Proposed Fees 2024-2025

Two-year fee schedule. Instead of a three-year fee schedule, we propose issuing a two-year fee schedule for 2024-2025. We have heard that some of you prefer knowing what the fees will be up to three years in advance. However, given the uncertainty of the economy, we opted for a two-year cycle, which will provide the flexibility to:

• Respond to the changing economic conditions. If the economy improves or worsens, we don’t want to be fixed for three years with a fee schedule that only serves today’s economic conditions.
• Improve how fees are structured. We’ve heard feedback that some fees are too high or confusing to understand, which is why we’re scaling electrical installation permit fees depending on job size. We’d like to continue to identify and resolve any concerns with process or structure, and a shorter fee schedule allows us to make those changes for you sooner.

If you have any ideas or concerns about specific fees, please tell us through our survey.

General fee increase. We propose a 7% increase to most fees in 2024, and a 4% increase to most fees in 2025. We are proposing changes to how we structure some of our fees, which means some fees may increase by more than 7% and others may increase by less.

Specifically:

• Certification evaluation and exam fees: We propose charging different fees for different modes of exams, such as taking a digital exam remotely or in person. These exam fees would be the same across all technologies. As a result, the fees in some technologies would increase by different amounts (some by more than 7% and others less). Read more details.
• Electrical installation permits: We propose scaling permit fees by reducing fees for lower value jobs and increasing fees for higher value jobs. Read more details.
• Administrative services rate: We propose charging the same administrative hourly rate across all technologies. As a result, the fees in some technologies would increase by more than 7% and others would be reduced. Read more details.
• Safety services rate: We propose charging the same safety services hourly rate across all technologies. As a result, the fees in some technologies would increase by different amounts (some by more than 7% and others less). Read more details.
• Design registration fees: We propose no increases to design registration fees at this time. We plan to consult on design registration program and service changes in the upcoming years, along with the associated fees. Read more details.

Credit card limits. We propose that all payments of $5,000 or more must be paid by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or by cheque. This will allow us to reduce overhead costs.

Late fees. We propose to change how we charge late fees. We are proposing a different penalty for overdue payments. While currently we charge a flat fee for late charges, we propose a charge of 5% of the balance owed + 1% of each full month past the due date. These late fees are to encourage timely payments and help recover the costs of unpaid invoices.

Removed: Change of ownership fees. We no longer charge a fee to transfer existing permits and accounts to new homeowners or business owners. We propose removing the change of ownership fees from the electrical and homeowner fee schedules (the only fee schedules that listed these fees).

Certification evaluation of qualification and exam fees. We propose two separate fees that will be charged when you apply to take a certification exam:

1. An evaluation of qualification fee for reviewing your pre-requisite documents and assessing whether you are qualified to write an exam to better reflect the effort it takes to review certification applications. This fee is non-refundable.
2. An exam fee for writing the exam and recovering the costs of grading, test materials, and administration. The same fee would be charged for re-examination fees. The exam fee is refundable according to our refund policy for certification.

We propose charging the following exam fees for all technologies:

Changed: Definition of Contractor Installation Permits – Single Family Residential. We propose changing the definition of “Single Family Residential” installation permits to align with the definition in the Electrical Safety Regulation instead of the definition in the BC Electrical Code. This change clarifies that only one installation permit is needed for duplexes, row housing, laneway housing, and secondary suites. The “Single Family Residential” installation permit fee category will only apply to fully detached dwellings which contain only one dwelling unit. As a result, buildings which contain multiple dwelling units (e.g. duplexes, row housing, houses with secondary suites) will instead use the “Contractor Installation Permits – Other” fee category and will only be required to obtain one permit.

This proposal clarifies two issues that cause confusion:

• Which service installation rating to use when calculating fees. Single Family Residential permit fees are calculated using the “final rating of each service installation”. Without a clear definition of “service installation” in the BC Electrical Code, it is unclear whether:
  1. multiple permits are needed, and each permit fee is calculated using the rating of the main breaker of each unit; or
  2. one permit is needed, and the permit fee is calculated using the rating of the supply before it enters the meterbase.

Our proposal to use the “Contractor Installation Permits – Other” fee category means that the fees are calculated using the job value rather than the service installation rating, and clarifies that only one permit is needed.

• Online Services default settings. Currently, if you take out a permit for a building such as a duplex or row housing in your online services account, the settings default to using the “Contractor Installation Permits – Other” fee category. We propose to keep the settings the same and change the definition in the fee schedule to use the Electrical Safety Regulation definition of “fully detached dwelling” for the “Contractor Installation Permits – Single Family Residential” fees.

