A good office electrical system is mostly invisible. The lighting is even and free of glare, every desk has power and data where people sit, the server room stays on and the panel has room for the next change. Most office work also has to be done around your staff, which means after hours scheduling, clear communication with the building manager and a tidy site. We have served the Lower Mainland since 2005, and this page explains what an office electrical project involves, what it typically costs and what to expect in your city.
Office Electrical Services
Office Lighting and Lighting Controls
Lighting affects comfort, eyestrain and your electricity bill. We install and upgrade LED troffers, panels and downlights, along with occupancy sensors, daylight sensors and dimming so lights switch off in empty rooms and adjust near windows. Replacing old fluorescent fixtures with LED is one of the most common office upgrades, and it also removes the flicker and buzzing that older ballasts cause.
Learn more about our commercial lighting services for offices and stores.
Workstation Power and Dedicated Circuits
Open plan offices, private offices, kitchenettes, printers and meeting rooms all need power in the right place. We plan outlets and dedicated circuits around your layout, including furniture power feeds and floor boxes for desks away from the walls, so you do not rely on extension cords and power bars.
Data and Low Voltage Cabling
Reliable networks start with good cabling. We run and label Cat6 and Cat6A data cable for desks, Wi-Fi access points, phones, cameras and meeting room displays, terminate it at a patch panel and test each run so you know it works before your IT team starts connecting equipment.
IT Rooms, Server Rooms and UPS Power
Even a small server or network closet needs dedicated circuits, proper grounding and a plan for backup power. We install circuits for racks and UPS units and make sure the room can handle its load and its cooling equipment.
Panel Capacity for Tenant Improvements
A new tenant or a growing team often adds more load than the unit’s panel was designed for. We calculate your load and, when needed, install a subpanel or coordinate a service upgrade with the building and BC Hydro.
Moving into a new space? See our tenant improvement electrical services for new commercial spaces.
Office Moves and Equipment Relocation
Moving offices or rearranging a floor means disconnecting and reconnecting equipment, partitions and power. We test existing equipment, relocate it and make sure everything is safe and working in the new layout.
See our existing equipment testing and relocation service.
Emergency Lighting, Exit Signs and Smoke Detectors
Offices need working emergency lighting and exit signs so people can get out safely during a power failure. We install, replace and repair battery backed units and help you keep them in working order for inspections.
Learn more about our smoke detector installation for commercial properties.
EV Charging for Employees
Staff charging is becoming a standard workplace benefit. We assess your parking, your available capacity and where networked Level 2 chargers can go. As of October 2026, BC Hydro offers up to $2,000 per networked Level 2 charger for employee use, up to 50 percent of costs, to a maximum of $14,000 per workplace. Pre-approval is required before any work starts, so check before you buy equipment.
Electrical Maintenance for Property Managers and Landlords
Landlords and property managers rely on us for common area lighting, emergency lighting, panel repairs and tenant requests. We keep clear records and communicate with your tenants so work does not disrupt their day.
24/7 Emergency Repairs
Power loss, tripping breakers, failed lighting or a dead server room circuit cannot wait for the next business day. Because we offer 24/7 service, you can reach us outside business hours.
How Much Does Office Electrical Work Cost?
Office electrical costs depend on the size of the space, how many desks and data points you need, the lighting design and whether the unit’s panel has spare capacity. As a rough guide, an office fit-up often runs about $10 to $25 per square foot for electrical work. The tables below show typical ranges in Burnaby and the Tri-Cities. They cover labour and standard electrical materials, not furniture, IT equipment or fixtures you supply.
