FAQs
FAQs
Quick Answers to
Common Questions
Understanding your building’s electrical capacity and future needs is essential as EV adoption and electrification accelerate across British Columbia. This FAQ section provides clear, straightforward answers to the most common questions stratas have about Electrical Planning Reports, EV-Ready Plans, regulatory requirements, timelines, and upgrade considerations. Whether you’re starting from scratch or preparing for project implementation, these explanations will help your council make informed, confident decisions.
001
What is an Electrical Planning Report?
An Electrical Planning Report is a detailed assessment of a building’s electrical system. It reviews existing capacity, load conditions, and long-term demand forecasting. EPRs help stratas understand whether their electrical infrastructure can support EV charging, heat pumps, and future upgrades.
002
Is an Electrical Planning Report mandatory in BC?
Yes. The Province of British Columbia requires all strata corporations with five or more units to complete an EPR by the regional deadlines set out in the Strata Housing Regulations.
003
What are the EPR deadlines for strata buildings?
Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, and Capital Regional District: December 31, 2026. All other regions in BC: December 31, 2028.
004
What happens if our strata misses the EPR deadline?
Buildings that do not complete the EPR may face compliance issues. More importantly, they risk capacity problems, delayed EV charger installations, and unexpected electrical upgrade costs when permits or approvals are required.
005
Who is qualified to complete an EPR?
EPRs must be completed by qualified professionals with electrical expertise. All engineering work for this service is performed by Arbutus West Agency Ltd. or other registered engineering firms.
006
What is an EV-Ready Plan?
An EV-Ready Plan outlines the infrastructure required to make all parking stalls ready for Level 2 EV charging. It includes conduit routing, wiring requirements, load management strategies, equipment recommendations, and rebate eligibility.
007
Do we need both an EPR and an EV-Ready Plan?
Yes, in most cases. The EPR addresses compliance and electrical capacity. The EV-Ready Plan focuses on charger infrastructure design. Together they provide a full roadmap for EV charging implementation.
008
Can we install chargers before completing an EPR?
It is not recommended. Many buildings do not know their available capacity and may risk overloading circuits or creating unfair access if chargers are installed without planning.
009
Does our building have enough capacity for EV chargers?
Capacity varies by building. The EPR measures the building’s actual available load and determines whether upgrades, load management, or transformer work may be required.
010
What if our building’s transformer or main service is undersized?
If capacity is limited, solutions may include load management systems, staged infrastructure upgrades, panel expansions, or eventually transformer replacement. The EPR identifies the most efficient path.
011
What is load management?
Load management technology distributes available electrical capacity across multiple chargers. It allows more EV stalls to operate without immediately upgrading the entire electrical system.
012
How much does an Electrical Planning Report cost?
Most EPRs range from $5,000 to $12,000 depending on building size, complexity, and number of panels and electrical rooms.
013
How much does an EV-Ready Plan cost?
EV-Ready Plans typically range from $3,000 to $8,000. Larger underground parkades or complex wiring pathways may require additional design work.
014
What are typical infrastructure upgrade costs?
Preparing all parking stalls for Level 2 charging generally costs between $1,000 and $4,000 per stall depending on building layout, conduit distances, and panel capacity.
015
Are rebates available for EV-ready work?
Yes. BC Hydro, CleanBC, and municipal programs may offer rebates for EV-ready design and infrastructure work. FPS identifies applicable rebates during the planning process.
016
How long does the EPR and EV-Ready Plan process take?
Most projects are completed in four to eight weeks depending on building size, access, and data collection requirements.
017
What information does the strata need to provide?
Electrical room access, panel schedules, strata plans, unit count, parking layout, and any existing electrical documentation. FPS confirms all required items during project intake.
018
Will residents experience disruptions during the assessment?
No. The on-site electrical assessment is non-intrusive and does not require power outages. Access is limited to electrical rooms, service areas, and parkade spaces.
019
What happens after we receive the reports?
FPS reviews the findings with your strata council and provides a clear roadmap for future upgrades, budgeting, rebate opportunities, and next steps for implementation.
020
Can upgrades be completed in
phases?
Yes. Most buildings benefit from a staged approach. FPS provides a phased roadmap to help stratas plan upgrades over multiple years and align with available funding.
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