An electrical planning report must provide information about:
- the current capacity of the strata corporation’s electrical system
- a list of existing demands on the electrical system
- an estimate of peak electrical demand and spare electrical capacity
- an estimate of the electrical capacity needed to support future demands, such as electric vehicle (EV) charging and heat pumps, and
- recommendations for demand management and reducing demand; for example, freeing up electrical capacity by installing LED lighting. (LED lighting is significantly more energy efficient than equivalent incandescent or fluorescent lighting).
Shorter EPRs
Occasionally strata lots in a strata corporation are independently connected to the utility’s electrical distribution (and there is no strata corporation electrical infrastructure). For example, in some rare circumstances, single-family homes in bare land strata corporations are directly connected to the utility’s grid. However this is more the exception than the rule, and bare land strata corporations can also risk exceeding available electrical capacity.
In this rare circumstance, where strata lots are independently supplied with electricity, the electrical planning report provider must confirm this status. The report provider will then issue a shorter EPR to confirm that each strata lot’s electrical capacity is not affected by the electricity use of other strata lots.
Note: individual household utility bills are not an indicator of electricity being provided to the strata lot independently of the strata corporation.
EPR scope and limits
The electrical planning report (EPR) provides the strata corporation with an overview of electrical capacity and future demands. It is not a detailed analysis.
An EPR is not meant to be used to install electrical loads. If a strata corporation or an owner wants to add equipment that will increase the electrical demand or make changes to the strata corporation’s electrical system, the strata corporation will need to ensure a qualified professional selects the equipment, confirms the electrical capacity and informs the strata corporation if electrical upgrades are needed.
There may be opportunities for cost-savings, as some EPR providers can provide additional services and may be able to offer a better price for “bundled” services if these services are provided at the same time as an EPR.
