Electrical engineering and construction for utilities

Distribution, transmission and substation design
and construction services

Distribution

Primary’s relationship-driven people are well versed in utility engineering, construction and operations. Many utilities across Canada trust our experience and innovation to grow and maintain their assets.

Overhead

New overhead lines
PLS-CADD, QuickPole and Spidacalc design and analysis
Overhead replacement programs
Overhead and underground voltage conversions 4-25 kV
Quotation, design, and project management of customer extensions and line relocations
Primary service applications
Specification and tendering of service equipment including main disconnect switches, primary metering units, protection units and transformers
Nonstandard overhead structures to meet project constraints and customer needs
All aspects of construction either directly by Primary crews or with the assistance of our construction partners

Underground

New underground electrical systems
Underground replacement programs
System feeder extensions and capacity upgrade
Primary service applications
Network distribution design
Specification and tendering of pad-mounted service equipment including main disconnect switches, primary metering units, protection units and unit-substations
Cable and conduit design optimization through calculation of underground cable ampacity per IEE 835 including customer load factor and environmental conditions
All aspects of construction either directly by Primary crews or with the assistance of our construction partners.

Safety and quality as a way of life is how we approach all projects.

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Transmission

Transmitting big power requires a deep understanding of stakeholders’ needs. We combine our technical knowledge and experience to get you connected.

Our transmission engineering team has experience in the design, specification and construction of 33 kV and higher. We work with our clients to develop line designs that optimize transmission systems. We develop all deliverables as part of a typical transmission connection including foundation analysis and design, structure analysis and design (steel pole or wood pole) and electrical studies such as grounding, lightning and induction studies to ensure worker safety and electromagnetic compatibility levels are met.

Services include

New overhead lines (33 kV and higher)
PLS-CADD design and analysis
Steel and wood structure design
Foundation analysis and specification
Switching structure design including motor operated disconnects
Design for integration into customer SCADA systems
Geospatial rendering to preview the design in mapping software
Grounding analysis for work safety
Lightning analysis to determine proper line shielding
Induction calculations to check effects on nearby distribution lines and/or telephone lines
All aspects of construction either directly by Primary crews or with the assistance of our construction partners.

Safety and quality as a way of life is how we approach all projects.

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Substations

Fast, safe, innovative delivery is our rule. We lead from concept through commissioning to get power working for you.

Our substation design team knows the key elements of a successful substation design:

Conceptual sign off, long lead material specification, detailed design, construction support and energization. We work closely with our clients from start to finish to ensure that all critical path items are accounted for during project execution.

Services include

Single Line Diagram generation from customer requirements
Station layout drawings
Structure design including development of:
- Steel structure erection drawings
- Electrical component details
Clearances and specification of HV and MV equipment and shop drawing review for:
- Power Transformers
- Circuit Breakers
- Line switches
- VTs, CVTs and CTs
- Ancillary equipment
Control building design
Control rack and electrical panel layout and design
Protection architecture definition, studies and settings specification
Pre-Construction validation of protection settings through the use of Primary’s Protection and Communications Lab
Ancillary electrical system designs
Communications equipment
Battery backup systems
SCADA integration
Communications equipment specification

Safety and quality as a way of life is how we approach all projects.

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Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure

EV infrastructure projects are evolving quickly. Our clients face a major challenge in scaling EV charging infrastructure to meet increasing adoption, while also navigating utility constraints, permitting uncertainty, evolving technology, and timeline pressures tied to funding requirements. Primary’s dedicated EV charging team thrives on helping our clients create predictability in this space, to arrive at scalable, repeatable, and right-sized design solutions.

We support projects across Canada ranging from commercial and fleet charging to large-scale DC fast charging hubs. Our team is proud to work closely with developers, municipalities, utilities, and charging network operators in electrifying North America’s transportation infrastructure.

We’ve found that the key to a successful EV charging project involves the following approach:

Early site screening and feasibility assessment to help clients select the right sites before major investment
User experience obsessed design, when considering factors related to accessibility, reliability, and dwell time
Leveraging our utility design strength to de-risk service connection uncertainties
Front-loaded planning to reduce re-designs and costly construction delays
Identifying and mitigating permitting, utility, and construction risks early
Practical designs that balance constructability, operational needs, and future-proofing
Maintaining strong project presence and responsiveness to rapidly resolve issues that inevitably arise during construction
Delivering safe, reliable electrical and utility designs that meet all applicable standards