Installation permits for small jobs. We propose reducing fees for lower job value installation permits. A new tier for jobs valued $150 and lower will be added and the next tiers will be adjusted to include jobs valued $0–$150, $151–$400 and $401–$1000. We’ve heard feedback from electrical contractors that they felt our permit fees were for simple jobs were disproportionately high and that it discouraged contractors from taking out permits. We hope this change encourages building owners to hire licensed contractors to conduct regulated work while also encouraging contractors to take out permits. In turn, we will receive data and insight into these lower risk, simple jobs.

Installation permits for large jobs. We propose increasing fees for higher job value installation permits (with job values higher than $1000) by 8% in 2024 and 4% in 2025 to better reflect the level of risk involved in larger installations.

Administrative services rate. We propose charging the same hourly rate across all technologies and programs for administrative services, such as creating custom reports and replacement certificates. As a result, the fees in some technologies would increase by more than 7% while others would be reduced.

Safety services rate. We propose charging the same hourly rate across all technologies and programs for safety services, such as re-inspections, variances, and inspections (for boilers). As a result, the fees in some technologies would increase by varying amounts.

Professional services rate. We propose increasing the existing professional services rate for the Alternative Safety Approaches program by the general increase, and the rate for the compliance & enforcement program to match the safety services rate. Additionally, we propose charging the same hourly rate across all technologies for professional services, such as custom services by senior safety officers.

No fee increases until program consultation. We propose no increases and no changes to design registration at this time.

We recognize that we were unable to meet service demands this year and that our service delays impacted applicants and their customers. In the coming years, we plan to consult with boiler, gas, and elevating devices clients on how to change our design registration program to better meet their needs. We will also consult on how to structure our fees to align with any program changes.

Removed: Electrical product approval fee. We no longer offer this service, except for silver labels for manufactured homes and factory-built structures. The silver label fee is listed as “Electrical approval for a used manufactured home, used factory-built structure or a used recreational vehicle (SILVER LABEL)”.

Removed: Boiler design compliance consultation rate. We no longer offer this service.

Clarified: Gas design registration. We are changing the term “design approval” to “design registration” to clarify the difference between gas design registration and gas product approvals. This wording will be adjusted in the gas fee schedule.

As a not-for-profit public safety regulator, we do not receive government funding. Our work includes administering safety legislation and regulation and overseeing the safe installation and operation of technical systems and equipment in BC.

What Are Fees Used For

Fees pay for the costs of administering our safety services, including recovering costs for services that do not have fees, and investing in long-term foundational improvements.

• Education & Tech Talks. Through our education programs, we share our technical expertise and the learnings we gain through field experience and research. This year, we re-introduced in-person Tech Talks. These popular education sessions include industry-specific topics such as code changes and top non-compliances seen by safety officers.
• Technical equipment and systems assessments. We use a risk-based oversight model that supports efficient use of our resources and those of our safety system partners. This model allows us to target the underground economy and other safety system work beyond physical inspections.
• Incident investigations. We follow up on all incidents and hazards we hear about through our confidential reporting line. Our learning-centred approach to investigating incidents focuses on finding out causes and contributing factors, and identifying what actions we and our safety partners can take to prevent future incidents. We publicly share our incident investigation reports to encourage others to learn from them.
• Prevention-based initiatives. We work with industry partners to build prevention-based initiatives that consider human behaviour and incorporate insights from our incident investigation. We recently developed an Ammonia Safety Awareness Program that gives facility owners and staff the tools and knowledge to support the safety of refrigeration equipment throughout its lifecycle. This year, we piloted a chairlift safety program to learn about rider behaviour and to help prevent falls from chairlifts.
• Enforcement. We take enforcement actions that promote an equitable safety system where all participants are compliant with regulations. Recent changes to legislation have enabled us to enforce against unlicensed individuals and businesses who advertise they can do regulated work. This is a step in the right direction to tackle the underground economy.
• Public awareness campaigns. We issue public notifications for recalls, hazard awareness, and safety alerts to educate communities about safety concerns and how they can prevent hazards when interacting with technical equipment. We bring awareness to the public and equipment owners of their safety responsibilities, such as the importance of hiring licensed contractors to maintain their equipment.
• Outreach and engagement. We connect with industry associations and communities to understand your realities, share knowledge, and find ways to innovate and improve our programs and services.
• Research. We conduct research to understand the hazards and challenges in our ever-changing social, economic, and environmental circumstances. We continuously evolve our programs and services to adapt to expanding technologies in the areas we regulate. We study the effects of climate change, including how extreme weather like floods and wildfires may affect technical equipment, and how we can mitigate the risks involved. Similarly, as the province shifts to more renewable energy sources and technologies such as hydrogen, bioenergy, and solar panels, we learn and educate others on how to install, use, and maintain this equipment safely.
• Training provider recognition. We recognize courses and programs that are required for certification and renewal. We review the course material, lesson plans, and instructor information submitted by training institutions, and work closely with them to ensure they meet a high standard of education. Certificate applicants can find names and locations of recognized training providers on our website.
• National code development and adoption. We connect regularly with other safety regulators and experts to keep up to date on what is happening nationally and how we can better harmonize standards. We contribute our expertise to provincial and national safety code development committees. Recently, we adopted the latest editions of the electrical and gas codes. In the coming years, we plan to review the national codes for elevating devices, railways, and boilers, pressure vessels and refrigeration.
• Indirect costs. We pay for costs that support the safety system, such as codes and standards adoption, rent, vehicle amortization, and support function costs.
• Operating reserve. We maintain an operating reserve so we can continue offering our services in emergencies and uncertain economic conditions.

