Residential Service Information
Residential service is defined as the supply of electrical energy at 750V or less to separately metered living accommodations. Residential Customers reside in single dwelling units that consist of a detached house or one unit of a semi-detached, duplex, triplex, or quadruplex house, with a Residential zoning. Separately metered dwellings within a town house complex or apartment building also qualify as Residential Customers It applies to new services and upgrades and only to buildings that meet the following conditions:
- the building lies along a distribution line; and
- the building can be connected without an expansion or enhancement to the distribution system. (Refer to Section 4 of the Conditions of Service for a definition of the terms 'expansion' and 'enhancement')
BPI considers all new subdivisions and new town home projects to be Expansions. The cost of services shall be included in the total cost for economic evaluation purposes even though the secondary services shall be installed by BPI at a later date as and when required, and no additional charges for secondary servicing shall be collected from individual Customers.
General Information
- There shall be only one service to a building except for semi-detached buildings and buildings of connected townhouse units. For semi-detached buildings with required fire separation, there may be more than one service.
- Residential services will include all services up to and including 400 amp, 120 / 240 Volt single-phase 3-wire. Customers requiring service in excess of 400A or any other voltage shall consult with BPI Engineering & Construction. (For Residential service in the designated Brantford Underground Areas and Downtown Area, refer to Section 3.1.10 of the Conditions of Service)
- In circumstances where multiple services are installed to a single dwelling and one service is to be upgraded, the upgraded service will replace all existing services. Where revenue metering is located inside a residence, it will be relocated by the owner to the exterior of the building at the time of upgrading.
- In circumstances where multiple services are required (i.e., granny flats, multi-units), a single service of a maximum 400 amps is permitted to supply a gang-type meter base. Appropriate zoning for multiple occupancy may be required. Connected service sizes will require Electrical Safety Authority approval.
- Brantford Power Inc. will supply and install the Basic Connection at no charge to Residential Customers. The Basic Connection cost is recovered through BPI rates, and covers the standard allowance to provide a Basic Connection which consists of:
- the supply and installation of overhead transformation for service entrances up to and including 400A single phase;
- the supply and installation of up to thirty (30) meters of overhead secondary conductor or an equivalent credit towards underground conductor; and
- an estimate for the new service;
- A variable connection charge will be levied where the connection is beyond the Standard Allowance and would cover costs associated with the installation of Connection Assets above and beyond the Basic Connection.
A single phase padmount transformer is found in most underground subdivisions. The large connectors on the left are the RTE POSI-BREAK loadbreak elbow connectors for the 16kV underground cables. The red, black and white wires connected on the right are the secondary services for houses, streetlights and other utilities such as Rogers and Bell. The bare conductors in the middle are the ground connections for the transformer and the system.
Secondary Services in Overhead Distribution Area
Where Brantford Power Inc. specifies that the building is in an overhead distribution area, the following shall apply:
- The Ownership and Operational Demarcation Point shall be located at the Customer's conductors emerging from the service head or mast or the first pole located at the edge of and on the Customer's and/or Owner's property, if such a pole exists.
- If an extended pole line, including service wires or other attachments are required on the Customer's and/or Owner's property, these shall be erected and maintained by the Customer and/or Owner. This pole line shall be in accordance with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. BPI must be contacted to confirm requirements such as location and/or guying.
- At the Customer's request and where practical, secondary services 400A and less may be installed underground to BPI's overhead distribution system. In this case the Customer, at his own expense, shall be responsible for the installation of the entire service from the service entrance at the building to BPI's distribution pole. BPI will provide to the Customer an equivalent credit for the cost of up to 30m of overhead secondary conductor. If there is no pole on the same side of the street as the building, then BPI may install an overhead service to a BPI pole on the street right-of-way subject to availability of space, or to a Customer installed pole on private property. The Customer installation shall be subject to approval by ESA and ownership and maintenance responsibility of these installations shall remain with the Customer.
Secondary Services in Underground Distribution Area
- Where BPI specifies that the building is in an underground distribution area, the following shall apply:
- The Ownership and Operational Demarcation Point shall be at the line side of the Customer's meter base.
- The Customer and/or Owner shall be responsible for trenching and backfilling on private property to BPI specifications. BPI shall install the secondary cables up to the demarcation point. For new subdivisions connected after the effective date of these Conditions of Service, the secondary service shall be supplied and installed by BPI as per Section 2.1.1.3. All other Residential Customers such as existing in-fills or severances shall be responsible for the cost of the supply and installation of BPI-supplied underground secondary wire and will receive an equivalent credit for up to thirty (30) m. of overhead conductor towards that cost.
- BPI shall be responsible only for the electrical repair of all BPI-owned service cables. In the event that structures, pavement or landscaping make the cable inaccessible for repair, the Customer and/or Owner shall be responsible for excavation and reinstatement. In the event that damage or a fault caused by the Customer or third Party, the costs of repair will be charged to the Party responsible.
- BPI will provide basic reinstatement following any BPI excavations. All civil repairs and restoration beyond basic reinstatement shall be the responsibility of the Customer and/or Owner including but not limited to, structures, paving, concrete, interlocking bricks, vegetation, sprinklers and landscaping.
- BPI reserves the right to install temporary "jumper" cables from either a Customer's or a neighboring Customer's service in the event of a fault on a Customer's underground service. BPI will make Connections on the line side of the meter not affecting consumption charge.
Primary Services
Primary services are not normally supplied to this Customer Classification, however a primary service to Residential property, if required, will be treated the same as General Service.
Early Consultation and Notification
Customers should request the installation of electrical service (both new service as well as upgrades) well in advance of the date required. This will allow for lead time to acquire major materials. At the time the request is made, the Customer will need to submit the following:
- address (complete municipal address);
- name, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address of the Owner;
- name, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address of the person to contact regarding technical aspects of the service;
- required in-service date;
- Service Entrance capacity and voltage rating of the service entrance equipment;
- survey plan and site plan indicating the proposed location of the service entrance equipment with respect to public rights-of-way and lot lines; and
- all information required to set up a billing account.
Brantford Power Inc. will review the request and advise the Customer as to whether or not his / her request has been accepted or denied. If the request is denied, Brantford Power Inc. will give reasons for denying the request and offer assistance in modifying the proposed service.
The Customer or Brantford Power Inc. may request a site meeting to review the service.
In consultation with the Customer, Brantford Power Inc. will make the final determination of where the service will connect to Brantford Power Inc. distribution system, the route that the service will take, and the location of the Service Entrance at the building.
Access
The Customer will provide unimpeded and safe access to the distributor at all times for the purpose of installing, removing, inspecting, maintaining, operating or changing metering and distribution equipment.
Inspection
All Customer-owned electrical equipment must be inspected and approved in accordance with Electrical Safety Authority requirements. Brantford Power Inc. requires connection authorization from the Electrical Safety Authority prior to energization.
Brantford Power Inc. requires a minimum two (2) days' notification prior to date of energization.
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