Electrical Panel Upgrade in Toronto: 100A to 200A Service Upgrades, Panel Replacement & Fuse Box Replacement
Toronto Electrical Panel Upgrade is an ECRA/ESA licensed electrical contractor specialising exclusively in electrical panel upgrade projects, service upgrades, fuse box replacement, and breaker panel installations across the Greater Toronto Area. We handle 60A to 100A upgrades, 100A to 200A service upgrades, 200A to 400A commercial upgrades, subpanel installations, and full service entrance replacements, with ESA permit filing and Toronto Hydro disconnect coordination on every job.
A 100A to 200A electric panel upgrade in Toronto runs $2,500 to $8,000 CAD depending on whether the service is overhead or underground and which load centre you choose from Siemens, Square D / Schneider Electric or Eaton. A 60A to 100A upgrade runs $1,500 to $4,000 CAD and a fuse box to breaker conversion $1,800 to $5,000 CAD. Every quote is written and itemised, with the ESA permit fee and the utility coordination fee on separate lines.
Most calls start with a trigger: a Level 2 EV charger, a cold-climate heat pump, an induction range, a hot tub, a basement-suite subpanel, a renovation that puts the panel in front of an ESA inspector, an insurance renewal condition, or a 60A fuse panel flagged during a home inspection. We run the OESC Section 8 demand calculation first and tell you whether the existing service carries the load or a service upgrade is the honest answer.
We work Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York, York and East York on Toronto Hydro, plus Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Burlington, Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa, with Hydro One coordination for outer-GTA properties inside our 50km radius.
- ECRA/ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor
- ESA Permit and Final Inspection Included
- Toronto Hydro and Hydro One Coordination
- Free On-Site Estimates, Written and Itemised
- WSIB Certified, $2M Liability Coverage
- Same-Week Scheduling, Clean Job Sites
Thanks, we have your request.
A licensed crew member will be in touch to book the on-site estimate.
Get Your Free On-Site Estimate
Four fields. We reply with an assessment date and a written itemised quote showing the ESA permit fee and coordination fee separately.
- ECRA/ESA Licensed
- ESA Permit Included on Every Job
- Same-Week Scheduling
- WSIB Certified
- Free Written Itemised Quote
What Is an Electrical Panel Upgrade in Toronto?
An electrical panel upgrade replaces the main breaker, load centre and, where the service size changes, the meter base and service entrance conductors, so the property can carry more simultaneous load. In Toronto that normally means moving a 60A or 100A service to 200A with a 42-circuit panel, or converting a fuse box to a breaker panel with arc-fault and ground-fault protection. The work is governed by the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, filed with the Electrical Safety Authority, and coordinated with the local distribution utility because the service has to be de-energized to do it.
What Does It Include?
- An OESC Section 8 demand calculation covering existing and planned loads
- A new main breaker and load centre, commonly a 42-circuit panel on a 200A service
- Meter base and service entrance conductor replacement where the amperage changes
- Mast, weatherhead or underground lateral work on the service entrance
- Neutral bar bonding and a verified grounding electrode conductor
- ESA Notification of Work, final inspection and Certificate of Inspection
- Utility disconnect and reconnect booked and coordinated on your behalf
How Much Does It Cost?
A 100A to 200A panel upgrade runs $2,500 to $8,000 CAD, a 60A to 100A upgrade $1,500 to $4,000 CAD, a fuse box to breaker conversion $1,800 to $5,000 CAD, a subpanel $800 to $3,000 CAD, and a commercial 200A to 400A service $5,000 to $15,000 CAD. Where an address lands inside its range depends on overhead versus underground service, conductor routing distance, panel brand and anything the load calculation adds. The ESA permit fee is included and the utility coordination fee is itemised, never buried in a labour line.
Why Toronto Panel Work Is Its Own Discipline
Toronto's housing stock spans knob-and-tube era homes in Cabbagetown and The Beaches, post-war brick bungalows across Scarborough and Etobicoke, and modern infills and condo conversions through the core. Each era brings its own panel problem: Edison-base fuse blocks, split-bus panels with no main, Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Federal Pioneer enclosures with a documented failure-to-trip defect, aluminum branch wiring that loosens at terminations, and service masts corroded at the weatherhead. Layer the utility disconnect process and the ESA permit and inspection sequence on top, and panel work stops being a one-hour swap and becomes a scheduled project with dependencies. That is the only work we do.
Panel brands we install
- Siemens Wide breaker availability and a deep enclosure that makes neat conductor routing easier.
