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White Gold Utility Undergrounding Project
Frequently Asked Questions
Contents
August 31, 2020 Questions ........................................................................................................................... 2
August 18, 2020 Questions ........................................................................................................................... 7
August 11, 2020 Questions ........................................................................................................................... 8
July 28, 2020 Questions ................................................................................................................................ 9
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August 31, 2020 Questions
Are there options to repay the parcel tax value at different increments rather than all up front?
No, there are only two options to repay the parcel tax value:
The financing options are as follows:
1. Lump Sum payment
2. 30 year amortization against the property title
I need more time to gather quotes for work on my private property so I have a good
understanding of the overall cost of this project, can the petition deadline be extended?
The petition deadline has been extended; the petition will remain open until October 9, 2020.
What interest rate is used to calculate the amortization payment of $1,130 per year as an
average cost for the first 10 years?
The interest rate for the first 10 years is 1.62 % while years 11-30 use 2.4%.
Can the amortization calculation be provided in a spreadsheet and available for viewing on the
web page?
The August 29, 2020 presentation is posted on the webpage; slide 9 of the presentation
provides an overview of the interest rates, principle and total interest values.
Based on current assumptions and interest rates, has an amortization calculation been carried
out for the period following the first 10 years?
The amortization calculation applied to date covers the interest rates posted at the Municipal
Finance Authority for the full 30-year period. Interest rates that were posted as at July 27, 2020
are used for current estimating purposes however the rates change frequently and will be
locked in at the rate available when RMOW secures the loan to complete the project.
Using interest rates of 5% and 10%, can the amortization model be developed on the basis of
using 5 year increments up to 30 years, after the first 10 years?
Interest rates of 5% and 10% were modeled during the presentation however interest rates in
that range are far beyond rates currently posted for periods beyond 10 years and are not
realistic for municipal borrowers.
Can a copy of the detailed preliminary estimate be provided on the web site?
A summarized estimate is available in the presentation from the meeting. A detailed estimate
will not be made publicly available as this information could influence contractor proposals at the
project tender stage.
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Does the estimate include all hard and soft costs?
The estimate includes all costs except the value of internal RMOW staff labour and the benefit
of reserving paving activity until the undergrounding project work completes.
What methodology was used to quantify the contingency?
RMOW’s recent experience with replacing the water main in White Gold was used to quantify
the contingency percentage.
Does the contingency apply to the estimated design costs?
The contingency value applies to the full scope of work for the project.
Will a copy of the refined (final) estimate be provided on the web site prior to construction?
A summarized estimate is available in the presentation from the meeting. A detailed estimate
will not be made publicly available as this information could influence contractor proposals at the
project tender stage.
Can you provide information on the development of the design by placing drawings in PDF
format on the web site for viewing by the property owners, for the following?
Electrical system drawings may need to be withheld in order to protect the integrity of the
electrical system. When drawings are progressed BC Hydro will be consulted to confirm if the
drawings can be made publicly available.
Do the design drawings identify the location of the transformer bases or poles on each
property?
When design drawings are progressed to a greater level of detail, they will include planned
equipment locations at the property line.
Do property owners have the right to move the location of the transformer bases?
There will be limited opportunities to adjust where transformer bases can be placed. The base
locations will be defined by electrical requirements and restrictions imposed by other
underground services and by natural impediments.
Has the design taken into account the potential of flooding in the White Gold area based on
information shown in a report prepared in the 1970’s?
If this report could be provided to the project team through whitegoldunderground@gmail.com
we will pass it along to the utility designers to ensure this is considered during design.
Has a detailed schedule been developed for the design period from October 2020 to September
2021?
In order to keep costs low we are waiting for the results of the petition prior to completing more
detailed work.
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Will the detailed design schedule be placed on the web site in MS Project?
A summarized project schedule is posted on the web page and will continue to be updated in
that format.
Will a detailed construction schedule be provided for the period of construction from November
2021 to November 2023?
Homeowners and residents will be provided with information affecting closures and outages
affecting their property and access when that information is available.
What is the extent of scope of work and time frame for Area 1 and Area 2?
Area 1, Nancy Green Drive and Fitzsimmons North and South are expected to proceed first
while Area 2 will encompass the remaining streets in White Gold. We’re anticipating civil work
will proceed first followed by BC Hydro then Telus. Shaw is expected to proceed last with pole
removal and paving as the final work to be completed.
