Separate Panel Space, Rating and Supply Capacity

Define the terms

Ask proposals to identify panelboard work, service equipment, meter or base, service conductors and utility-owned components.

Record labels safely

Use existing photos and safely visible labels only. Do not remove covers or infer capacity from breaker handles.

Separate spaces from capacity

Open spaces do not prove load capacity; a full panel does not alone prove a service upgrade is required.

Map service components

Document known overhead or underground supply, meter location, main equipment and route constraints for assessment.

Keep utility scope distinct

Ask which steps depend on BC Hydro design, scheduling, customer work or outage coordination.

Require an assessment output

Request the load basis, observed limitations, options considered, assumptions, approvals and future-project allowance.

Draw the ownership boundary

Create a one-line project sketch from utility supply through meter, service equipment, panelboards and planned loads. Label customer, building or strata and BC Hydro interfaces as questions until the current project process assigns them.

• Distinguish equipment from conductors
• Show overhead or underground evidence
• Mark inaccessible information unknown

Compare options against one calculation

Require panel replacement, subpanel, load management and service-upgrade proposals to cite the same load inventory, calculation basis and existing-service evidence. Record which constraint each option addresses and which future loads would require reassessment.

• Do not infer capacity from spare spaces
• Keep calculation revisions
• State future-load assumptions

Sequence outage and restoration

Map applications, customer prerequisites, permits, inspections, utility scheduling, shutdown, meter work, labelling and restoration. Identify occupied-building and critical-load arrangements without promising outage timing before the responsible parties confirm it.

• Assign outage communication
• Protect refrigeration and life-safety needs
• Retain inspection closeout

Complete the system-boundary decision sheet

Draw the verified path from BC Hydro supply through meter, service equipment, panelboards and planned loads, then identify customer, utility, City or building and strata responsibilities. Attach the accepted load calculation and safe service evidence. For every considered option, state the exact constraint addressed, equipment affected, future-load assumptions, application and outage dependencies, restoration and conditions requiring reassessment. Preserve rejected alternatives and unresolved supply questions. This sheet documents the reason for the selected path without treating panel spaces, breaker handles, a familiar ampere rating or a utility estimate as a standalone capacity conclusion.

• Reference calculation revision
• Label ownership boundaries
• Record utility prerequisites
• Name future-load triggers
• Keep outage assumptions conditional