to $3,200.
- Commercial single-phase to three-phase conversion. $3,500 to $9,500, with $9,500+ being common on conversions that require a new transformer pad.
- New service for new construction (single residential). $1,400 to $2,400 depending on pole-to-house distance.
- Temporary service for construction. $600 to $1,500.
BC Hydro's fees are reviewed every January and can move three to five percent year over year. The numbers above are accurate as of May 2026 working files.
The seven-step BC Hydro process
The full workflow from "I want a 200A panel" to "BC Hydro re-energizes the new service" looks like this:
- Step 1. Contractor scoping. LGD does a site assessment, runs a CEC Section 8 load calculation, confirms the existing service rating, identifies any mast or meter base relocations needed, and issues a written quote that includes BC Hydro fees as a pass-through itemized line.
- Step 2. Application filing. Once the quote is accepted and the deposit is paid, LGD files the BC Hydro service application through the contractor portal. The application includes the customer name and address, the existing service rating, the proposed service rating, the as-built service-entrance configuration, the proposed configuration, photos of the current installation, an FSR declaration, and the LGD contractor license number.
- Step 3. BC Hydro engineering review. A BC Hydro engineer reviews the application. For residential 100A to 200A overhead this is usually a paper review with no site visit. For underground conversions, three-phase conversions, FCL-affected parcels, and anything unusual, a BC Hydro engineer may visit the site. This step takes one to four weeks depending on the queue.
- Step 4. BC Hydro quote to homeowner. Once engineering review approves, BC Hydro issues a quote directly to the homeowner via the BC Hydro online portal. The homeowner accepts and pays the fee through the portal. LGD does not see the fee transaction. This usually happens within one to three business days of the engineering approval.
- Step 5. Scheduling. Once BC Hydro is paid, BC Hydro schedules the disconnect and reconnect windows with the homeowner and the contractor. The disconnect window is typically a four to eight hour daytime appointment. Scheduling usually happens one to three weeks after payment, depending on the season.
- Step 6. Cutover day. On the scheduled day, BC Hydro arrives and disconnects the existing service at the pole. LGD's crew removes the existing mast, conductors, and meter base, installs the new equipment, and waits for BC Hydro to return. The electrical inspector (City of Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Coquitlam, or TSBC) inspects the new equipment before BC Hydro reconnects. Once the electrical inspector signs off, BC Hydro reconnects and energizes. The total cutover day is typically four to eight hours with the customer off-grid.
- Step 7. Documentation handoff. LGD provides the homeowner with the BC Hydro service-change confirmation, the electrical permit final inspection certificate, the load calc documentation, the manufacturer warranty paperwork for the new panel and breakers, and the LGD one-year labour warranty letter.
BC Hydro inspector vs the electrical inspector
The two inspection regimes confuse a lot of first-time homeowners. They are different inspectors with different scope:
- BC Hydro field check. A BC Hydro field representative confirms that the new meter base is mounted correctly, the conductors are sized correctly, the mast clearance is adequate from windows, decks, chimneys, and grade, and the meter base elevation meets any FCL requirement. They do not look inside the panel.
- Electrical permit inspector. The City of Vancouver electrical inspector (or Surrey, Burnaby, Coquitlam, or TSBC inspector depending on jurisdiction) confirms that the new panel meets the Canadian Electrical Code, the load calculation is correct, the grounding and bonding meet CEC Section 10, the AFCI / GFCI requirements are met, and that branch-circuit work downstream of the panel is compliant.
Both have to pass before BC Hydro reconnects. The order is: BC Hydro field check, then electrical inspector, then BC Hydro reconnect. LGD coordinates the timing so both inspectors visit on cutover day and the homeowner is not off-grid overnight.
Common reasons a BC Hydro service application slips
- Incomplete application. Missing photos, missing load calc, missing FSR declaration. BC Hydro returns the application and the clock resets.
- Mast clearance failure. The proposed mast does not meet code clearance from windows, decks, chimneys, or grade. Fix: revise the mast location or change to underground service.
- Meter base under FCL. Common on Richmond and Delta projects. Fix: relocate the meter base to a pedestal above the FCL.
- Access easement issue. BC Hydro cannot get to the pole because of a fence, a new tree, a new outbuilding. Fix: clear the easement, schedule with BC Hydro after.
- Transformer capacity constraint. Rare, but on some older Vancouver blocks the local transformer is at or near rated capacity. BC Hydro may require a transformer upgrade before approving an upgrade, which can add weeks. Fix: BC Hydro tells you up front during the engineering review.
- Heritage or zoning conflict. Some heritage-designated properties cannot have the mast moved without a heritage permit. Coordinate with the building department early.
How LGD handles the BC Hydro side
LGD is registered as a BC Hydro Service Application processor. We file every application through the contractor portal, track each one to engineering approval, sit on hold with BC Hydro when an application stalls, escalate to BC Hydro engineering when the engineer review is past published service standards, and coordinate the cutover day timing with the electrical inspector. The homeowner sees a single point of contact (LGD) instead of trying to manage BC Hydro paperwork as a side project to the actual electrical work.
If you are scoping a Vancouver-area 200A upgrade, see the full 200A panel upgrade cost breakdown for the LGD-side pricing. If you are upgrading to support a heat pump, the heat pump panel upgrade guide covers the CleanBC rebate stacking. If the upgrade is on a strata property, the strata Right to Charge framework covers Form K and section 247.1 of the Strata Property Act.
FAQ
How long does a BC Hydro service application take in 2026?
Four to eight weeks for a residential 100A to 200A service upgrade from application filing to BC Hydro energization in 2026. Eight to twelve weeks for commercial single-phase to three-phase conversions. The clock starts when the electrical contractor files the application through the BC Hydro contractor portal, not when the homeowner first calls LGD.
What does BC Hydro charge for a 200A service upgrade in 2026?
The BC Hydro service-change fee for a residential 100A to 200A upgrade in 2026 is approximately $1,200, paid directly to BC Hydro by the homeowner. This covers the disconnect, the engineering review of the new service, and the reconnect after the new equipment is inspected. Commercial three-phase conversions cost more, typically $3,500 to $9,500 depending on transformer requirements.
Is a BC Hydro service application the same as an electrical permit?
No. They are separate. BC Hydro handles everything from the pole to the meter base. The electrical permit (City of Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Coquitlam, or Technical Safety BC) handles everything from the meter base inward through the customer's panel and branch circuits. Most upgrade jobs need both, and they have to be coordinated.
Who files the BC Hydro service application?
A licensed electrical contractor with BC Hydro contractor portal credentials files the application on the homeowner's or business owner's behalf. The homeowner cannot file directly because BC Hydro requires a Field Safety Representative declaration as part of the application. LGD is registered as a BC Hydro Service Application processor and files every application end-to-end.
Can BC Hydro refuse my service application?
BC Hydro does not refuse residential service applications in the normal sense, but they can require remediation before approval. Common requirements: mast clearance correction, meter base elevation above FCL, access easement issues, and transformer capacity constraints on the local block.
What happens if the BC Hydro inspector fails my service?
BC Hydro will not energize the new service until the field check passes. If the inspector finds an issue (typically mast clearance, grounding electrode placement, or meter base mounting), they leave a written deficiency notice and BC Hydro stays disconnected. The electrical contractor fixes the issue, requests re-inspection, and re-schedules energization.