Generator rental in British Columbia

Power outages and weather in British Columbia

• During the June 2021 heat wave Lytton reached 49.6 C, the highest temperature ever recorded in Canada, and the BC Chief Coroner attributed 569 deaths to heat. Source
• The June 30, 2021 Lytton wildfire overran the village and destroyed most of its buildings. Source
• The November 2021 atmospheric rivers cut Highways 1, 3, 7, 99 and the Coquihalla, and at least 60,000 BC Hydro customers lost power by the night of November 15. Source
• The 2023 wildfire season in BC recorded 2,293 fires and 2,840,104 hectares burned, with about 208 evacuation orders affecting over 48,000 people. Source

Climate

• Record 49.6 C at Lytton on June 29, 2021 during an extreme heat wave; BC Hydro reported peak demand of 8,500 MW as residents turned to air conditioning. Source

Where generators get used in British Columbia

• Major BC sectors include forestry, mining, film and video production, tourism and construction. Source
• The Port of Vancouver is described as the largest port in Canada, and BC exports include lumber, pulp and paper, copper, coal and natural gas. Source
• BC Hydro generates from 32 hydroelectric facilities and two natural gas thermal plants, with nameplate capacity of 12,049 MW. Source

Starting rental rates in British Columbia

Starting prices in CAD before tax. Delivery, fuel, cables, panels, operator and electrician time are quoted separately.

Power utility and electrical rules

British Columbia's main electric utility: BC Hydro (Crown corporation serving more than 4 million customers in most areas; FortisBC serves parts of the Interior and Kootenays)

Technical Safety BC administers the Safety Standards Act and issues electrical permits in British Columbia (technicalsafetybc.ca).

Connecting a generator to a building is electrical work and rules differ by province. Use a licensed electrician and confirm local requirements. See electrician hookup.