Local government information and support
Guidance for your community and ways to partner with us
We understand today’s municipalities face unique challenges. Our changing climate, growing populations and increasing policy changes combined with the need to transition to clean energy sources and build more sustainable communities, mean we have to work together to adapt, and evolve.
To answer your most pressing questions, we’ve gathered a collection of our most important resources for local government representatives. Check out our report, Ready when you are [PDF, 1.1 MB], to find out how we’re ensuring British Columbians will have the power they need, when they need it.
Explore the topics below to find out how we’re powering the province’s energy future, discover funding and programs available to local governments, learn how we can support your community in the transition to electrification, and more.
BC Hydro and local government collaborations
Explore our partnerships and collaborations with local governments.
- Case study: Connecting early for electrical infrastructure in Saanich and Victoria
- Case study: Balancing urban trees and power lines
- Case study: Using mapping tools to support shared capital planning
- Case study: Digging up the road once, in Surrey and beyond
- Case study: Lessons from missing-middle housing in Vancouver
Electrical connections in your community
Learn about our process for initiating, installing or modifying customer connections and how we’re working to make it more efficient.
- Electrical connections process
- Request an electrical connection (log in required)
- Electricity rates
- Distribution Extension Policy update
- Small-scale, multi-unit housing guide
- Let’s connect early: Making space for electrical infrastructure in Saanich and Victoria [PDF, 788 KB]
- BC Hydro’s guide to utility clearance requirements [PDF, 684 KB]
- FAQs for local governments
Planning for our energy future
Discover the components of a system-wide strategy that’s helping us meet the increasing demand for power across B.C.
- Powering B.C.’s potential
- Our 2025 integrated resource plan
- 2025 Call for power
- FAQs for local governments
Expanding our infrastructure
Read about our current and ongoing investments and how we’re ensuring communities get the electricity they need.
Electric vehicle support and infrastructure
Discover our growing public EV charger network, and how we can provide public charging technology in your municipality.
- Our EV fast charging network
- How to become an EV charging site host
- EV fleet infrastructure funding
- EV resources for industry and municipalities
- EV charger rebates for multi-unit residential buildings
Adapting for B.C.’s changing climate
Find out how we’re addressing the impacts of climate change on the electrical system and discover ways to prepare residents for outages.
- Climate change: How BC Hydro is adapting [PDF, 2.9 MB]
- Outages and safety
- Plan ahead for evacuations
- FAQs for local governments
Our services, programs and guidelines
Get information on our guidelines and programs for new builds and improvement projects in your community.
- Decorative wraps for our equipment
- Community regreening program
- Rights of Way guidelines
- Street lighting services
- Planting near power lines [PDF, 4.6 MB]
- Report graffiti on our equipment
Partnering on energy management policy, codes and standards
We collaborate with local governments, Indigenous communities and professional associations to advance energy efficiency and cut greenhouse emissions.
Rebates, incentives and support for energy efficient and electrified communities
We designed our programs and funding to make energy efficient and low-carbon solutions more accessible for residents, businesses and municipalities.
- Residential products and programs: Incentive programs, product offers and educational energy efficiency tips to support residents in your community.
- Rebates for home renovations: Offers that make home upgrades such as heat pumps, insulation and new windows more affordable.
- Business programs and incentives: Energy management incentives for industrial and commercial businesses as well as local governments.
- Self-generating electricity for industry: The funding and strategies available for facilities to generate their own power.
Tell us about your community energy needs
The more we know about your community’s unique energy requirements, the better we can plan and prepare to meet them. If you’d like to share details about anticipated changes in power demands, including your plans for electrification, please send the information to localgov@bchydro.com and one of our community engagement specialists will get back to you shortly.