With many parts of British Columbia receiving record breaking amounts of snow and extreme weather conditions this winter, it is important to review some proper power outage protocol and safety measures. Although most power outages only last a few hours, it is always important to be properly prepared for outages lasting longer. The licensed electricians at Expert Electric have put together some helpful tips on how to prepare for power outages and power failures.

Before a power outage or power failure occurs, it is important to have a plan that everyone in your home is familiar with. The plan does not have to be overly complicated but it should address some of the most important protocol and information such as the location of an emergency kit and additional supplies such as candles and food.

Having an emergency kit for power outages and power failures is critical. There are many different types of emergency kits on the market. Many people also choose to build their own emergency kits which is totally fine as long as they include the essentials. BC Hydro recommends including some of the following items in an emergency safety kit:

It is important to remember that these items are only the basics. The amount or volume of each item is dependent upon how many people are living in the household at the time of the power outage or power failure.

When a power outage occurs in British Columbia, the licensed electricians at Expert Electric recommend checking the BC Hydro website  as soon as possible to determine the size and scale of the outage. If it does not appear as though BC Hydro is aware of the outage, they can be notified directly at 1 800 BCHYDRO. Once you have a better understanding of the potential duration of the power outage, it is much easier to determine whether or not your emergency kit will need to be used. During power outages, it is a good idea to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed at all times in order to prolong their temperatures.

Installing a standby emergency generator is one of the best ways to prepare for a power outage or failure. It will allow you to power all of your home’s appliances during a power outage and keep your home at a preferred temperature. There are many different types of emergency generators available. If you are interested in installing a standby emergency generator in your home, talk to the professionals at Expert Electric first.

For more information on how to prepare for power outages and power failures, please contact the licensed electricians at Expert Electric. We offer various residential and commercial electrical services including standby emergency generator installations, motion sensing lights, electrical ballast replacement and more. Call us today at 604-681-8338 or book a service appointment through our website.

Typically electricity and water don’t play well together, but modern technology has given birth to lights that can not only get wet, but be fully submerged underwater.

Color-changing capability, energy efficiency and custom lighting effects ramp up the cool-factor even more. There’s no end to their creative applications, but I’ve found that some people are prime candidates for these innovative lights.

This is really important! Note that there can be vast distinctions between the different lights that are labeled “wet location lights.” A light fixture that can withstand rain may not be able to withstand full immersion. It all comes down to a vitally important specification called an Ingress Protection Rating (or IP Code). For the purposes of today’s post, we’ll be talking about lights that are IP-68 rated. (Read more about that via

“SOLID” was the word Ken used to describe himself.  He is a man of character who always finishes what he starts and keeps his word.  A true humanitarian and dedicated businessman, Lebersfeld accepts this award with humble gratitude.

He continues to work six days a week, providing a “solid” foundation for his employees, as well as his younger siblings and cousins who work at Capitol Lighting.  They know–if there is a problem, whether personal or business–Ken would be there wholeheartedly and in full force.  He does nothing half-way.  And, perhaps that is why he is at the helm and has become the strong-hold of a family lighting business that has strived to be the best for over 90 years.