Service Upgrades

Service Upgrades and Load Centres

1. Place protective cloth or paper in areas where work is to be performed.

2. Discuss power requirement needs.

• Is only a new panel required,

• Do you have any future load requirements?

• Will a new meter base be required,

• Are the service wires coming into the meter base from hydro in a pipe inside the wall? (To meet today?s code a new pipe will be required to be placed on the outside wall of the house.)

• Where is the existing meter base located? Meter bases today are required to be located within 1 meter of the front corner of the house

• Does the existing grounding / bonding meet today?s code,

• All of theses item will be required by code to be upgraded usually when a panel needs to be changed unless there is a main disconnect switch separate from the panel.

3. Select appropriate size, type and style of service.

4. Coordinate upgrade or change out with the local power authority (BC Hydro).

5. Install new service as per the Canadian Electrical Code.

6. Inspect and test new service to verify proper operation

7. Label and identify new panel.

8. Coordinate city / provincial inspection.

9. Discuss operation of new service or panel.

10. Leave work area cleaner than we arrived.