Inventory Existing and Planned Electrical Loads

Start with safety

Use bills, manuals, nameplates already accessible and existing records; never access energized compartments.

Gather utility and service records

Collect account information, prior service work, permits and drawings without treating historical demand as design capacity.

List current equipment

Record heating, water heating, cooking, laundry, cooling, workshop and other major loads with known model data.

Add planned loads

Include EV charging, heat pump, suite, hot tub or appliance projects and realistic sequencing.

Leave simultaneity to calculation

A qualified method must address demand, diversity and code requirements; simple addition is not a decision.

Keep the output

Record calculation method, inputs, assumptions, service evidence, options and recommended next checks.

Create an equipment evidence register

List heating, water heating, cooking, laundry, cooling, shop and other significant equipment with model data from accessible records or nameplates. Mark estimates and missing data so they cannot silently become calculation inputs.

• Never remove equipment covers
• Attach manuals by model
• Separate connected from planned loads

Build a dated project queue

Place EV charging, heat pump, suite, hot tub, solar, battery or appliance changes on a timeline with expected use. Ask the qualified reviewer how demand, diversity and sequencing affect the method rather than adding nameplate ratings.

• Include overlapping project phases
• Record dwelling or strata context
• Update after design changes

Agree what the assessment request covers

Before booking, ask whether the proposed visit is an estimate or a paid electrical assessment. Agree the responsible business, scope, fee and written deliverables; sending this form does not book either service.

• Business and qualified reviewer: name the legal entity and who performs or reviews the calculation.
• Visit and fee: state the site access needed, what is included, payment terms and any further investigation.
• Deliverables: agree the verified service information, calculation revision and written options recommendation you will receive.

Keep one assessment output with every proposal

Use this record to check the agreed deliverables, then attach the accepted revision to later proposals and permit submissions. BC Hydro says a qualified electrical contractor must calculate available capacity; ask which accepted method applies. Meter-data eligibility and the required history must be verified, especially for a new home or recent move. An incomplete inventory, web estimate or sum of nameplates cannot establish capacity.

• Property and service: address, dwelling or suite context, verified service evidence and conflicts between utility, permit and equipment records; mark inaccessible information for qualified collection.
• Inputs and revision: dated existing and future equipment, fuel changes, heating backup, EV settings, solar or battery plans, selected models, missing data and the source or owner of each unresolved item.
• Method and result: responsible reviewer, calculation method and date, utility-data period if used, assumptions, calculated result and any further checks required.
• Options and updates: written panel, service or management recommendation with limitations and approval dependencies; recalculate after equipment substitutions, occupancy or project-sequence changes before construction.