Are there other works planned in the White Gold Estates for the next 20 years?
Future construction work in White Gold is expected to include maintenance of existing services.
Is site surveying and layout part of the construction phase?
The construction contractor will be required to survey and layout the works as defined in the
Issue for Construction drawings and this work is required at the beginning of the construction
phase.
How is the construction sequence planned in order to deal with property access?
Sequencing remains to be fully defined based on final design. Residents will be able to access
their properties during non-working hours through the use of steel plates covering the excavated
areas in front of the driveway. The project team will provide advance notice to properties of
which addresses will be affected within a specific time period.
Who will approve Change Orders?
The Construction Manager will receive the Change Order from the contractor and will review it
with the Project Manager. The RMOW holds final approval of any Change Orders.
Will the tender documents, drawings and specifications be available on the web site?
Notice of tender documents will be available on the RMOW tender page and on BC Bid. How
the drawings and specifications will be released to interested contractors remains to be defined
based on discussions with each utility.
Will the bid prices be available on the web site?
Bid prices won’t be available on the web site but the public will be able to attend bid opening.
Is winter work included in the cost of the project?
The project is currently split over two construction years in order to avoid winter work.
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Will the names, addresses and votes remain confidential?
The voting is confidential. White Gold community reps are not provided any information about
who has voted in favour or not. The final results of the petition will be rolled up into a single %
value of those in favour and a separate single percentage of property value will be issued
publicly.
Why don’t we already know where the transformers will be placed?
Transformers are typically placed on public land at the property line between two properties.
Detailed designs are costly; to present that level of design the project team requires
homeowners’ consent to via the petition.
I am concerned that allowing this process to proceed under this voting structure could set a
dangerous precedent for future aesthetic proposals. One could foresee a slight majority of
residents imposing a removal of all trees over 20 feet tall, or a vote for only paved or interlocked
driveways, to give the neighbourhood a uniform look. The potential is alarming.
Property owners can petition council for a wide variety of projects following the requirements of
the Community Charter, and RMOW bylaws. This project meets the requirements of section
212(3) of the Community Charter.
Who would undertake a project based solely on estimates?
Every project relies on estimates up to the point the project receives budget proposals from
contractors prior to construction.
Why does the RMOW mandate 50% is a majority?
Section 212(3) of the Community Charter defines that the project must receive at least 50%
support from homeowners within the subject area and the value of those supportive properties
must represent at least 50% of the value of all properties within the subject area.
Why are the risks being transferred to the 160 owners? Why are the RMOW and BC Hydro not
carrying these risks as such risks would be due to their mismanagement or lack of transparency
at this date?
85 of the 160 White Gold property owners initiated this project. RMOW and BC Hydro are
responding to the request from owners. This is a customer driven project not an operational
requirement of either RMOW or BC Hydro.
Why do White Gold owners have to pick up the described costs? Do other subdivisions inherit
the same obligations or are utility costs borne by RMOW?
When new subdivisions are built and their utilities are undergrounded by the developer and the
costs of that work is included in the costs of the homes that are then sold to the public.
What happens when an existing owner votes in favour of the project now but is unable to make
their payments later?
The costs for the project on public land are included in taxation and there are options available
to defer these taxes through the provincial tax deferral program. If the taxes remain unpaid or
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are not part of the provincial tax deferral program then the outstanding balance would follow
RMOW’s tax collection process. If the work on private property isn’t completed the property
would be disconnected from the utilities when the utilities on public land are removed. The
individual private property wouldn’t be reconnected to the undergrounded utilities until the
required work on private property is completed by the homeowner.
What will the costs be for each private property?
The costs for work on each private property will depend on the characteristics of that property
but generally the costs for a property with few trees and a gravel driveway or lawn to cross or a
property that installs their own overhead service could cost less than $5,000.00. Properties with
paving stone, concrete or asphalt driveways will be a bit more. There is expected to be minimal
work on each home’s internal electrical system. The best method to really understand your final
cost for the work on private property is to contact an electrician or general contractor and they
will provide you with a quote.
Are there options for neighbours to partner together and hire a company to provide quotes for
multiple properties?
This approach is encouraged as it will reduce the overall cost per property. Connect with your
neighbours to plan for this cost savings approach.
If the petition for this project is unsuccessful can individual streets proceed with undergrounding
their utilities?