- Square D / Schneider Electric QO and Homeline series, strong arc-fault and ground-fault breaker range.
- Eaton BR series with competitive pricing and broad supply through Ontario distributors.
Any product warranty on a load centre or breaker is the panel manufacturer's, not ours.
Electrical Panel Upgrade Services in Toronto
Residential, commercial and industrial panel work. Every page below carries its own load calculation detail, pricing band and ESA process.
Residential Panel Upgrades
Residential category pageService upgrades from 60A through 200A, fuse box conversions, Federal Pacific Stab-Lok replacement, aluminum wiring remediation, and dedicated circuits for EV charging, hot tubs and basement suites.
Most Requested
From $2,500 CAD
100A to 200A Service Upgrades
Upgrade an undersized 100A service to a 200A, 42-circuit panel with Toronto Hydro disconnect and reconnect coordinated on the day.
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Insurance Deadlines
From $1,800 CAD
Fuse Box Replacement
Convert an outdated 60A fuse panel to a modern breaker panel with AFCI/GFCI protection and an ESA certificate your insurer accepts.
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Resale Blocker
From $1,800 CAD
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Panel Replacement
Replace a defective Federal Pacific / Federal Pioneer Stab-Lok panel flagged at inspection with a code-compliant breaker panel and ESA certificate.
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From $1,800 CAD
Electrical Panel Replacement
Replace a failing or obsolete breaker panel at the same amperage with a new Siemens, Square D or Eaton load centre and ESA inspection.
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Deadline Work
From $1,800 CAD
Insurance-Required Electrical Upgrades
Resolve insurer-mandated panel upgrades fast with an ESA certificate and documentation Toronto insurers accept before renewal or closing.
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From $1,500 CAD
Aluminum Wiring Panel Upgrade
Remediate aluminum wiring at the panel and terminations to satisfy Toronto home insurers, with ESA certification on completion.
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From $1,500 CAD
60A to 100A Service Upgrades
Move an undersized 60A service to 100A (or straight to 200A) with an OESC load calculation and ESA inspection.
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From $2,500 CAD
200A Service Upgrades
Upgrade to a 200A service with a 42-circuit panel and new service entrance, sized for full home electrification.
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EV Ready
From $800 CAD
EV Charger Electrical Upgrades
Prep your panel and circuit for Level 2 EV charging with a dedicated 40A/50A circuit, EVEMS load management, or a full 200A upgrade.
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From $800 CAD
Hot Tub Electrical Upgrades
Add the dedicated 240V GFCI circuit or subpanel a hot tub needs, with a load check and ESA inspection.
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From $800 CAD
Basement Suite Electrical Upgrades
Add the subpanel, submetering and separate disconnect a legal Toronto second suite requires, with ESA sign-off.
View serviceCommercial Panel Upgrades
Commercial category page200A to 400A service upgrades with CT cabinet coordination, single- and three-phase supply, and commercial ESA plan review for restaurants, offices and retail units.
Commercial
From $5,000 CAD
200A to 400A Service Upgrades
Upgrade commercial and large-residential service to 400A with a CT cabinet, three-phase option and commercial ESA plan review.
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From $5,000 CAD
Restaurant Electrical Upgrades
Size and upgrade service for a commercial kitchen build-out, coordinating three-phase equipment loads with the GC and utility.
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From $5,000 CAD
Office Electrical Upgrades
Upgrade distribution for office fit-outs with per-floor subpanels and after-hours work that minimises downtime.
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From $5,000 CAD
Retail Electrical Upgrades
Provide the capacity a retail tenant improvement needs for lighting, HVAC, signage and POS, with metering and permit coordination.
View serviceIndustrial Service Upgrades
Industrial category pageThree-phase 120/208V and 347/600V distribution, switchgear and motor control centres, load studies and short-circuit current rating verification for warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
From $5,000 CAD
Three-Phase Electrical Service Upgrades
Install or upgrade three-phase service (120/208V or 347/600V) for facilities with motor and equipment loads, with switchgear and a load study.
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From $5,000 CAD
600V Electrical Service Upgrades
Upgrade to 600V distribution for heavy-motor facilities, with switchgear and utility vault/transformer coordination.
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From $5,000 CAD
Warehouse Electrical Upgrades
Upgrade power capacity for warehouse racking, equipment and forklift-charging loads, with distribution layout and phased work.
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From $5,000 CAD
Manufacturing Facility Electrical Upgrades
Upgrade switchgear and three-phase distribution for machine loads, coordinated around the production schedule.
