Electrical Service Upgrade

Professional electrical service upgrades to power your modern home

What is an Electrical Service Upgrade?

An electrical service upgrade refers to increasing the capacity of the electrical supply to a home or building—typically to accommodate new, higher-demand equipment such as electric vehicle chargers, heat pumps, hot tubs, or addition of living units. This often involves raising the service panel’s amperage from older standards (like 60 A or 100 A) to modern levels (commonly 200 A).

You may need an upgrade when:

Your home still uses a fuse box, or trips breakers frequently
You've installed or plan to install high-demand appliances (EV charger, heat pump, hot tub)
Your panel is full, lacking space to add new circuits
You're adding a secondary suite requiring separate metering

How BC Hydro Handles Service Upgrades

1. File a Connection Request via MyHydro

Use BC Hydro’s MyHydro platform to submit a connection request—either as an Express Connection (simple upgrades, ≤ 400 A, standard voltage) or a Design Connection (larger or complex scenarios).

2. Determine Feasible Upgrade Options

BC Hydro assesses whether you have primary service (4 kV, 12 kV, or 25 kV) that must be upgraded to secondary voltage (600 V or less). Options include:

Minor modifications to existing equipment
Installing a BC Hydro-owned step-down transformer
Replacing the primary service equipment entirely

BC Hydro typically covers the cost of the most economical solution.

Residential Panel Upgrade Process (Under 600V)

When you need to increase your panel capacity to 200 A (common for modern homes):

Electrician performs site inspection and applies for municipal electrical permit

Once issued, you submit the upgrade request to BC Hydro

BC Hydro schedules a disconnect/reconnect for service

Electrician installs the new panel and meter base

City inspection follows; after approval, BC Hydro re-energizes your service

Typical Cost: Expect approximately $4,000 for residential upgrades in Vancouver, covering labor, materials, permits, and BC Hydro’s portion.

Upgrading your electrical service ensures your home or building remains safe, compliant, and ready for modern energy needs—like EV charging or heat pump installation. If you’d like help drafting an installation or service checklist for customers planning upgrades, feel free to ask!

An EV charger (electric vehicle charger) is a device that supplies power to recharge the battery of an electric vehicle (EV). While EVs can technically plug into a standard wall outlet, dedicated EV chargers provide faster, safer, and more efficient charging.

Why Choose Skyra Heating & Cooling?

Licensed & Certified

Our electricians are fully licensed and experienced in BC Electrical Code compliance

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