Electrical Panel Upgrades in Toronto
KV Bear Electrical is a licensed electrical contractor (ECRA/ESA 7014730) based in Oshawa, serving homeowners in Toronto. This page covers how our panel upgrade service works for Toronto homes.
Get a Panel Upgrade Quote in Toronto
Upgrading the panel in a Toronto home is rarely a simple box swap. Moving from 60 or 100 amps to 200 amp service usually brings in Toronto Hydro, because the utility has to plan the larger supply, disconnect the old service and reconnect the new one after the Electrical Safety Authority has inspected the work. The order of those steps decides how long the house is without power and how smoothly the day goes.
Each Toronto panel upgrade we quote begins with a load calculation and a close look at the existing panel, meter base and service entrance. The scope then goes into an itemized quote. Where the utility is involved, we prepare the load information Toronto Hydro asks for, file the ESA notification as the Licensed Electrical Contractor and plan the changeover so disconnection, inspection and reconnection happen in the right sequence.
What Toronto Homeowners Should Know
Toronto Hydro takes residential service upgrade requests through an online form. A Toronto Hydro representative contacts the customer within 10 business days to review the project and confirm the scope of work, and the quote that follows, called an Offer to Connect, typically takes up to 60 days once all required information has been received.
Source: Service upgrade request, Toronto Hydro (torontohydro.com)Toronto Hydro's planning figures for single-family homes show an average peak demand of 11.0 kW and a maximum of 32.2 kW. The utility notes that these values do not represent the full capacity of an electrical panel or a home's total connected load.
Source: Typical residential peak demand values, Toronto Hydro (torontohydro.com)The Electrical Safety Authority explains that for service upgrades, relocations or replacements, the utility needs to disconnect the power, and the work must be inspected before power is restored.
Source: Notifications and Inspections, Electrical Safety Authority (esasafe.com)Under the City of Toronto's Home Energy Loan Program, eligible improvements in a heat-pump-only funding request are limited to heat pumps and installation costs, electrical upgrades if required, and building permits (as of October 2026).
Source: Home Energy Loan Program, City of Toronto (toronto.ca)Toronto Hydro's Conditions of Service, effective January 1, 2026, commit it to respond to a written connection request within 15 calendar days and to make an offer to connect within 60 calendar days, unless other necessary information is required.
Source: Conditions of Service, effective January 1, 2026, Toronto Hydro (torontohydro.com)
Facts checked October 13, 2026.
How a Toronto Hydro Service Upgrade Request Works
The request is made online. Toronto Hydro recommends attaching documents such as electrical drawings and load calculations at the start, though they can also be sent later to the representative assigned to the file. Once the scope is confirmed, the utility designs its side of the connection and issues an Offer to Connect that sets out the project details, timelines and financial requirements. For residential customers, costs beyond the basic connection are the homeowner's responsibility.
Because that process can take weeks, it pays to start well before you need the extra capacity, for example ahead of a heat pump, an EV charger or a basement suite. We supply the load figures for the application, then schedule our part of the job so the new panel, meter base and service entrance are ready for ESA inspection at the point the utility is ready to reconnect.
What Toronto Hydro's Peak Demand Figures Tell You
Toronto Hydro's planning numbers put an average single-family peak at about 11 kW, with the highest homes reaching around 32 kW. Those figures are helpful context, but the utility is clear that they do not describe panel capacity, so they cannot stand in for a calculation of your own house. The calculation we prepare follows the method in the Ontario Electrical Safety Code and counts heating, cooking, laundry and planned additions such as a charger, a heat pump or a hot tub.
The result can point to 200 amp service, but not always. A crowded or worn panel on an adequate service can sometimes be replaced without any utility request, and a modest new load may fit once circuits are reorganized. The quote explains which path suits your home and why, so you are not paying for capacity you do not need or skipping capacity you will soon want.
Heat Pumps, HELP Financing and the Day of the Changeover
If a heat pump is part of your plans, the City of Toronto's Home Energy Loan Program can include required electrical upgrades in a heat-pump-only funding request, alongside the equipment, installation and building permits. Confirm the current terms with the City before work begins, and ask for an itemized quote that separates the electrical work so the funding request is easy to prepare.
On the day of the changeover, the power is off while the old panel comes out and the new one is connected, and Toronto Hydro restores service only after ESA has inspected the new installation. We confirm the date with you beforehand, label every circuit in the new panel and pass on the ESA Certificate of Acceptance once the work passes. To start with a load calculation for your Toronto home, call 905-999-5048 or request a quote below.
Panel Upgrade in Toronto: Common Questions
How long does Toronto Hydro take to arrange a service upgrade?
Toronto Hydro says a representative contacts you within 10 business days of the request, and its Offer to Connect typically takes up to 60 days once it has all the required information. Site conditions and scheduling can add time, so start the request well before you need the new capacity.
What does it cost to upgrade a Toronto home to 200 amp service?
Our published range for a residential upgrade from 100 to 200 amps is $2,500 to $5,000. Where your home lands in that range depends on whether the service entrance and meter base need replacing and on the condition of the existing wiring. Any charges in Toronto Hydro's Offer to Connect are listed separately so you can see the full picture.
Does replacing an electrical panel in Toronto need an ESA permit?
Yes. Panel replacements and service upgrades are electrical work that requires an ESA notification, which we file as the Licensed Electrical Contractor. For service work, ESA inspects the installation before Toronto Hydro restores power, and you receive the ESA Certificate of Acceptance when it passes.
Can a panel upgrade be financed through the City of Toronto's HELP loan?
For heat-pump-only projects, the City says a funding request can include electrical upgrades if they are required, together with the heat pump, its installation and building permits. Eligibility rules can change, so confirm the details with the City before you apply.
What Our Customers Are Saying
“Kyle was extremely courteous, professional and friendly. He did a commendable job and even gave me a tip for a tripping issue without even having to look at it. He knows what he is doing. Would be my go to guy for anything electrical.”
“The entire process from quotation through contracting and performance of the work by Kyle was completed professionally and without any issues. The panel upgrade and EV charger installations are clean and neat and it is evident that Kyle takes pride in the quality of his work. Upon completion of the installations, Kyle ensured that the work site was 100% cleaned up.”
“KV Bear was recommended to us by a friend. We wanted to install a Tesla charger only to find out our electrical panel was known for faulting resulting in an electrical fire. He showed us signs of the panel arcing. The work was clean, professional, and fast! We are so happy we hired a professional.”
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