Panel & Service Upgrades in Richmond

The older half of Richmond, mostly Steveston and Seafair, is where service upgrades come from. Those houses were sized for a different era of appliance, and a heat pump or an EV charger is often the thing that finally uses up the last of the panel. We upgrade services to 200 amps across the island, permit and BC Hydro coordination included, generally $4,000 to $6,000.

Electrical permits in Richmond go through Technical Safety BC rather than the city, even though Richmond issues its own gas permits. We pull the TSBC permit, book the BC Hydro disconnect and reconnect, and close the file once the inspection passes.

What we handle in Richmond

• 100A to 200A service upgrades and panel replacements
• Load calculation to size the service you actually need
• Technical Safety BC permit and inspection handled
• New-build and custom-home services wired from the plans

This is the short version for Richmond. The full rundown — process, pricing, and the technical detail — lives on the panel & service upgrades page.

Common questions in Richmond

How long does a service upgrade take in Richmond?

One day of work in most cases, power off in the morning and back the same afternoon after inspection. The TSBC permit and the BC Hydro booking beforehand add a couple of weeks.

Who issues the electrical permit for a panel upgrade in Richmond?

Technical Safety BC. This catches people out, because Richmond does issue its own gas permits. Electrical is not the same file, and we handle the TSBC side for you.

My Richmond house is newer. Do I still need an upgrade to add load?

Often not. A newer 200-amp service usually has room for a charger or a heat pump, sometimes both. We run the load calculation first, and if the numbers say you are fine we will tell you that rather than sell you a panel.