# 200A to 400A Upgrade Toronto | Toronto Electrical Panel Upgrade URL: https://electricalpanelupgradetoronto.ca/200a-to-400a-service-upgrades/ ![Crew installing a 400A service with a CT cabinet in a Toronto commercial mechanical room](/images/misc/two-electricians-seen-from-behind-installing-a-400.webp) Commercial # 200A to 400A Commercial Service Upgrades in Toronto Last updated: September 12, 2026 Upgrade commercial and large-residential service to 400A with a CT cabinet, three-phase option and commercial ESA plan review. - ECRA/ESA Licensed - ESA Permit Included - Utility Coordination Handled - Written Itemised Quote Get a Free On-Site Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) +1-647-577-6113 [tel:+16475776113 →](tel:+16475776113) Written itemised quote $ 5,000 to $15,000 CAD - ESA permit filed and inspection booked - Utility disconnect and reconnect coordinated - Same-Week Scheduling View Pricing Detail [#pricing →](#pricing) - ECRA/ESA Licensed - ESA Permit Included on Every Job - Same-Week Scheduling - WSIB Certified - Free Written Itemised Quote ## What Is a 200A to 400A Service Upgrade? A 200A to 400A service upgrade doubles the continuous capacity of a commercial or large-residential service. Practically it means new service entrance conductors, a CT cabinet for utility metering, either commercial switchgear or a 400A main with distribution panels downstream, and a coordinated cutover so the property is not without power longer than planned. It is a different animal from a residential panel upgrade in three ways. First, metering: above roughly 200A the utility meters through current transformers, so a CT cabinet enters the design and the utility specifies its type and position. Second, plan review: the Electrical Safety Authority reviews the design against the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) before installation, which means a single-line diagram, a load study and a short-circuit current rating check. Third, continuity: a business cannot simply lose power for a day, so the cutover is planned, phased or moved after hours. The trigger is almost always added load. Commercial HVAC, a kitchen fit-out, refrigeration, tenant improvements, or EV charging for a fleet or staff parking. Sometimes it is a landlord upgrading base-building capacity before leasing. For the commercial range, see commercial electrical panel upgrades [/commercial-electrical-panel-upgrades/ →](/commercial-electrical-panel-upgrades/) . ### Configuration Options - **400A single-phase with CT cabinet.** Suits large residential, small retail and light commercial where three-phase is unavailable or unnecessary. - **400A three-phase 120/208V.** The standard commercial arrangement where three-phase supply exists. Better for motor and kitchen loads. - **400A with commercial switchgear.** Bolt-on breaker switchgear with distribution downstream, for multi-tenant or multi-panel properties. - **400A feeding twin 200A panels.** Common on very large homes where the demand calculation exceeds a single 200A service. ## When a 400A Service Becomes Necessary - **Commercial HVAC is being added or replaced.** Rooftop units and larger air handlers are the most common single driver. - **A commercial kitchen is going in.** Three-phase appliance loads add up fast. See restaurant electrical upgrades [/restaurant-electrical-upgrades/ →](/restaurant-electrical-upgrades/) . - **Tenant improvements exceed base-building capacity.** A landlord’s 200A service was never sized for today’s tenant loads. See retail electrical upgrades [/retail-electrical-upgrades/ →](/retail-electrical-upgrades/) . - **Refrigeration or process equipment.** Continuous motor loads that consume calculated capacity disproportionately. - **Fleet or staff EV charging.** Several Level 2 chargers, or any DC fast charging, is a 400A conversation minimum. - **A very large home.** Two chargers, a pool, electric heating and a secondary kitchen can exceed 200A on the calculation. ## What Drives the Cost Between $5,000 and $15,000 **Phase configuration** is the biggest factor: three-phase distribution costs materially more than single-phase because of the equipment and the conductor count. **Switchgear versus a main breaker panel** is second, driven by how many downstream feeders the property needs. **Cutover constraints** are third, since an after-hours phased cutover with temporary power costs more than a straightforward daytime change. **Utility infrastructure** is the fourth and least predictable: if the supply at the property has to change, the utility’s own work and timeline enter the picture. The commercial ESA plan review, the utility coordination and any temporary power are itemised separately so you can see what each part costs. ## What to Expect on the Project The early weeks are paperwork and lead times: the utility service application, the ESA plan review submission, and equipment ordering once the CT cabinet arrangement is confirmed. We give you a schedule built around those dependencies rather than the install duration. On site, the new service entrance, CT