Individual streets can petition to underground only their utilities however this would require a
new petition and would result in different parcel tax values per property. The value of any grant
from BC Hydro would also be affected.
We were originally told this project would cost approximately $3.5 million but it’s currently
estimated to be $5.5 million, why is there such a difference?
The preliminary estimate issued was for BC Hydro costs only however there are additional costs
for Telus and Shaw.
You write that the BC Hydro grant (up to $1.2 million) is for 1/3 of the estimated cost of
5.5million, exactly how much is the BC Hydro grant?
The BC Hydro grant is to cover up to 1/3 of BC Hydro’s estimated cost which is only one portion
of the estimated $5.5 million which also includes Telus, Shaw and project management costs.
The final value of the BC Hydro grant will be known once further design work is completed.
Are you allowed to cut off an existing service to someone’s household?
When the project proceeds the existing services on public land will be completely removed and
homeowners will need to connect to the new underground service in order to continue receiving
utility service.
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Have you considered that with COVID issues some may not have the same resources available
to them as before?
While the concern around cost and the impact of Covid-19 has been recognized and discussed
the process was initiated by White Gold homeowners, if the petition passes there is no option to
opt out of the project. There are options available through the Province for owners to defer the
parcel tax, or the full annual property tax payment to future years.
Why was the information session scheduled in the middle of summer holidays?
Information sessions are difficult to schedule anytime however the virtual session provided the
best opportunity we had, during Covid-19 times, to provide an interactive forum for owners.
There are options to receive more information or to have interactive discussions about this
project including:
Contact the Project Manager, Christine Boehringer, at 604-833-1925 or via email at
whitegoldunderground@gmail.com.
You can also send an email to any of the resident representatives and they can contact you via
phone or arrange to meet with you in person to discuss the project. The resident representatives
emails are Gord at gord@wninvestments.com, Rob at rkavelaars@shaw.ca or Toni at
tonimmetcalf@gmail.com.
August 18, 2020 Questions
I would like to vote “No” to this petition, how do I do that?
We are only counting those petitions that are signed and submitted as votes in support of the
petition, if you don't submit your petition at all it is counted as a "No".
If a home owner is NOT in favour of the undergrounding project but the criteria to proceed is
met (50% or more of the home owners and 50% of the assessed value), are all homeowners in
White Gold still required to participate and pay the associated costs?
If the petition meets the criteria of at least 50% support and at least 50% of the assessed value
then all homeowners in White Gold will be required to participate and pay the associated costs.
If the petition passes there is no option to opt out.
How will this project affect our driveways and landscaping?
Work required remains to be defined pending the outcome of the petition process. During the
next stage of design on public property we'll have a better picture of infrastructure placement
which will assist each homeowner's contractor to define the work to be completed on private
property. It's possible that your driveway or landscaping could be affected however this level of
detail is not available at this stage of the project.
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August 11, 2020 Questions
If the petition to underground the utilities passes, over what time period will homeowners be
repaying the loan?
1. Owners may choose to pay their portion of the service area tax as a single lump sum value
in the first year after construction or;
2. Some owners may choose to defer their service area tax through the property tax deferral
process as long as they qualify under the Provincial program.
a. Details of the regular program can be found at:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/defer-
taxes/regular-program
b. Details of the families with children program can be found at:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/defer-
taxes/families-children-program
3. Owners may choose to pay their service area tax as part of their annual property tax
payment. This amount would remain as part of the property tax payment for the life of
the loan repayment schedule of 30 years.
The petition currently indicates an estimated value of $1,130 per year, per property. Why is this
value an estimate instead of a maximum value?
The value of the amount per property may change once the full value of the BC Hydro grant is
confirmed. The BC Hydro grant, up to a maximum value of $1.2 million, covers 1/3 of BC Hydro
only undergrounding costs. The project estimate used to develop the estimated value per
property, per year, applied the full grant value to the total project value. The actual grant value
may be less depending on the actual cost of BC Hydro’s undergrounding work.
The total loan value calculation used to develop the estimate, relies on the interest rate posted
at the Municipal Finance Authority as at July 27, 2020. The interest rate, which changes
frequently, may increase or decrease prior to the loan being locked-in.
Can you provide a maximum value per year per property?
Based on the 10-year interest rate of 1.62% posted at the Municipal Finance Authority on July
27, 2020 and using a conservative BC Hydro grant value a maximum value per property would
be $1,230 per year.
