October 19, 2017 – Saying it will improve safety and make it easier for customers with electrical service connection requirements to do business, BC Hydro and Technical Safety BC (formerly BC Safety Authority) entered into an information-sharing agreement.*

Both organizations will now be able to better verify that the electrical work done at a site is safe before proceeding with the service connections, they say.

BC Hydro will no longer require you to provide copies of your Technical Safety BC permits on the BC Hydro customer portal or by email. If you use the BC Hydro portal, you can now complete your full connection request online without having to attach documents. Simply provide your TSBC or municipal permit number with the date inspection was passed.

Other BC Hydro and TSBC requirements and processes remain unchanged:

• A valid permit must be taken out with Technical Safety BC, or the applicable municipality. Permits with the old BC Safety Authority name are still valid and part of TSBC’s permitting service.

• A BC Hydro Declaration is still be required on BC Hydro’s customer portal or by email.

• Situations where you are required to provide a copy of the TSBC permit onsite remain the same. This includes reconnections issued through BC Hydro’s trouble centre.

TSBC is now informed when the utility issues a service connection-related order to field crews, and pertinent details regarding the connection request are provided. It will review the details and contact BC Hydro to put a hold on the connection request in cases of:

• Non-compliance with the safety act and regulations
• No permit taken out
• An incorrect permit number
• False contact information
• An unlicensed electrical contractor or uncertified field safety representative (FSR)

Technical Safety BC will also determine whether a hold needs to be in place where no service connection declaration (inspection request) has been sent to TSBC.

A service connection declaration to TSBC is required as per Electrical Safety Regulation 17.5(b) and 19.4(b). (A similar declaration is required for some municipalities who issue their own permits and perform service connections.)

BC Hydro requires that all requests for electrical service connections be submitted by a valid FSR or electrical contractor, and that a valid permit has been taken out to perform the work at the site. You also need to submit a BC Hydro Declaration to confirm your compliance with BC Hydro standards and requirements.

For questions related to BC Hydro connection, contact an Express Connect Coordinator at:

DeclarationsandPermits-ESCC@bchydro.com or 877-520-1355.

For any safety-related service connection holds, contact Technical Safety BC at:

contact@technicalsafetybc.ca or 866-566-7233.

* Technical Safety BC says the agreement was endorsed by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.