cabinet and switchgear or main panel are installed alongside the existing service where the layout allows, so the cutover is short. Feeders are run to distribution panels, terminations are torqued to specification, and every panel is scheduled and labelled. The cutover happens in the agreed window. The ESA inspector attends, the utility energizes and sets metering, and you receive the as-built panel schedules, the final single-line diagram, the Certificate of Inspection and the itemised invoice for the building file. ## How Much Does 200A to 400A Upgrades Cost in Toronto? Commercial 200A to 400A upgrades run $5,000 to $15,000 CAD. The commercial ESA plan review, utility coordination and phased energization are itemised separately. Typical range $ 5,000 to $15,000 per upgrade (CAD) - ESA permit fee included - Final ESA inspection included - Utility coordination itemised, never hidden Get an Itemised Quote [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) ### What Moves the Price #### Overhead mast or underground lateral An underground service entrance needs trenching and civil work, so it sits higher in the range than a mast and weatherhead replacement. #### Panel brand and circuit count Siemens, Square D / Schneider Electric and Eaton load centres price differently, and a 42-circuit panel costs more than a small enclosure. #### Service entrance length and routing Conductor length from the meter base to the panel, plus any wall penetration or conduit work, changes the material and labour line. #### Scope flagged by the load calculation An OESC Section 8 result can add a subpanel, a grounding electrode conductor or a meter base that was not in the original plan. | Scope | Low | High | | --- | --- | --- | | 400A single-phase with CT cabinet | $ 5,000 | $ 9,000 | | 400A three-phase 120/208V with distribution | $ 8,000 | $ 13,000 | | 400A with switchgear and phased cutover | $ 10,000 | $ 15,000 | ## Why Choose Us for 200A to 400A Upgrades? ECRA/ESA licensed, permit filed, utility coordinated, quote itemised. - ### Plan review handled for you Commercial upgrades need drawings and a load study before install. We produce and submit the package rather than asking you to find a consultant. - ### Downtime planned, not improvised Phased cutovers and after-hours windows are scoped in the quote, so operations know exactly when power is interrupted. - ### SCCR verified Short-circuit current rating is checked against the available fault current rather than assumed from the equipment label. - ### CT metering coordinated The CT cabinet arrangement is agreed with the utility before equipment is ordered, which is where most commercial projects stall. ## How Does 200A to 400A Upgrades Work? The sequence every job follows, from the first load calculation to the utility reconnect. 1. 01 ### Load study Connected load, demand factors and growth allowance, assembled into the single-line diagram the plan review needs. 2. 02 ### Utility service application Service application with the utility covering supply capacity, CT cabinet arrangement and whether three-phase is available at the property. 3. 03 ### Commercial ESA plan review Drawings, load study and short-circuit current rating submitted for review before any equipment is ordered. 4. 04 ### Install and phased cutover Switchgear, CT cabinet and distribution installed, with the cutover phased or scheduled after hours to protect operations. 5. 05 ### Inspection and energization ESA inspection, utility energization, and as-built panel schedules handed over with the certificate. ## How Toronto Electrical Panel Upgrade Compares | Feature | Typical provider | Toronto Electrical Panel Upgrade | | --- | --- | --- | | Load study | Estimated from panel size | Connected load and demand study for the plan review | | ESA plan review | Client's responsibility | Prepared and submitted by us | | Downtime | Full-day shutdown | Phased or after-hours cutover in the quote | | Short-circuit current rating | Assumed | Verified against available fault current | ## Need 200A to 400A Upgrades in Toronto or the GTA? Free on-site estimate, written itemised quote, ESA permit filed before the work starts. +1-647-577-6113 [tel:+16475776113 →](tel:+16475776113) Free On-Site Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) ## Our 200A to 400A Upgrades Work Documentary photos from panel jobs across Toronto and the GTA. Select any image to enlarge it. ## What Customers Say About Our 200A to 400A Upgrades Work Real Toronto and GTA neighbourhoods, real panel jobs. > We were adding HVAC and kitchen load to a 200A service. The load study and plan review were handled and the cutover happened overnight. Marco S.Liberty Village > The CT cabinet arrangement was agreed with the utility before anything was ordered, which is where our last contractor got stuck for weeks. Helen T.Leslieville > Three-phase was available at the property and they confirmed it with the utility first rather than quoting single-phase and revising later. Raj P.Etobicoke ## 200A to 400A Upgrades FAQs ### How much does a 200A to 400A service