Prior to construction, once all designs and project plans are complete, the project team will
complete another estimate of the project cost. If this new estimate exceeds the $1,230
maximum annual payment from each parcel, another petition will be issued to confirm support
for the project.
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What happens if the full cost of the project exceeds the $5,520,075 value noted in the petition?
Prior to construction, once all designs and project plans are complete, the project team will
complete another estimate for the total project. If the estimate at that time exceeds the currently
estimated value in the petition a second petition with the new value will be issued to
homeowners to confirm whether to proceed to construction or not.
July 28, 2020 Questions
Communications
To receive information about this project directly from the project manager, please send your
email contact details to whitegoldunderground@gmail.com
See project web page for up to date information www.whistler.ca/WhiteGoldUtilities
The White Gold Homeowners group who have been spearheading this to date, (including Rob,
Gord and Toni) will continue to provide homeowner comment to the project however all project
communications should now be directed to the project manager.
Background and Scope
Who initiated this project?
White Gold Property Owners representing 85 of the 160 White Gold properties requested that
the RMOW initiate a formal petition to relocate existing overhead utilities underground.
White Gold property owners identified an opportunity to initiate this project to remove the
existing overhead utility cables, citing many advantages to underground the utilities, including
reduced wildfire risk given the neighbourhoods proximity to Lost Lake Park, reduced risk of
power outages during storms and strong winds, and enhanced aesthetics of modernizing our
streets in line with neighbouring subdivisions.
The benefits of doing this now include the above already identified, as well as savings of almost
$2m to White Gold homeowners by:
- avoiding the cost of final repaving of the road network, as the municipality has already budgeted
this as part of the recent water mains upgrade project
- taking advantage of a successful grant from BC Hydro which will contribute up to 1/3 of the total
cost of the BC Hydro portion of the undergrounding project.
What is the scope of the White Gold Utility Undergrounding Project?
White Gold Utility Undergrounding Project will include completion of a local government petition
process for homeowner approval to proceed with the project. This project will include
approximately 2 kilometres of overhead utility lines (power and communication lines) to be
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placed underground in Whistler’s White Gold neighbourhood and removal of all overhead utility
lines and poles on public property.
If the petition is successful, the project will continue with detailed design and refined cost
estimate, tendering services and construction. The project is expected to take two and a half
years to complete: planning, preliminary design and permitting proceeding in the first year
followed by final design, contract tendering and partial construction in the second year and
project wrap up the following year.
What work will the project cover within the scope of the petition?
Project work will only include work on public land. This includes the relocation of all overhead
utilities (BC Hydro, Telus, Shaw) underground, civil infrastructure work, installation of
transformers, utility pole removal, and associated project activities. Telus and Shaw will also
participate to underground their services. If the petition is approved the project team will inquire
about options and costs for Telus and Shaw to install fibre service to increase internet speed in
the neighbourhood. If the fibre upgrade is feasible, and is within the estimated project budget,
this work will be included in the project.
What work will the project NOT cover?
During construction all overhead utility services on public right of ways will be removed and the
option to maintain overhead service as status quo does not exist.
The project excludes all work on private land such as connecting residences to the new
underground system, trenching, running electric and communication lines from the main line to
the dwelling, work on the meter, landscaping or added civil work.
Each property owner will be required to hire an electrician to define the work required on their
specific properties. The electrician will submit information to BC Hydro on behalf of the
homeowner, this activity will result in a design and reconnection charge from BC Hydro to the
homeowner. BC Hydro’s electrical service reconnection fees can be reviewed here:
https://app.bchydro.com/accounts-billing/electrical-connections/charges-fees.html. All charges
from an electrician and any required permits for alteration work on private lands are not included
in BC Hydro’s fees and will be billed to the property owner directly by the service provider.
Home owners must contact an electrician to coordinate any work required on private lands with
BC Hydro, home owners are not to contact BC Hydro directly.
Budget, Costs and Financial
What is the total estimate for this project?
The current estimated cost of the project, before applying the BC Hydro grant is $5,520,075. BC
Hydro’s grant value is one third of BC Hydro’s expected cost up to $1.2 million resulting in a
preliminary estimated loan value of $4,283,509 and an estimated annual service area parcel tax
of $1,130/parcel for the first ten years of the loan, with the lending rate and the amount charged
per property, evaluated every 5 years thereafter. These estimated costs and total parcel tax
amount will be finalized only after the completion of the project and actual costs are known.
