BC Hydro is issuing a warning to the public, as copper theft has skyrocketed by 300 per cent in the last 18 months.
It says that the consequences aren’t just costly but could also prove to be fatal.
According to a news release from the electric utility, thieves are targeting maintenance holes that house copper cables “essential for carrying electricity between underground circuits and substations.”
Those cables are valuable on the scrap market.
“Cutting into them is like tampering with a live power line: one wrong move can be deadly.”
“We’ve logged 24 maintenance hole theft and mischief cases since January 2024, compared to just five in the previous two years, a staggering 380 per cent increase,” said Susie Rieder, BC Hydro spokesperson, in an email.
“This isn’t just a property crime. It’s a direct threat to public safety, to our crews and to the thieves themselves. Anyone who touches live electrical equipment is risking severe injury or loss of life,” she added.
BC Hydro is concerned with more than just the thieves, warning that open maintenance holes can create hazards for both pedestrians and vehicles. Severed cables can also cause fires or lead to power outages.
The damage being done is also costly.
“BC Hydro is working closely with police to investigate these incidents, which include 11 on Vancouver Island, nine in the Lower Mainland and one in Northern B.C. In each case, suspects removed maintenance hole covers and cut cables at both ends, typically targeting a single span of approximately 200 metres before dragging the cable out using a vehicle or winch. Fixing the damage is expensive, with repair costs estimated around $1.2 million,” the utility states.
Copper thefts from maintenance holes have skyrocketed by more than 300% in the past 18 months, with consequences that are not just costly, but could be potentially fatal. Read more: https://t.co/0pB28GOtRe pic.twitter.com/HAvb7004VR
— BC Hydro (@bchydro) December 11, 2025
If you witness any suspicious behaviour related to copper theft and maintenance holes, the utility is urging you to report it. You can call 911 or the utility’s security command centre at 1-877-311-8611.