Engineering Services
New Services, Upgrades, Relocations and Demolitions
Review Powerline Safety Advice and Protocols
New Service Request Commercial or Residential
If you are building a new home or business and need to apply for electricity service to the property, follow these steps:
Step 1 – Submit a Request for New Service
Initiate your New Service Request by submitting the applicable form, based on the account type. New services can be complex projects. We recommend you work with a Licensed Electrician, Licensed Electrical Contractor or consultant to complete your application. You or your contractor will be required to provide all project information such as site plans, architectural drawings, proposed electrical drawings, building permits, zoning certifications and load calculations in order to proceed.
Residential Service Request Form (Single Dwelling)
General Service Request Form (Commercial, Industrial, Institutional)
Step 2 – Review by Burlington Hydro
A Burlington Hydro Engineering Services Technician will review your Request for New Service, request any missing information, and guide you through the rest of the process.
Step 3 – Service Layout or Offer to Connect
Once you have provided all required information, Burlington Hydro will design and provide a Service Layout or Offer to Connect, depending on the size of your project, which will outline the work required, costs, timeline, and responsibilities of each party.
Step 4 – Signed Agreement and Payment
You will need to review, sign and return the Service Layout or Offer to Connect along with required payments as instructed on the documents in order for the Request for Service to proceed.
Step 5 – Complete Design, Arrange for Permits and Order Materials
Burlington Hydro will complete the detailed design, apply for the required permits, order materials if required, and schedule the project for construction.
Step 6 – Prepare Site for Construction
You or your contractor will need to complete all applicable civil and electrical construction on the property and ensure the site is safe before Burlington Hydro crews can begin work. It is important that clear access be provided to the property including around the meter location.
Step 7 – Construction
Burlington Hydro will conduct the required electrical construction work.
Step 8 – Schedule Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) Inspection
Once the electrical construction work is complete, you or your contractor are required to contact the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) to schedule and complete a safety inspection of the work. Requests may be submitted at www.esasafe.com.
Step 9 – Complete Final Inspection
Once Burlington Hydro receives the ESA Connection Authorization, we will conduct our own final site inspection.
Step 10 – Connection to the Grid
Upon successful completion of the site inspection and receipt of any outstanding project information, Burlington Hydro will schedule and connect the service to the grid.
Existing Service Upgrade or Relocation
Service upgrades may be required for a variety of projects such as:
- Major renovations and extensions to your home or business
- Panel changes from fuses to breakers or service upgrades
- Relocation of a meter or adding additional meters to the service (for apartments, businesses, etc.)
- Installation of an electric vehicle charger
- Installation of solar or other generation
- Installation of a pool, hot tub, sauna, deck, fence or shed that will interfere with the existing service
- Conversion of natural gas appliances to electric, or adding new ones such as ovens, a furnace, water heater or clothes dryer
- Relocating your service from overhead to underground, or to a different place on your property
- Moving poles to make room for driveways or other changes on your property
If you need to upgrade or relocate the service to your home or business, Burlington Hydro’s Engineering Department can help you through the following process.
Step 1 – Submit a Request for a Service Upgrade
Initiate your Service Upgrade Request using the applicable form, based on the account type. New services can be complex projects. We recommend you work with a Licensed Electrician, Licensed Electrical Contractor or consultant to complete your application. You or your contractor will be required to provide all project information such as site plans, architectural drawings, proposed electrical drawings, building permits, zoning certifications and load calculations in order to proceed.
Residential Upgrade Request Form (Single Dwelling)
Commercial Upgrade Request Form (Commercial, Industrial and Institutional)
Step 2 – Application Review by Burlington Hydro
A Burlington Hydro Engineering Services Technician will review your Request for a Service Upgrade, request any missing information, and provide a Service Layout (if applicable) along with relevant standards and costs.
Step 3 – Payment, Scheduling, Permits and Inspections
Once Burlington Hydro has received payment, work will be scheduled. Your licensed electrician / electrical contractor will need to coordinate with Burlington Hydro for any required disconnects, permits and inspections by the Electrical Safety Authority.
Permanent Service Removal - Demolitions
If you are demolishing a building in Burlington you will need to follow the City of Burlington’s Demolition Process. As part of this process, you will need to make sure the electricity service is safely disconnected, and all equipment is removed from your property.
You will need to apply to Burlington Hydro for a Service Demolition and provide us with the City of Burlington’s Pre-Permit Clearance Form as well as pay any fees to remove the equipment. You may also need to apply for a Temporary Service to run equipment during the demolition of the building.
You can start the process by emailing our
Temporary Service
To apply for a temporary service use our Isolation / Area Entry Service Request form. You will need your site plan and we recommend that you work with a Licensed Electrician, Electrical Contractor or Consultant to complete this request.
Once your request is received, it will be assigned to an Engineering Services Technician who will work with you to complete a Service Layout and let you know any required fees, required information and the timelines you can expect.
Service Layout Request
You can use request your Service Layout by contacting our Engineering Department by email at