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What is the estimated cost to be borrowed through the local services area?
The estimated cost to be borrowed is $5,520,075, this amount may be reduced when the BC
Hydro grant is applied.
In what tax year would the parcel area tax take effect?
The tax year after completion of the project, currently projected to be July 2024.
After the project is complete are the Hydro rates the same as all the other users in BC?
Yes, BC hydro rates will be the same as all other residents of BC.
Once the petition has passed, is there any chance of a project cost overrun that would
be passed on to the homeowners?
Every project has cost risk. The costs outlined in the petition are based on high level preliminary
cost estimates and are not absolute.
What does “Issue for Tender” mean?
Once a final design and cost estimate is developed, the construction work to be completed by
contractors will be publicly issued to the Provincial Government’s BC Bid website and the
RMOW website where construction contractors can review the work and provide a proposal to
complete the work. Through this tender process the project team will be able to review all
proposals to select the proposal that best meets cost, safety, quality and environmental
expectations for the planned work.
If we don’t complete this project now what are the impacts?
If moving the overhead utilities underground is deferred to some future year the cost of paving
($800K) and a possible loss of the BC Hydro grant (up to $1.2M) will be added to the future
project cost and will increase the total cost to homeowners.
What is the interest rate on the loan?
As of July 27th, 2020, the interest rate is 1.62% for 10 years with a resetting of the rate every 5
years thereafter. Note that the interest rate is subject to change up to the date the funds are
actually secured.
What is the amortization period of the loan?
The loan will be amortized over a 30-year period.
Are there options for property owners to pay their service area tax in different ways?
Owners may choose to pay their portion of the service area tax as a single lump sum value in
the first year after construction or;
Some owners may choose to defer their service area tax through the property tax deferral
process as long as they qualify under the Provincial program.
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a. Details of the regular program can be found at:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/defer-
taxes/regular-program
b. Details of the families with children program can be found at:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/defer-
taxes/families-children-program
Owners may choose to pay their service area tax as part of their annual property tax payment.
This amount would remain as part of the property tax payment for the life of the loan repayment
schedule i.e. 30 years.
Are the costs of relocating communication utilities (Telus /Shaw) included in the project
costs?
Yes. The costs of relocating the existing public overhead Telus and Shaw services underground
are covered in the total cost of the project. Work to connect these lines across private property
are the responsibility of the homeowner, and separate from the project
Are there benefits to BC Hydro such as a reduction in life expectancy replacement or a
reduction of ongoing maintenance cost that should be considered or incorporated into
BC Hydro’s expected cost?
The financial benefit to BC Hydro of the change to underground is included in the grant from BC
Hydro.
Schedule and implementation plan
How will the White Gold Utility Undergrounding Project be completed?
The RMOW has hired C. Boehringer & Associates to project manage the petition, and on
successful petition, continue with design and construction for this project. The project will be
completed in 2 phases. Phase 1 of the project includes a feasibility design study which includes
a preliminary cost estimate and formal petition process. If the petition is successful Phase 2 will
proceed and include detailed design, tendering and construction.
The schedule table below will be further detailed if the petition passes and the project proceeds
to Phase 2.
Preliminary design with associated cost estimate, August 4th, 2020
and Petition letter to property owners
Petition Closing October 9, 2020
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Phase 1 Petition Summary Report to Council November 2020
Phase 2 – Detailed Design and cost estimate November 2020 to
September 2021
Construction Issue for Tender (a formal public September 2021
tender process to ensure competitive bids)
Construction Contracts Issued November 2021
Construction of Underground Utilities Area 1 Nancy Green and
North/South Fitzsimmons:
(specific split of properties to be phased in 2022 and
2023 will be further defined during detailed design) April – Nov 2022
Area 2 Toni Sailer and
Ambassador:
April - Nov 2023
Anticipated Project Completion (drawings, February 2024
document wrap up, contract payments)
*the community information session will be held as a meeting for as many attendees
permitted under Covid-19 restrictions as allowed at the time and virtually for all remaining
interested White Gold property owners. The information session specifics will be shared on the
project website at whistler.ca/WhiteGoldUtilities and by email to owners who provide an email
address to the project team at whitegoldunderground@gmail.com
What are the benefits to considering this project at this time?