| Office Size and Type | Typical Setup | What Drives the Price | Estimated Electrical Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small office, up to 1,500 sq ft | LED lighting, workstation power, data drops, one small IT closet | Number of data drops and circuits, ceiling type | $10,000 to $35,000 |
| Mid-size office, 1,500 to 5,000 sq ft | Open plan and private offices, meeting rooms, server room, kitchenette | Lighting controls, circuit count, subpanel | $25,000 to $110,000 |
| Large office, 5,000+ sq ft | Multiple floors or zones, IT room, extensive lighting controls | Service capacity, after hours work, phasing | $75,000 to $300,000+ |
| Office refresh | LED lighting upgrade, a few new circuits, some data drops | Existing wiring, ceiling access and scope | $5,000 to $30,000 |
Individual jobs are priced like this:
| Office Electrical Job | What Is Usually Included | What Affects the Price | Estimated Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat6 data cable drop | Cable run, jack, termination, testing and labelling | Cable length, ceiling access and finished walls | $150 to $300 per drop |
| Cat6A data cable drop | Higher grade cable and testing for faster networks | Cable length, pathways and certification requirements | $200 to $400 per drop |
| LED troffer retrofit | Remove old fixtures or ballasts, install LED fixtures or kits | Ceiling height, fixture type and after hours work | $100 to $300 per fixture |
| Occupancy or daylight sensor | Sensor, wiring and programming | Sensor type and room size | $150 to $350 per sensor |
| Workstation power circuit | Wire, breaker and receptacles | Distance from the panel and wall type | $250 to $700 per circuit |
| Floor box or recessed floor outlet | Box, conduit, wiring and floor cutting | Concrete slab, finished flooring | $600 to $1,800 each |
| IT room power with UPS circuit | Dedicated circuits, receptacles, grounding | Rack count, UPS size and distance to the panel | $1,500 to $6,000 |
| Commercial subpanel | Panel, breakers, feeder cable and labelling | Panel size and feeder length | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| Emergency light or exit sign | Battery backed unit, wiring and testing | Unit type and mounting height | $250 to $600 per unit |
These ranges are estimates based on typical jobs, not fixed prices. We confirm the price after a site visit and a look at your floor plan. Furniture, IT equipment, permit fees, ceiling and drywall repair, and after hours premiums are quoted separately.
Permits and Inspections for Office Electrical Work
New or changed circuits, panels and lighting generally need an electrical permit and an inspection. In Burnaby, the City issues its own electrical permits. Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, New Westminster and Pitt Meadows fall under Technical Safety BC, while Maple Ridge, Surrey, North Vancouver and West Vancouver also issue their own permits.
In multi tenant buildings, the landlord or property manager usually has rules about working hours, contractor insurance, access to electrical rooms and shutdown notices. We ask for these at the start and plan around them, so your project does not stall at the building’s front desk.
Office Electricians in Burnaby and the Tri-Cities
The electrical code is the same across the region. What changes is the permit office, the type of building and the landlord’s requirements.
Office Electrician in Burnaby
Burnaby work goes through the City of Burnaby’s own permit and inspection process, and we schedule around it. Burnaby has a large office market around Metrotown, Brentwood and Lougheed, where mid rise and high rise buildings have building standard requirements, shared electrical rooms and rules about after hours work. We coordinate with the building manager before any shutdown or access to risers.
Office Electrician in Coquitlam
Coquitlam offices range from suites in City Centre towers to professional and medical suites in Austin Heights and along the Lougheed Highway corridor. Newer buildings usually have more spare capacity, while older buildings may need a subpanel or updated wiring before a new tenant’s equipment can be added. Permits are issued by Technical Safety BC.
Office Electrician in Port Moody
Port Moody offices are mostly in Suter Brook and Newport Village and in smaller buildings near Moody Centre. These are often mixed use buildings, where landlord rules and strata approvals affect when and how work happens. Permits go through Technical Safety BC.
Office Electrician in Port Coquitlam
Port Coquitlam is our home base, so offices and flex units in the business parks near Shaughnessy Street and Mary Hill Road get quick site visits and follow up. Many units combine office space with a warehouse or workshop area, so we plan lighting, power and data for both. Permits are handled through Technical Safety BC.
New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Nearby Communities
We also serve offices in New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Surrey, North Vancouver, West Vancouver and Langley, and we handle the local permit process in each.
How an Office Electrical Project Works With Us
- Walkthrough and floor plan. We visit the space, or review your plans, and collect the building’s contractor rules.
- Load calculation and layout. We confirm panel capacity and plan lighting, power and data around your layout.
- Written quote. Lighting, circuits, data cabling, IT room power, permits and any panel work are itemized.
- Permit. We apply to Technical Safety BC or your municipality and coordinate with other approvals.
- Installation. We work around your staff, general contractor and move date, with after hours work available when needed.
- Inspection and testing. The work is inspected, and we test circuits, lighting controls and every data run.
- Handover. You receive a labelled panel and a labelled patch panel so your team and future contractors can find everything quickly.
Why Businesses Choose Intel Power for Office Electrical Work
Intel Power Electric was formed in 2005 and has been led from the start by Navid Sadeghi, a BCIT graduate. We are a full service electrical contractor for homes, businesses and industrial sites. We carry a $10,000 electrical bond and $2,000,000 in liability insurance, we are covered by WCB, and our electricians are licensed. We offer 24/7 service for urgent problems.
We also tell you plainly what your office needs. If an LED retrofit and a few new circuits will do the job, we will not suggest a full rewire. If the building’s capacity limits your plans, we will explain why and show you the options before you commit to a lease or a move date.
Book an Office Electrician
Call us at (604) 618-0977 or send us your floor plan and building rules. We will tell you what the work will cost and which permits are needed, before any work begins.