View serviceWhen Do You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade in Toronto?
Eight triggers account for almost every panel upgrade we quote. If one of these describes your property, the load calculation will tell you how far the existing service can stretch.
Home insurance refusal or a renewal notice
Toronto underwriters decline or surcharge policies on homes still running an obsolete 60A service or a fuse block. The ESA Certificate of Inspection is what closes the file.
Level 2 EV charger installation at 40A or 50A
An EV charger is a continuous load. Added to laundry, HVAC and refrigeration on an aged 100A panel, the OESC Section 8 calculation runs out of room fast.
Heat pump or central air conversion
Moving off gas heating to a cold-climate heat pump needs dedicated high-amperage breakers and headroom the original panel was never sized for.
Legal basement suite or accessory dwelling unit
City of Toronto secondary-suite permits require a documented load calculation, a dedicated subpanel and a separate disconnect for the suite.
Screw-in glass fuses or cartridge fuse blocks
Fuse blocks cannot provide the arc-fault and ground-fault protection the Ontario Electrical Safety Code now expects on modern branch circuits.
Flickering lights when appliances start
That flicker is voltage drop under load. It points at bus-bar saturation or loose terminations at the main breaker, both end-of-life signals.
Doubled-up breakers with no knockouts left
When every position is tandemmed and the enclosure has no knockouts left, adding a circuit safely means a new load centre, not more stacking.
Corroded service mast or meter base
A weathered mast and weatherhead lets water track into the panel interior. The service entrance conductors and meter base get replaced with the panel.
Free Electrical Tools
Not ready to book an estimate? Check your panel capacity or find the right service in a couple of minutes.
Panel Replaced. Permit Pulled. Inspection Passed.
Six reasons Toronto homeowners and property managers hand panel work to a specialist instead of a general contractor.
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Panel-only specialists
We do not chase general electrical work. Panel upgrades, fuse box replacement, subpanels and service entrance work are the whole business, which is why the utility and ESA steps run without surprises.
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ESA permit filed on every job
Every project gets a Notification of Work and a final inspection. No exceptions, no "we can skip the permit" conversations, and the fee is visible on the quote.
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Utility coordination handled directly
Toronto Hydro inside the city, Hydro One for outer-GTA addresses, and Alectra, Elexicon, Oakville Hydro, Burlington Hydro or Oshawa Power in the region. You never have to book a meter pull yourself.
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Written itemised quotes
Labour, materials, the ESA permit fee and the utility coordination fee are broken out separately, so you can see exactly what changes if the scope changes.
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Insurance-required upgrades documented
When an insurer flags a 60A service, a fuse panel, a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or aluminum wiring, we complete the work and hand over the documentation underwriting asks for.
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Panel brand options explained
Siemens, Square D / Schneider Electric and Eaton load centres each have trade-offs in breaker availability and cost. We explain them and let you choose. Warranty terms are the manufacturer’s.
How We Are Different
Most electrical contractors treat a panel upgrade as one job type among dozens. That works until the utility disconnect slips, the ESA inspector flags a grounding electrode conductor, or the meter base turns out to need replacing on a service the quote assumed was fine. Those are the moments where a general crew loses a day and a specialist does not, because the material is already on the truck and the utility contact is already made.
Our whole workflow is built around the dependency chain: load calculation, ESA Notification of Work, utility service layout approval, disconnect booking, install, inspection, reconnect. We quote against that chain, not against an optimistic hour count, which is why the invoice matches the quote and the power comes back on the day we said it would.
It also means we will tell you when you do not need a service upgrade. If the demand calculation shows headroom on your existing 100A or 200A service, a subpanel or an EVEMS load-management device solves the problem for a fraction of the cost, and that is what we will quote.
Layout Approved. Meter Pulled. Power Back Same Day.
The Toronto Hydro coordination process, step by step. Hydro One, Alectra Utilities, Elexicon Energy, Oakville Hydro, Burlington Hydro and Oshawa Power follow the same sequence with their own booking windows.
- 01
Service layout approval
We submit the new service layout, conductor sizing and meter base position so the utility can confirm the point of attachment before any material is ordered.
- 02
Disconnect scheduling
Once the ESA Notification of Work is filed, we book the disconnect slot. Morning slots let us finish and re-energize inside the same working day.
- 03
Meter pull and service change
The utility pulls the meter and drops the service. We replace the meter base, service entrance conductors, mast or lateral, and the load centre.
