Promontory Electric

Are you a homeowner or own a rental suite/apartment? Do you require Electrical work and wonder how necessary obtaining a permit is? What is a permit? Assists in determining whether the electrical work done is safe and compliant to the most recent Canadian Electrical code. This is why it is important for every job to be completed by an Electrician who follows the code rules on every installation.... Includes assessment from BC safety officers to ensure the Electrician doing the work has the expertise and experience to complete the work properly and safely. This provides another level of accountability for the Electrical work done in a home. When is a permit necessary and why? Permits protect the homeowner By law, an electrical permit is required for all electrical work including renovations, upgrades, and additions. A permit provides proof that an electrical contractor was in charge of the electrical work done in the home Due to the fact most electrical work is hidden behind walls, permits can put home buyers at ease knowing that all electrical alterations and renovations were completed by a qualified electrician. Once a home is purchased the buyer assumes responsibility for any unpermitted work Insurance is a big one. Unpermitted work is generally not covered by home insurance. Liability - A permit ensures that all responsibility of the electrical work completed to the licensed electrical contractor that pulled the permit. This means if something goes wrong down the road this falls on your electrical contractor and not the homeowner Making the decision to move forward without a permit can result in a homeowner being ordered to stop their project and possibly asked to uncover or remove finished work to expose what has been done to allow for inspection. When is a permit not necessary? When replacing defective fuses, receptacles, switches, or bulbs with units of similar type and rating Making minor changes, repairs, or additions to an installation covered by an existing annual electrical permit Understandably, some homeowners wish to complete as much as they can themselves to save on costs however when a homeowner chooses to use an Electrical Contractor it is important that the contractor complete all electrical components needed for the project for the permit is in the contractors name. Avoid contractors who provide the option of completing electrical work without a permit. Remember, the permit protects the homeowner! Permit Costs The cost of your permit is usually included in the estimate provided by your Electrical contractor. The price of a permit depends on what you are wanting done. The cost of a permit starts at $54.00 and the amount increases as the price of the project increases. This is why a simple project such as the installation of one electrical outlet is a higher cost than many people assume. Contact Promontory Electric for consultation 250-921-6458

Patio season is upon us Are you needing additional power to create the outdoor space you want this summer? The times we are living in have many people spending more time at home and considering amping up their outdoor space. You might be considering something as simple as adding some patio lighting or a garden fountain or, perhaps, a more complex project such as an outdoor kitchen or a pond. Maybe you have limited exterior outlets and are done with running extension cords ...to plug in your hedge trimmer. Either way, there are some important electrical points to think about. Extension cords are our friends. When it comes to having power outside we heavily rely on them for both temporary and permanent situations. A temporary situation would be needing power for a short time, such as a leaf blower, or lighting for a birthday party. A permanent solution would be patio lighting that is used throughout a season. It is a common belief that as long as the situation is temporary it can be done without a lot of consideration regarding safety or it being up to code. This is not accurate. When lighting and power connections are not permanently installed they can actually be more dangerous. Extension cords are meant for temporary use. It is important to not use extension cords in place of permanent wiring. Over time, with consistent use, an extension cord can quickly deteriorate which can result in an electric shock or fire hazard. This includes outdoor rated cords. Extension cords can also be a tripping hazard or impact the safety of children. If power for a short time is needed an outdoor rated extension cord will work. It is recommended not to leave the cord outside for longer than a few days . Ensure all your cords, lights, fixtures, and receptacles are outdoor rated. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are outlets designed to prevent electrical shock or fire . They are required, by code depending on the situation. Whatever your lighting and power situation may be, a new outdoor set up, or assistance in improving/upgrading your current one Promontoryelectric can assist you. 250-921-6458 or contact@promontoryelectric

Are you Considering an Electrical Vehicle? Are you Wondering what EV Charger is Right for your Home? Do you Know About the Existing Rebates for EV Chargers? Electric Vehicles are becoming more desirable and accessible for the common household. Choosing your home charger installation is an important decision you make when purchasing an EV. ... There are 2 levels of chargers that are suited for households: AC Level 1 - Requires a 20 amp single receptacle that is dedicated to only charging your vehicle - For a fully charged battery - 12-20 hours of charging. For a hybrid - 6-12 hours. This will also depend on kAh rating of battery For every hour it charges you can drive 8 KM AC Level 2 - Requires a connection to a 240 volt outlet - For every hour it charges you can drive 30 KM - For a fully charged battery - 6-14 hours of charging. For a hybrid 4-8 hours. This will also depend on kAh rating of battery Here are the questions to consider when choosing a charger level to install: - Which of the 2 levels will best suit my purposes? - How many amps can my electrical service panel supply? - How many amps are required by my vehicle’s manual? - Do I have a 240 volt circuit already installed and is it usable? If not, is there space in my electrical service panel for one? - Where do I want my charging station to be installed? Consider an electrical contractor that has EV Infrastructure Certification. Book your consultation with Promontory Electric for your charger installation. BC Hydro Rebate for single family homes - maximum of $350.00. - Limited to an eligible Level 2 EV charger.

Are you contemplating the purchase of a generator for your home? Power outages are unpredictable. For some households this can be either an inconvenience or a stressful time, if unprepared. This depends on your family's lifestyle and needs and, of course, how often power outages occur. For a lot of people there can be nothing worse than seeing the lights flicker and realize in a panic your favorite device has little charge left. What on earth will you do then? Or more importa...ntly, how do you communicate in the event of an emergency? A family/household often stresses about how to heat the home and how to prevent the food in the fridge and freezer from spoiling if the power goes out for an extended period of time. Alternatively, in the hot summer months this can mean a lack of air conditioning. It is also important to recognize that these days it is common for people to be working from home and relying on power to be productive. A generator can offer peace of mind, and there can be value in that alone. Two types of generators to consider: Standby Generator - Power Output: 8,000 20,000 watts - Fuel Usage: 50 182 liters of LPG or natural gas per day - Permanently installed - In the event of a power outage will start up automatically and take over the supply of power preventing any loss of power. - The transfer switch is what allows the automatic switch to the generator - Can power an entire home - Connected to the main electrical panel in the home and is most commonly fueled by propane or natural gas - Requires a space outside - Requires installation by a Licensed Electrical Contractor, and Gas Fitter Portable generator - Must be turned on manually, this means you need to be home to start the power - Not always able to power an entire home - When in use it releases carbon monoxide, so they must be used outdoors and away from any doors or windows - Requires you to store fuel separately - Can be a good choice affordability wise or if you’re looking for limited power in an occasional power outage - Requires a transfer switch system installed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor. Contact Promontory Electric for consultation 250-921-6458

We are a licensed electrical contracting business with over 20 years experience in the trade serving residential, industrial and commercial electrical sectors in maintenance and construction.