Electrical
State of Safety 2025
Yearly Trends: Electrical
We oversee electrical equipment and systems across British Columbia in accordance with the Safety Standards Act and the Electrical Safety Regulation. The exceptions are those municipalities that have separate administrative agreements with the provincial government.
In 2025, electric shock and electrical fire remained in our Top 5 Safety Risks. Electric shock or arc flashes have caused serious injuries and often occur when individuals with limited or no electrical qualifications are working with regulated equipment, or when experienced and certified individuals do not properly follow safety procedures. Electrical fire hazards can occur when electrical equipment is installed or operated improperly, or when uncertified equipment is used. We continue to collect data surrounding these risks and work to mitigate these hazards.
67
Incidents reported to us in 2025
8
Injuries reported to us in 2025
26,382
Assessments completed in 2025
Electrical Vehicle Charger Fire in New Westminster
In October 2025, we investigated an electrical fire that occurred at a retail charging station in New Westminster, when an EV charger that was not in use burst into flames. The fire released toxic emissions and caused extensive damage to nearby equipment and property. A neighboring fast-food restaurant also had to be evacuated.
Our investigation revealed that a technician based in California had placed the charger in diagnostic mode remotely during a diagnostics check, which overrides safety controls, and accidentally turned on the battery heater. The heater remained on for about 26 hours, causing the battery to overheat. Although high-temperature alerts were sent to the owner, they had been silenced.
As a result, the battery reached a critical temperature and entered thermal runaway, leading to the fire. The charger had been in good condition prior to the incident with no history of issues. Following this incident, software and alerting updates were implemented to prevent another incident from occurring.
Learn About This Incident
Incidents
Sixty-seven incidents were reported in 2025, a 4.4% increase from the previous year. Eleven were ranked as “insignificant,” 12 were ranked as “minor,” and seven were ranked as “moderate,” while nine were ranked as “major.” We also saw one “severe” incident and 11 incidents continue to be “under assessment.”
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Injuries
Eight injuries related to the electrical technology were reported in 2025, which represents a decrease of 57.45% compared to 2024. Most of those incidents were minor or insignificant.
We receive injury reports and descriptions from operators or first responders at the time of, or immediately following, the incident. Injuries may develop after the initial reports were made to us and the long-term effects of a resultant injury may not be recorded as part of our investigation.
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Permits
In 2025, we issued 84,915 installation permits in the electrical technology, a 2% increase from the previous year. We saw 17,659 active operating permits in 2025, a 9% increase compared to 2024.
Installation Permits Issued by Year
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Active Operating Permits by Year
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Assessments
Our safety officers completed 26,382 assessments of electrical equipment and systems in 2025. This included 16,070 in-person assessments and 10,312 remote assessments. The results of in-person assessments included: 12,656 “passed” and 3,414 “failed.” The results of remote assessments included: 9,558 “passed” and 754 “failed.”
Learn more about how we define these assessment outcomes.
Physical Inspections Completed by Pass, Failed
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Remote Inspections Completed by Pass, Failed
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