- 04
ESA inspection
The ESA inspector attends, reviews bonding, grounding, terminations and labelling, and signs off the Certificate of Inspection.
- 05
Energization and handoff
The utility reconnects and sets the meter. You get the certificate, the panel schedule and the itemised invoice matching the original quote.
The ESA Permit Process in Ontario
Every panel upgrade in Ontario is notifiable work. That means a licensed electrical contractor files a Notification of Work with the Electrical Safety Authority before the job starts, and an ESA inspector reviews the finished installation before the utility re-energizes it. There is no compliant path that skips either step.
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Notification of Work
Filed under our ECRA/ESA contractor licence with the scope, service size and property address. The fee appears as its own line on your quote.
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Inspection booking
Scheduled to land on install day so the inspection, sign-off and utility reconnect can happen in sequence without an extra outage.
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Certificate of Inspection
Issued once the work passes. This is the document insurers, lawyers and buyers accept as proof the panel meets the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.
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Commercial plan review
Commercial and industrial projects add an ESA plan review before install, covering single-line diagrams, load studies and short-circuit current ratings.
Our 5-Step Job Process
- 01
Free on-site quote
We read the existing service, panel brand and condition, then run the OESC Section 8 demand calculation against your planned loads.
- 02
ESA permit application
The Notification of Work is filed in your name with the scope we quoted. The permit fee sits on its own line in the quote.
- 03
Utility booking
Toronto Hydro, Alectra, Elexicon, Oakville Hydro, Burlington Hydro, Oshawa Power or Hydro One, whichever holds your service.
- 04
Install day
Panel, meter base and service entrance replaced, circuits transferred and labelled, grounding electrode conductor verified.
- 05
ESA inspection and reconnect
Inspection passes, the utility reconnects, and the Certificate of Inspection goes to you and your insurer if one is waiting on it.
Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost in Toronto
Every quote is written and itemised, with the ESA permit fee and the utility coordination fee broken out separately.
| Scope | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60A to 100A panel upgrade | $1,500 | $2,500 | $4,000 |
| 100A to 200A panel upgrade | $2,500 | $4,500 | $8,000 |
| 200A to 400A upgrade (commercial / large residential) | $5,000 | $8,000 | $15,000 |
| Fuse box to breaker panel conversion | $1,800 | $3,200 | $5,000 |
| Subpanel installation | $800 | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| ESA permit filing | Included | Included | Included |
All figures in CAD.
Typical timelines
- 100A to 200A upgrade: 1 to 2 days
- Toronto Hydro disconnect and reconnect: same day, booked in advance
- Fuse box to breaker conversion: 1 day
- Commercial 400A service: scheduled around the ESA plan review
Not sure whether you need a panel replacement or a full service upgrade?
We run the OESC Section 8 load calculation first, then quote only what the calculation supports.
Recent Panel Work
Panel installs, breaker terminations and service entrance replacements across Toronto and the GTA. Select any image to enlarge it.
What Toronto Customers Say
Panel upgrades, fuse box conversions, Stab-Lok replacements and EV circuits across city neighbourhoods.
Our 100A panel could not carry the heat pump and induction range, so the crew ran a 100A to 200A upgrade and coordinated the Toronto Hydro disconnect for the morning. Full ESA approval the same afternoon.
Insurance flagged the screw-in fuse box on our 1920s semi and gave us a deadline. The crew replaced it with a 42-circuit breaker panel and filed the ESA certificate our insurer accepted.
Home inspection found a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel before closing. They identified it, replaced the panel to OESC code, and had the Certificate of Inspection ready in time for possession.
Added a Level 2 EV charger in the garage. The crew ran a dedicated 50A circuit off a new 200A service and coordinated the meter pull with Toronto Hydro cleanly.
Building a legal basement suite meant a separate 100A subpanel and disconnect. The load calculation and ESA sign-off were handled on time so our secondary-suite permit stayed on track.
200A Service. 42-Circuit Panel. Same-Day Energization.
Power disconnected in the morning, ESA inspected, and re-energized by the utility the same afternoon.
- Service sizes upgraded
- 60A to 400A Service sizes upgraded
- Standard 200A load centre
- 42-circuit Standard 200A load centre
- Typical 100A to 200A upgrade
- 1 to 2 days Typical 100A to 200A upgrade
- General liability coverage
- $2M General liability coverage
Toronto Core. GTA Cities. 50km Radius.
