Your electrical service is the foundation of your home’s electrical system. As electrical demands increase with EV chargers, heat pumps, air conditioning, hot tubs, suites, renovations and other major loads, an older or undersized service may no longer provide the capacity you need.

​

Coastal Valley Electric Inc. provides complete electrical service and panel upgrades, including upgrades from older 60A or 100A services to 200A or larger services where required.

​

Electrical Service Assessments

Before recommending a service upgrade, we assess the existing electrical system and the loads being added. A larger service is not always necessary. Depending on the installation, load management or an EV Energy Management System (EVEMS) may allow additional electrical equipment to be installed without increasing the size of the electrical service.

When an upgrade is required, we can coordinate the electrical work with BC Hydro and the applicable electrical safety authority.

​

Service Upgrade Work

Service and panel upgrades may include:

• Upgrading 60A or 100A services to 200A or larger
• Main electrical panel replacement
• Increasing electrical service capacity
• Meter base and service equipment replacement
• New service entrance conductors
• Grounding and bonding upgrades
• Replacement of outdated or damaged electrical equipment
• Additional panel capacity, subpanels and distribution upgrades
• Load calculations for new electrical equipment

​

Overhead & Underground Electrical Services

For overhead services, upgrades may involve the service mast, weatherhead, service conductors, meter base, main panel, grounding and bonding, along with coordination with BC Hydro.

Underground service upgrades can require additional planning depending on the existing conduit, service conductors, meter location and available BC Hydro infrastructure. We assess the existing installation and coordinate the electrical portion of the upgrade.

​

Do You Actually Need a 200A Service?

Not every home adding an EV charger, heat pump or other large electrical load automatically requires a 200A service. We can perform a load assessment and determine whether the existing service has sufficient capacity or whether load management, EVEMS or a service upgrade is the appropriate solution.

​

Temporary Power During Service Upgrades

When practical, Coastal Valley Electric Inc. can provide temporary power for selected essential loads while an electrical service or panel upgrade is being completed.

Depending on the project, temporary power may be supplied using a portable generator or compatible portable power station to help keep essential equipment operating during the shutdown.

Temporary power arrangements are assessed on a project-by-project basis based on required loads, equipment compatibility, site conditions and the expected duration of the shutdown.