upgrade cost in Toronto? Commercial 200A to 400A upgrades run $5,000 to $15,000 CAD. A 400A single-phase service with a CT cabinet sits at the lower end. Adding three-phase 120/208V distribution, switchgear, or a phased cutover that has to happen after hours moves it up. The commercial ESA plan review, utility coordination and any temporary power are itemised separately. ### What is a CT cabinet and why do I need one? Above roughly 200A, utilities meter through current transformers rather than passing the full service current through the meter. The CT cabinet houses those transformers and the metering connections. The arrangement has to be agreed with the utility before equipment is ordered, because they specify the cabinet type and position. ### Do I need three-phase power? It depends on your equipment. Three-phase 120/208V is more efficient for motor loads, commercial HVAC, commercial kitchen equipment and larger refrigeration. It is also not available at every address, so the first step is confirming with the utility what supply exists at the property. Where it is not available, a 400A single-phase service often still solves the capacity problem. See \[three-phase electrical service upgrades\](/three-phase-electrical-service-upgrades/). ### What is a commercial ESA plan review? For commercial and industrial work, the Electrical Safety Authority reviews the design before installation: single-line diagram, load study, equipment ratings and short-circuit current rating. It is a separate step from the final inspection and it takes time, which is why we submit it early rather than after equipment arrives. ### How long will my business be without power? That depends on the cutover plan, which is part of the quote rather than an afterthought. Many commercial upgrades are done with a phased cutover or an after-hours window so trading hours are protected. Where a continuous supply is essential, temporary power is priced as its own line. ### What is short-circuit current rating and why does it matter? SCCR is the maximum fault current equipment can safely interrupt. As a service gets larger and closer to the transformer, available fault current rises, and equipment with an inadequate rating becomes a serious hazard. We check the available fault current against the equipment rating rather than assuming the label is sufficient. ### Is this the same as a large-residential 400A service? The equipment and utility process are similar. A very large home with two EV chargers, a pool, electric heating and a secondary kitchen can exceed 200A on the demand calculation, and the answer is usually a 400A service feeding twin 200A panels. The plan review requirement is lighter for a dwelling than for a commercial occupancy. ### How long does the whole project take? The install itself is measured in days, but the project timeline is driven by the utility service application and the ESA plan review, which are measured in weeks. We submit both as early as possible and give you a realistic schedule rather than an optimistic one. ### Can you coordinate with our general contractor? Yes. On fit-outs and renovations we work to the GC's programme, attend site meetings where needed, and sequence the service work around other trades. See \[restaurant electrical upgrades\](/restaurant-electrical-upgrades/) and \[office electrical upgrades\](/office-electrical-upgrades/) for typical build-out scopes. ### Do we get as-built documentation? Yes. Panel schedules for every distribution panel, the final single-line diagram, the ESA certificate and the itemised invoice. Property managers and landlords generally require the schedules and the certificate for the building file. ### Still have a question? Ask the crew directly. We answer load calculation, permit and utility coordination questions before you commit to anything. Send a Message [/contact/ →](/contact/) Book a Free Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) ## Related Services ### Restaurant Electrical Upgrades Size and upgrade service for a commercial kitchen build-out, coordinating three-phase equipment loads with the GC and utility. View service [Restaurant Electrical Upgrades →](/restaurant-electrical-upgrades/) ### Office Electrical Upgrades Upgrade distribution for office fit-outs with per-floor subpanels and after-hours work that minimises downtime. View service [Office Electrical Upgrades →](/office-electrical-upgrades/) ### 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. View service [Three-Phase Electrical Service Upgrades →](/three-phase-electrical-service-upgrades/) ![](/images/hero/two-electricians-in-plain-workwear-seen-from-behin.webp) Same-Week Scheduling ## Book Your 200A to 400A Upgrades Estimate Upgrade commercial and large-residential service to 400A with a CT cabinet, three-phase option and commercial ESA plan review. Free on-site assessment across Toronto and the GTA. Get a Free On-Site Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) +1-647-577-6113 [tel:+16475776113 →](tel:+16475776113) - 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.