For a strata, the first EV charger is part of a building-wide electrical decision. A rebate can support the project, but council still needs to understand the future capacity, ownership, operating costs and installation approach. Start with a plan that makes later installations practical, then match the proposed work to the appropriate rebate route.
Rebate information checked November 11, 2026. Funding, equipment lists and requirements can change. Confirm the current rules before committing to work.
Understand the three funding stages
BC Hydro’s multi-unit residential rebate page lists these current base offers:
EV Ready plan: up to 75% of eligible planning costs, capped at $3,000.
EV Ready infrastructure: up to 50%, capped at $600 per stall and $120,000 per complex.
Chargers after EV Ready infrastructure: up to 50%, capped at $1,400 per charger.
Standalone charger route: up to 50%, capped at $2,000 per charger.
The charger funding cap is $14,000 per complex. The advertised $137,000 EV Ready total combines separate plan, infrastructure and charger ceilings; it is not a cheque every building receives. The multi-unit route generally requires at least five units. Infrastructure funding is for eligible retrofits, including building-age and municipal EV-ready bylaw conditions. Review the full eligibility page before choosing a route.
Pre-approval comes before a commitment
The July 15, 2026 program guide requires pre-approval for the EV Ready plan rebate as well as the other multi-unit stages. Do not begin eligible work or incur eligible costs before the required approval. Standalone charger applications now also require an EV Ready plan, Electrical Planning Report or qualifying opportunity assessment.
The updated plan requirements include documenting design alternatives. This makes it especially useful to ask the planner to explain why the recommended approach suits the building. Keep the approval email, its conditions and its completion deadline in the project file. Use the current guide and your approval letter for the final submission requirements.
Discuss the building’s future charging needs
Give the planner the number of homes, parking arrangement, current EV requests, existing charging equipment and available electrical records. Identify whether stalls are assigned, rented, visitor spaces or common property. Explain what information is known and what needs verification on site.
Ask for a plain-language comparison of the proposed approaches. How will available power be shared? What happens as more residents connect? What equipment choices remain available later? Does the first phase make the later phases easier, or create work that has to be replaced?
A shared system should also be understandable to the people who will operate it. Ask what happens when communication is lost, who can change settings and who residents contact if charging stops. These questions belong in the planning discussion, not only in a handover after installation.
Compare more than the installation price
Ask each bidder to separate planning, common infrastructure, individual chargers, permit costs and any utility work. Have the proposal explain exclusions such as concrete work, firestopping, patching or restoration, where they apply. Identify who owns each part of the system and who pays when another resident joins.
Recurring costs can change the value of a proposal. Ask about network subscriptions, transaction or billing fees, cellular service, support, replacement equipment and administration. Request the terms in writing, including what happens if the strata changes providers. A low initial price can be difficult to assess without those operating details.
Prepare a council comparison sheet with the same rows for every proposal: initial scope, future expansion, operating cost, responsibilities, exclusions, estimated rebate and remaining cost. Keep an estimate of funding separate from the contractor’s price until the program administrator has confirmed it.
A practical sequence for council
Collect the starting information. Assign one contact and assemble parking drawings, existing reports and resident charging requests.
Confirm the application route. Check the current official requirements and which approvals must happen before spending.
Review planning scope. Ask what the report will answer and how alternatives will be compared.
Obtain the required approvals. Keep utility-program approval and the strata’s own decision records together, with responsibilities clearly assigned.
Compare installation proposals. Match each quote to the same agreed design and list any deviations.
Complete and document the project. Track invoices, equipment details, installation records and the final application deadline.
Hand over the system. Keep operating instructions, support contacts and the process for future residents in a shared council record.
Questions strata councils ask
Does an EV Ready plan mean chargers are already installed?
No. Planning, electrical infrastructure and the charging equipment are separate stages. Ask the quote to identify the deliverable for each stage so owners know what will be available at completion.
Can we install one charger first and solve capacity later?
Discuss the long-term approach before approving the first installation. An individual request should be considered alongside future residents, common infrastructure and the building’s electrical planning documents.
Can the council simply subtract the maximum rebate from a quote?
No. Percentage limits, eligible costs, per-stall or per-charger caps and the complex-wide ceiling all affect the calculation. Ask for the assumptions behind any estimated rebate and have the program administrator confirm the applicable route.
Are townhomes automatically treated like detached houses?
No. Describe the electrical supply and parking arrangement to the program administrator. Private garages, common parkades and shared infrastructure can require different planning and application approaches.
What if the proposed charger or design changes after approval?
Confirm the change with the administrator before proceeding. Keep a written record of the revised model, scope and approval so the final paperwork matches the installed system.
Can we get help before hiring a planner?
The official multi-unit rebate page links to EV advisor support and application resources. Use those resources to clarify the program route, then ask the electrical contractor to assess the building-specific work.
Plan your strata’s electrical work
Hundel Electric works with strata councils and property managers across Delta and the Lower Mainland. Start with our strata electrical services, or send your existing reports, parking information and proposed project scope through our contact page.
Call (604) 358-5549 to speak directly with an electrician. For the current eligibility and pre-approval application, use BC Hydro’s official multi-unit program page. Check any address-specific enhancements on the official rebate top-up list.