Why should I get an Electrical Planning Report?

Introduction:

Electrical Planning Reports provide an in-depth analysis of a building's electrical infrastructure capacity, equipping the strata with crucial knowledge. Understanding their current electrical load allows them to better manage and plan for the future. They prepare strata for upcoming changes associated with sustainability efforts.

As our cities progress towards a greener future, understanding a building's energy needs becomes increasingly important. The EPR serves as a strategic plan for the future, outlining various options for next steps.

What is an Electrical Planning Report?

In simple terms, for strata’s, the report examines your electrical system. It informs you about your building's electrical condition and potential future actions. An Electrical Planning Report dives into your building's electrical setup. It outlines what you currently have and what the options are for the future. For instance, if your building uses gas heating, the report may assess these units and provide an estimate on their lifespan. It may also estimate when they will need replacement and the associated costs. This report is not about enforcing actions, but rather providing you with a roadmap to navigate potential future changes.

More specifically, the Electrical Planning Report (EPR) will detail the current capacity of the electrical system, list existing electrical loads, provide estimates of maximum electrical demand and available capacity. It will also forecast the capacity required for future expansions, such as electric vehicle charging, and provide recommendations on managing electrical demand.

Why do we need this?

This is required because of the Clean BC Roadmap for a green future. After 2030 we won’t be able to buy gas equipment such as - gas space heaters, gas water heaters or gas powered cars.

The Electrical Planning Report outlines all the information about your buildings current electrical system and gives you advice. The report isn’t telling you what to do. It’s a tool in your toolbox to help you plan for the future. The report isn’t just trying to find problems. It gives you handy advice on how to reduce or increase electrical capacity to meet your buildings needs. It’s valuable information to give you the power to make decisions for your building moving forward.

The Report Focuses On:

The report delves into your building's energy habits. It focuses on evaluating the efficiency of your heating system, optimizing your cooling setup, and addressing the emerging demand for EV charging.

What it isn't:

The report is not a quote telling you to spend money. It’s more of a guide for your building's electrical system highlighting what to look out for. The report also gives suggestions on potential improvements. While it does include information on EV charging, it is not an EV Ready Plan.

Benefits:

There are many benefits to the report. This is valuable information for current and future residents. It will help strengthen the decision making of the strata council, potentially helping to save money on building upgrades. Implementing the advice could also increase the buildings value. Most importantly the report will help mitigate any potential problems that may arise in the future.

Isn’t this the same as an EV Ready Plan?

Not exactly, the purpose of the reports are different. An Electrical Planning Report provides an overview of the building's electrical system to help strata’s plan for the future. The strata is required by law to obtain the report. An EV Ready Plan focuses on electric vehicle charging only and includes a budget/quote to proceed with a defined project. The EV Ready Plan is not required by law. It exists for the purpose of applying for rebates to install EV charging infrastructure.

What’s in the Report?

A large portion of the report covers the Current Capacity of the strata’s electrical system. It also includes the Existing Demands on the system such as heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, elevators, mechanical equipment, appliances and EV Charging infrastructure (if any). The report also reviews the current peak demand and space capacity of the electrical system. Peak Demand refers to the time or day when electricity usage is at its highest, such as when everyone returns home from work. It represents the period of maximum demand on the electrical system.

Estimates & Advice

The Electrical Planning Report provides an estimate of the additional electricity required if you convert all your gas-operated equipment to electric. For instance, if you start heating water using electricity instead of gas. It includes suggestions on how the strata can reduce electric demand, for example, by using LED lights. The report also calculates the amount of electricity you would save by implementing these measures.

When is the Deadline?

The deadline to obtain the Electrical Planning Report is December 31st, 2026. The government is prioritizing this, and there are consequences for failing to meet the deadline. It's important to note that the strata cannot vote to avoid or defer the plan. The silver lining is that this report only needs to be completed once.

How much does an Electrical Planning Report cost?

Originally the EPR report costed under $4,000. However, I've spoken to a few people recently who have informed me that the report now has to be created by an electrical engineer and the price has risen to closer to $10,000. As more buildings start requesting these reports the price will increase. Size of the building also influences the price of the EPR. Payment for the EPR can be paid from either the Operating Fund or the Contingency Reserve Fund. This report is for the benefit of the strata and its residents. It’s not to be submitted or reviewed by the government.

A Tool for Communication

The Electrical Planning Report can also serve as an effective communication tool. For instance, it can be used to educate residents about the building's electrical usage and the importance of energy conservation. The report's findings can be shared with residents to promote energy-saving behaviours. Moreover, for potential buyers, the report serves as an assurance of the building's electrical system's health, potentially increasing its market value.

Conclusion

There you have it. A high level overview of the Electrical Planning Report. The key takeaway is that the EPR is designed to help you. It's a modest investment that can yield significant future returns. Despite government mandates, it may be beneficial to obtain a report as soon as possible for your own advantage.

Not only does it help stratas comply with government regulations, but it also provides invaluable information that can lead to significant energy savings and increased property value. By understanding your building's electrical capacity, usage patterns, and future needs, you can make informed decisions that benefit both current and future residents. It's not just a report – it's a roadmap to a greener, more efficient future for your strata property.

As always, thanks for checking in. If you need guidance or help getting these reports created feel free to reach out and I'll point you in the right direction.

Onwards & Upwards,

Strong Energy