Recent Improvements

• Digital systems and business transformation. We are replacing our legacy IT systems and moving to a new platform. As part of this work, we are evolving our business processes to address the feedback we’ve heard over the years, removing unneeded administrative barriers, and improving your access to your own safety data and records. Over the next few years, you’ll see new capabilities and ongoing improvements to your Online Services portal. The new digital platform will enable us to identify safety trends much faster than before, allowing us to prioritize how we improve and develop timely, impactful programs and services.
• Amusement devices safety program redesign. We’re working to regulate trampoline courts and newer innovations as amusement devices, and adopting a new safety code in BC. We’re also developing a Responsible Person course to increase education in the industry and introducing a program that helps facility owners and staff develop their own safety plans to provide a safe environment for the public.
• Contact centre phone system upgrades. Our contact centre provides helpful and friendly service options for those who conduct business through phone. To continue providing efficient phone service, we replaced our contact centre phone system software as the former system was discontinued.
• Website redesign. We redesigned the technicalsafetybc.ca website to improve accessibility for our clients and the public. Visitors can now find what they’re looking for faster through the improved navigation menu and a more accurate search function. We also enhanced accessibility by making the site viewable on all devices and by those with colour vision deficiency or low vision.
• Ammonia Safety Awareness Program. We collaborated with industry partners to develop a no-cost, specialized education and training program for safety in ice arenas using ammonia as a refrigerant. Our Ammonia Safety Awareness Program enables participants to establish formal maintenance and operational programs to manage risks and make informed budgetary decisions to support the safety of refrigeration equipment throughout its lifecycle.
• Licensed contractor registry. We redeveloped our online registry of licensed contractors, making it easier to use. This tool now includes recent enforcement actions, helping the public to find qualified workers and make informed hiring decisions.

Our Economic Outlook

We’ve kept our fee increases as low as possible to minimize the impact on your businesses and support you during difficult times.

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, we introduced payment plans for people and businesses for more flexible options.
• We deferred our 2021 fee increase to allow businesses time to recover from the economic downturn.
• We froze fees for the amusement devices industry in 2021 as they were disproportionately impacted by pandemic shutdown measures.

This year, with lower than usual installation permit volumes in 2022 and early 2023, we are projecting to have lower revenue than expected, which will challenge our operations.

Notes:

1. In Technical Safety BC’s potential budget scenario (as of May 2023), we take into account the lower permit volumes seen in early 2023 in our revenue projections.
2. In our projected revenue, we assume permit, certification, and license volumes will grow by 3% in 2024 and 2% in 2025.
3. In our budgeted expenses, we assume overall costs will increase by 6% in 2024 and 5% in 2025.

For a full view of our budget and finances, read our Business Plan and Annual Report.

How We’ve Reduced Expenses

We have had to make difficult decisions this year in order to offset growing costs and all have required careful consideration. We have made every effort to reduce costs in order to avoid substantial fee increases, including:

• Introduced agile budgeting practices. We review our projected expenses throughout the year, reprioritize, defer projects that require capital spending, and redistribute funds and resources where needed.
• Reduced operating budgets. We reduced our operational expenses, including travel, non-technical training, and closing offices.
• Eliminated multiple roles at Technical Safety BC. We reorganized a number of teams and eliminated several administrative roles.
• Closed underused offices. We reduced our rental expenses by reviewing where we were underusing our office spaces. Most of these locations were leased work stations at Service BC Centres, where there were no front counter services or safety officer appointments available. We found that local safety officers were able to work effectively from home rather than the office space.
• Deferred hiring. We value our employees’ unique expertise and talents and as our employees retire or move on, we review their role and consider whether to refill the vacancy or redistribute responsibilities to other teams.

For more information, read more about our fees on our website. If you have questions about the fee consultation, please reach out to our engagement team.