The recent work of the White Gold water system upgrades provides an opportunity to relocate
the overhead utility services underground prior to the final repaving of the road network. It is
estimated that completing this work now, before the roads are resurfaced, will save
approximately $800K in repaving costs. In addition, a BC Hydro beautification grant covering
1/3 of BC Hydro’s cost, up to a maximum of $1.2 million dollars, has been secured towards the
total cost of this project however, the grant is time bound and may not be available beyond the
current project timeframe. The combined cost benefit of proceeding at this time is an estimated
$2 million.
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Work on private land (Owners responsibility)
How will the private portion be managed?
Each property owner will manage this work on their own including working with a contractor
directly to fund and complete the work. It is anticipated that owners, if they choose, will be able
to manage all aspects of this work through a General Contactor or an electrician. Homeowners
are NOT to contact BC Hydro directly for this work.
Does BCHydro require an Electrician to prepare for the service connection or can the
homeowner do it?
BC Hydro will require a permit from an electrician prior to reconnecting service at each home.
The electrician will guide the Homeowner as to what work is required to meet BC Hydro’s
specification.
How is the private portion of BC Hydro’s design cost managed? Will an invoice go from
BC Hydro to each customer individually? Will each property have a different design
cost?
Each property may have different design costs depending on the amperage of service they
have, how far the home is from the property line and how many electrical meters they have and
whether they already have underground service, among other considerations. Detail of BC
Hydro connection fees can be found at http://app.bchydro.com/accounts-billing/electrical-
connections/charges-fees.html. These fees do not include the electrical work required to
prepare for the connection.
There are several homes that already have their utilities underground from the street to
their home. Will there be a connection fee for these homeowners?
If the utility companies are able to install service boxes and redirect the existing underground
ducting on public land there won’t be any charge to the homeowner and the work on public land
will be included in the broader service area tax. If existing underground ducting redirection work
is required on the homeowner’s property there will be an additional charge from the
homeowner’s contractor directly to the homeowner.
What is the expected timeline for the private portion to be completed?
Private connections to the new underground public service will be completed in two phases.
Approximately ½ of the parcels will be connected in the summer 2022 and the remainder in
summer 2023. More specific timelines will be available as the detailed design and
implementation plans are completed.
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**Note: questions below with double asterisk apply only to
properties that still have overhead service from their building to the
main overhead service
**What are the estimated costs for homeowners, relating to the “private portion”
connection of utilities from the property line to their residence?
It is estimated that a basic underground connection for a one-hydro meter home, on a flat lot
(excluding landscaping, driveway repair or tree removal if required) will be between $3,500 and
$5,500. This includes the trench excavation, conduit burial, backfill, Electrician and BC Hydro
connection fee. If your property has extensive landscaping or other challenges to going
underground you may choose to place a pole on your property and bring the service up from
new underground service and overhead to your home. This work is projected to cost between
$3,000-$4,500 depending on the distance from the property line and the number of poles
required. Your electrician will be able to discuss options and costs specific to your property.
Note: costs for work on private land is not included in the petition and will be borne by the
homeowners.
**What are the general requirements for connecting the underground electrical
service to the house?
If your home is serviced overhead from the main overhead utility lines on the street your meter
base will be a “top entry” and will require replacement with a new “bottom entry” meter base.
This work is to be completed by an electrician which must have a permit for the work. At the
time of connection, a meter will be installed into the new base and your building will be
reconnected to the new underground service.
**Are there any other options rather than undergrounding on private land?
Yes.
The alternative to undergrounding on private lands is to place a pole on your private property,
add a new bottom entry meter base to the pole and bring the power up from the new
underground service and overhead from the pole to the building. As with the undergrounding
work on private lands, all costs for this work are to be borne by the owner directly and are not
included in the petition costs. It is advisable to look closely at both options (underground or
overhead) to determine costs and aesthetics as it relates to your property.
Note: During the service undergrounding construction, all overhead utility services and poles on
public lands will be removed and the option to utilize existing poles or wires does not exist.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do property owners need to complete their work on private land before the underground
work on public land is completed?
It is advisable that the homeowner have the work on their property complete and ready prior to
the utilities connecting to avoid duplication of connecting fees and other work. The homeowners
Electrician can discuss the options, costs and timing.
The Petition
What are Local Area Services?
A municipality has the authority to provide services such as utilities, sewer or water to specific
areas within the municipality. These local area services are paid for by local property owners in
that area through local service taxes.