Toronto Hydro across the city districts, Alectra Utilities, Oakville Hydro, Burlington Hydro, Elexicon Energy and Oshawa Power out in the region, and Hydro One for outer-GTA addresses.
Electrical Panel Upgrade FAQs
Cost, timelines, permits, utility disconnects and insurance requirements, answered for Toronto and the GTA.
How much does an electrical panel upgrade cost in Toronto?
A 100A to 200A upgrade runs $2,500 to $8,000 CAD depending on overhead versus underground service and panel choice. A 60A to 100A upgrade is $1,500 to $4,000 CAD, and a fuse box to breaker conversion is $1,800 to $5,000 CAD. Every quote is written and itemised with the ESA permit fee and Toronto Hydro coordination fee broken out separately.
How long does an electrical panel upgrade take in Toronto?
A 100A to 200A upgrade takes 1 to 2 days, with the Toronto Hydro disconnect and reconnect booked in advance and completed the same day. A fuse box to breaker conversion is typically 1 day.
Do I need a permit to upgrade my electrical panel in Toronto?
Yes. Every panel upgrade requires an ESA Notification of Work (permit) and a final ESA inspection. We file the permit and handle the inspection on every job, and the permit fee is included in the written quote.
What is the difference between a 100A and 200A electrical panel?
A 100A service carries a basic modern home, while a 200A service adds headroom for EV charging, a heat pump, induction cooking and a basement suite at the same time. A 200A panel commonly holds 42 circuits versus far fewer on an older 100A panel.
Why would I need to upgrade my electrical panel?
Common triggers are an insurance requirement, frequent breaker trips on modern loads, a 60A or fuse panel, a flagged Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or aluminum wiring, and no space for an EV charger, hot tub, heat pump or basement-suite subpanel.
Does Toronto Hydro need to disconnect power for a panel upgrade?
Yes. Toronto Hydro disconnects the service so the meter base and panel can be replaced safely, then reconnects after the ESA inspection passes. We coordinate the disconnect and reconnect directly, usually the same day, and use Hydro One for outer-GTA properties.
What does ESA certification mean for panel upgrades in Ontario?
The ESA Certificate of Inspection confirms an ESA inspector reviewed the work and it meets the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. It is the document insurers and lawyers accept as proof the panel work is code-compliant.
Can I stay home during an electrical panel upgrade?
Yes, though power is off for part of the day during the Toronto Hydro disconnect. Most 100A to 200A upgrades cut power in the morning and re-energize the same afternoon after the ESA inspection.
Will my homeowner's insurance require a panel upgrade?
Many Toronto insurers require replacing a 60A service, a fuse box, a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel or aluminum wiring before they renew or issue a policy. We complete the flagged upgrade and provide the ESA certificate underwriting accepts.
What are the signs my electrical panel needs replacing?
Frequent breaker trips, a warm panel, flickering lights when appliances start, no free breaker slots, double-tapped breakers, screw-in fuses, and a corroded service mast or meter base all point to a panel at end of life.
What triggers the need for a 200A upgrade in Toronto?
EV charging, a heat pump, an induction range, a hot tub and a basement-suite subpanel each add significant load. When an OESC Section 8 calculation exceeds a 100A service, a 200A upgrade is the fix.
How much does a fuse box replacement cost in Toronto?
A fuse box to breaker panel conversion runs $1,800 to $5,000 CAD depending on the panel size and service condition, with the ESA permit fee included in the written quote.
Do you handle commercial electrical panel upgrades in Toronto?
Yes. We upgrade commercial and light-industrial service from 200A to 400A, including CT cabinets, single- and three-phase supply, and the commercial ESA plan review, for restaurants, offices, retail units, warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
What panel brands do you install in Toronto?
We install Siemens, Square D / Schneider Electric and Eaton load centres, and explain the pros and cons of each so you can pick the panel that fits your home and budget. Any warranty terms are those of the panel manufacturer.
Still have a question?
Ask the crew directly. We answer load calculation, permit and utility coordination questions before you commit to anything.
Ready to Upgrade Your Panel?
Book the free on-site estimate. We run the load calculation, file the ESA permit, and coordinate the utility disconnect so you only deal with one crew.
- ESA permit and final inspection included
- Toronto Hydro coordination handled
- No hidden fees on the written quote
Thanks, we have your request.
A licensed crew member will be in touch to book the on-site estimate.
Request a Written Itemised Quote
Four fields. We reply with a free on-site estimate date and the ESA permit and coordination fees broken out separately.