Are You Waiting for an Electrical Service Upgrade Approval or Installation?

Electrical service upgrades are expensive and have long wait lists. You may not need the upgrade at all.

Electric Service Upgrade Myths

Calculation of a home’s electrical service requirement is often based upon the total possible amperage use—assuming maximum use of base loads, appliances, heat pumps, EV chargers, etc., all at once.

The building code contains workarounds to modify the potential load, or timing of use, of some components.

Myth: EVs require a 240 volt charger

Do you commute less than 65 km. per workday? If so, a level 1 charger may be fine and save 15 amps on your service. If not, a load management device may reduce or eliminate the EV charger in load calculations. 

Myth: Maximum use of base loads, appliances, heat pumps, EV chargers etc. 

The building code contains workarounds to modify the potential load, or timing of use, of some components.

Myth: All electric clothes dryers need 30 amp service. 

Clothes dryer options are available that need only 15 amps

Myth: Electrical load calculations are not related to house envelope design.

Improving house envelope insulation levels will reduce space heating requirements and electrical load requirements.

Myth: My heat pump needs electric baseboard heaters as backup heating.

In the Greater Vancouver area, a cold climate heat pump properly sized for the home’s heat load requirements should not need baseboard backups. The baseboards can be removed to gain panel space. 

Myth: The option to upgrade a 100 amp panel is a 200 Amp panel and a service upgrade.

A 125 Amp panel may handle 100 amp upgrade needs such as EV chargers without a service upgrade.

ARG Energy

Why Choose ARG Energy

ARG Energy provides Energy Advisor services for Greater Vancouver and 
Sunshine Coast building and renovation projects facing electrical 
service upgrade requirements. With BCIT training in electrical load 
reduction strategies, we identify legitimate workarounds to suggest to your electrician.

Clear Communication

Practical Solutions

Comprehensive Analysis

Ongoing Support

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Contact us to discuss how building code workarounds might reduce or eliminate electrical service upgrade requirements for your project.