How does a local service area get established?
Each local service area must be established by a bylaw to authorize imposing a property tax to
pay for the service within the local area.
What is a petition?
A petition is a formal document that allows affected residents to vote on whether they wish to
proceed with the creation of a local service area bylaw.
What does the “Petition for White Gold Undergrounding” cover?
The White Gold Undergrounding Petition is a formal petition to the Resort Municipality of
Whistler (RMOW) Council to establish the White Gold Utilities Undergrounding Local Service
Area Bylaw and an associated Loan Authorization Bylaw. In simple terms, a successful
Petition will give the RMOW authority to borrow the funds required to complete the
undergrounding of utility services (Hydro, Shaw and Telus) on public lands, and to recover the
funds through an addition to property taxes of White Gold property owners.
What is the threshold for a positive petition?
The petition must be signed by at least 50% of the property owners representing at least 50% of
the assessed value of land and improvements that would be subjected to the local service tax.
What is the petition process?
A petition package will be mailed to property owners within the White Gold neighbourhood.
The petition package will include:
1. An introductory letter to property Owners,
2. Instructions for completing and submitting the formal petition,
3. The petition, including a plan diagram of properties included in this petition
4. Details on how to find additional information
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Q&A Package Updated August 31, 2020White Gold Utility Undergrounding Project
Frequently Asked Questions
If the petition does not proceed are there any costs to the homeowners?
No, if the petition is not successful there will be no cost to the homeowner, costs associated with
Phase 1 of the project will be borne by the RMOW.
The petition allows for the RMOW to obtain a loan to fund the project. Who is this loan
with?
The petition would create a loan authorization for the RMOW. The loan would be through the
Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) of BC. For more information about the MFA please see
www.mfa.bc.ca
Other questions
Who owns and maintains the connections between the property line and the house
once the work is complete?
The utilities, (BC Hydro, TELUS and Shaw) will own and maintain the underground
infrastructure on public land, any extensions or splits beyond the connection point will be owned
and maintained by the homeowner.
How will the homes in the small private road located on the north side of Fitzsimmons
Road South be managed for undergrounding?
Those property owners will need to define a solution with an owner agreed cost distribution for
bringing the utilities from the new underground service at the property line to their buildings.
More information on this site will be addressed during the design stage. Rights of way in favour
of the utilities are required at this location.
How much power disruption will take place during the changeover from overhead to
underground?
This is dependent on a number of factors. There will be outages to all customers at varying
times but this level of detail will be determined through detailed construction planning and will be
advised in advance as necessary.
Are there any design considerations for bringing the underground service from the road
elevation up to the homes on the hillside of Ambassador Crescent?
Yes, there is a steep elevation change here. Owners may opt for installation of private poles at
the road level (on private property) and use the overhead option, or the utilities can be installed
underground and anchored at the top of the elevation rise. The cost to install either option will
be borne by the property owners.
Where there is a common access or ROW (Right of Way) from the main line to the
houses, how do the property owners divide the cost for their portion?
This will have to be decided by the affected property owners.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the transformers be located relative to property lines?
This will be determined by BC Hydro equipment and their design; however, typically the
transformer would be installed 1m off the property line in the road allowance and near the
property line between two properties. There may be some variation to this but actual details will
be determined at the detailed design stage.
What is the estimated number and of transformers?
Pending the results of the petition, BC Hydro will progress the design which will dictate what
type of transformers and the total number required. Based on the size of the project there will
be approximately 35 transformers, similar to the quantity of pole top transformers currently
installed.
There is bedrock between 2.5 and 3.0 meters down in some locations, how deep
underground do utilities need to be buried?
Utilities require a minimum 0.9 m cover over top of the equipment being installed. A
qualified contractor will install infrastructure on private property according to utility
standards.
White Gold Utility Undergrounding Project Information Session
With ongoing COVID – 19 concerns, the White Gold Utility Undergrounding project team is
exploring options to host an in-person meeting for the maximum number of attendees allowed
under Covid-19 restrictions and adding an option for additional owners to attend the session
virtually. We will provide more information regarding the project information session option
soon. If you would like to be part of a virtual information session for this project please send an
email to the email box noted below.
For more information on this project:
See website: whistler.ca/WhiteGoldUtilities
Send us an email – whitegoldunderground@gmail.com
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