Electrical Planning Report (strata)

Electrical Planning Report for Strata Properties

A clear Electrical Planning Report for EV charging and electrification readiness (heat pumps, electric hot water, amenities). Designed to support consistent, well-documented strata council decisions.

Request scope and fee See what’s included

Serving Greater Victoria, Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland (remote assessments available).

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For councils

Clear capacity findings and practical options, written for strata councils and managers.

  • Plain language: clear summaries and assumptions.
  • Aligned with BC guidance: structured to meet provincial Electrical Planning Report requirements.
  • Future-ready: EVs plus other electrical upgrades.

Context

Why strata corporations need an Electrical Planning Report

In British Columbia, strata corporations are now expected to obtain an Electrical Planning Report as part of the province’s EV and electrification readiness requirements. The report helps ensure shared electrical systems are understood and that future upgrades are planned in a consistent, defensible way.

Many strata corporations are completing this work ahead of the required deadline so there is time to plan, budget, and respond to owner requests without being forced into rushed decisions later.

  • Provincial requirement: the Electrical Planning Report is part of BC’s government guidance for strata EV and electrification readiness.
  • Defined deadline: strata corporations are expected to have a completed report on file by the required compliance date.
  • Owner requests are increasing: EV chargers, heat pumps, electric hot water, and other new loads put pressure on shared systems.
  • Capacity is often unclear: services, feeders, and panels may not have room for incremental approvals.
  • Consistency matters: a documented plan helps avoid one-off approvals that create future problems.
  • Permanent record: the report stays in strata records for future councils, owners, and purchasers.

Scope

What the Electrical Planning Report includes

A building-wide summary of the existing electrical system, a planning-level capacity review, and options for EV charging and electrification readiness.

Existing system summary

Service size, distribution, and metering summarized at a planning level.

Available capacity

How much room is left today, with assumptions stated clearly.

Future demand

EV charging plus other new loads compared in simple scenarios.

EV charging options

Individual, shared, and load-managed approaches—what each means for the building.

Limits and next steps

Key limits (electrical and physical) and a staged path forward.

Rough cost ranges

Budget-level ranges (not construction pricing).

Process

How the process works

Collect what’s available, confirm what matters, then deliver a report a council can use.

  1. Intake: confirm goals and gather available documents.
  2. Records review: drawings, schedules, and prior studies (if any).
  3. Site check (if needed): confirm service and key distribution details.
  4. Draft report: share a draft to confirm facts and fill gaps.
  5. Final report: issue the report with a short follow-up period for questions.

Coordination is done through the strata’s designated contact (often the strata manager or a council representative). A brief council walkthrough can be included if helpful.

Outcomes

What strata councils get out of the report

A clear record of current capacity and practical options, written to support consistent council decisions over time.

  • Clear summaries for non-technical readers.
  • Assumptions and limits documented for future reference.
  • Comparable options for EVs and other electrical upgrades.
  • A staged plan that supports budgeting.

Pricing guidance

Budgeting for an Electrical Planning Report

Fees depend on building size, metering complexity, parkade layout, and how complete the existing records are. A scoped outline and fee range is provided after intake.

What affects cost

Building size, metering complexity, record quality, and site time required.

Typical deliverable

A report covering the existing system, available capacity, future scenarios, options, limits, and next steps.

Limitations

What the report does (and does not) do

This is a planning report. It supports direction-setting and budgeting. Detailed design, permits, and construction pricing are usually separate steps.

  • Planning-level: supports council decisions; not a construction plan.
  • No approvals implied: does not approve chargers or guarantee utility acceptance.
  • No vendor selection: options are presented without picking products or brands.
  • More steps may follow: engineering, permits, and working with the utility (if needed).
  • Based on available inputs: conclusions reflect documents and site conditions at the time.

FAQ

Common questions from strata councils

Does this meet BC requirements for an Electrical Planning Report?

Yes. The report is structured to match provincial Electrical Planning Report guidance (system overview, capacity review, future scenarios, EV charging approaches, limits, phasing, and budgeting-level cost ranges). If the strata has added requirements (legal, insurer, utility), those can be included during intake.

Are strata corporations required to have this report?

Provincial requirements expect strata corporations to obtain an Electrical Planning Report. Many stratas complete it early so there’s time to plan upgrades and respond to owner requests.

What does “permanent record” mean?

The report becomes part of the strata’s records and may be referenced for years by future councils, owners, and prospective purchasers. In some cases it may need to be disclosed if requested during a sale (for example, through Form B information requests).

Can a single EV charger be approved without a building-wide plan?

Sometimes. The risk is that repeated one-off approvals can overload shared equipment or create inequity. The report helps set clear conditions so approvals stay consistent.

Does the report approve or deny EV charging?

No. It provides capacity findings, limits, and options so the strata council can make informed decisions.

Is this the same as an engineer’s design or permit drawings?

No. This is planning and decision support. Detailed design, permits, and construction are separate steps.

What types of buildings can be assessed?

Reports are prepared for strata properties within the qualifications and licensing held for this service. If a building is outside that scope, parts of the work may require an engineer or other qualified professional.

What information is needed to complete the report?

Any available drawings, panel schedules, photos of service equipment, and any prior EV policies or studies. If records are limited, a site check can fill gaps.

How long does it take?

Often a few weeks, depending on document availability and whether the report is needed for a specific council meeting.

What if there is little or no spare capacity?

The report outlines realistic next steps, including staged upgrades and load-management concepts, so the strata can plan safely and avoid surprises.

Next steps

Request scope and fee

Share a few basics and any available electrical documents. A scoped outline and fee range will be provided based on the information available.

For EV charging installation services, see EV Charging. For general inquiries, see Contact.

Start here

Use the contact form to request scope and fee.

Request scope and fee

Documents can also be sent to [email protected].

What to include

  • Strata property name and address
  • Approx. number of units and parking stalls
  • Metering type (if known)
  • Available drawings, schedules, or prior studies
  • Current EV requests and electrification priorities