Key takeaways
- A 100A to 200A upgrade runs about $2,500 to $5,000 in Ontario in 2026, including the panel, labour, ESA permit and inspection.
- A like-for-like 100A panel replacement is cheaper, roughly $1,500 to $2,500 when the service size is not changing.
- 400A service is a different category, about $8,200 to $14,900, and rarely needed in a typical home.
- The ESA permit is not optional. Every panel upgrade in Ontario legally requires ESA notification and a final inspection.
- ESA raised its wiring and licensing fees by 1.9% effective April 1, 2026, which is one reason older price guides now read low.
- The meter base, service mast and entrance cable are the usual budget surprises. Together they can add $700 to $1,700.
- Only a Licensed Electrical Contractor can do this work for hire in Ontario, and the contractor files the permit for you.
Two homeowners on the same street can get panel upgrade quotes $2,000 apart, and both can be honest quotes.
The difference usually is not the electrician. It is what sits behind the panel: the age of the service entrance cable, whether the meter base has to come off, how far the house is from the transformer, and whether there is aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring waiting once the cover comes off.
This guide breaks down what an electrical panel upgrade costs in Ontario in 2026, what the ESA permit covers, and which variables move your number, so you can read a quote instead of guessing at it.
Prices here are Ontario-wide ranges. For one city in detail, see our Aurora panel upgrade cost and timeline guide. If you are in Toronto or York Region and already know you want the work done, our electrical panel upgrade service in Toronto page explains how we do it.
What an electrical panel upgrade costs in Ontario (2026)
Here is the current pricing picture across the province, with the ESA permit and inspection already included.
Add-ons that show up on real quotes
These are not upsells. They are conditions the electrician finds at the service entrance.
- Meter base replacement: $300 to $600
- Service entrance cable or mast: $400 to $1,100
- Utility disconnect and reconnect coordination: $0 to $500, depending on the utility
- Underground service re-cable from the transformer: $5,000 to $15,000 in the worst cases, where the run has to be dug up
That last line is rare, but it is why a quote can double. Anyone pricing a 200A upgrade sight unseen is guessing.
A complete quote names all six of these. If one is missing, ask about it before you sign.
What actually drives your price
Five things account for most of the spread between a $2,500 job and a $5,000 one.
1. Whether the service size changes
Swapping a panel is straightforward work. Changing the service size means the meter base, mast and entrance cable all have to be rated for the new load, and that brings the utility into the job.
2. Panel location and access
A panel in an open basement is a different job from one boxed into a finished closet, behind drywall, or in a crawlspace.
3. Circuit count and condition
Every circuit has to be re-landed in the new panel. More circuits means more labour, and any circuit that is not code-compliant has to be corrected before the inspection passes.
4. Old wiring behind the walls
If the house still has knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring, it has to be pigtailed or remediated as part of the work. This is common in older Toronto and York Region houses, and it is the most underestimated cost on this list.
5. Scheduling
Emergency and after-hours work carries a premium. A planned upgrade booked in advance is always the cheaper path.
The ESA permit: what is legally required
This is the part homeowners most often get wrong, and it is not a grey area.
Every panel upgrade in Ontario requires an ESA notification (permit) and a final inspection. There is no threshold below which you can skip it.
Who files it
If you hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor, the contractor files the permit as part of the job. You should not be filing anything yourself. In Ontario, only a Licensed Electrical Contractor can be hired to do electrical work on a home in the first place. You can check any contractor’s licence on the Electrical Safety Authority website.
What it costs
ESA fees for a residential service upgrade generally land between $150 and $500 depending on scope, and a licensed contractor normally folds this into the quoted price rather than billing it separately. ESA increased its wiring and licensing fees by 1.9% effective April 1, 2026.
What you get at the end
Once the work passes, ESA issues a certificate. Keep it. It is what your insurer and your eventual buyer’s lawyer will ask for, and it is the only proof the work was inspected.
Work done without a permit can void a home insurance claim, which turns a few hundred dollars of savings into an uninsured loss.
What is different in Toronto and York Region
Provincial ranges are a starting point. Two local factors shift the timeline more than the price.
Utility lead times are real
The utility has to cut and restore power at the street for a service upgrade. In Toronto that is Toronto Hydro; across most of York Region it is Alectra Utilities, and in Newmarket it is Newmarket-Tay Power. In Alectra’s area, upgrades to 200A or larger typically need a service design, and a four-week lead time is normal. Simpler changes, such as fuses to breakers or upgrades under 200A, are usually reviewed and booked in five to ten business days.
Your contractor books the disconnect and reconnect. You should not have to call the utility yourself.
Older housing stock changes the scope
Much of the established housing in Toronto, Aurora, Richmond Hill and Newmarket was built long before EV chargers, heat pumps and basement suites. On those homes a panel upgrade is often the first job that exposes wiring problems nobody knew about, which is why we quote after looking, not before.
For city-specific pricing and timelines, see our Aurora panel upgrade guide or our Aurora electrician guide.
Do you actually need 200A?
Not every home does. You likely do if you are adding any of these:
- A Level 2 EV charger, the most common trigger in 2026
- A heat pump or electric heating
- A finished basement or in-law suite
- A hot tub, a workshop, or an electric range plus dryer on an already full panel
If your panel is full, if breakers trip under normal load, or if you are still on a fuse box, the upgrade is doing more than adding capacity. It is removing a hazard.
If you are simply replacing an ageing 100A panel with no new loads planned, a like-for-like replacement may be all you need. A good contractor will tell you that.
What two of our panel customers said
Two recent panel jobs, in the customers’ own words from their Google reviews:
“I had Roozbeh come and give me a quote for an installation of a Level 2 EV charger and an upgrade to a 200 amp hydro panel. Had great communication with him and his work was excellent. I would recommend him for all your electrical needs. He was also very conscientious and meticulous. Great work A++++”
jon allison, Google review
“I recently had electrical maintenance and a panel upgrade done at my home by the team from Padi, and I couldn’t be happier with the service! From start to finish, they were professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly respectful of my space. They explained everything clearly, worked efficiently, and made sure everything was safe and up to code.”
Soroosh Maddah, Google review
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to upgrade to 200 amp service in Ontario?
Budget $2,500 to $5,000 in 2026, including panel, labour, ESA permit and inspection. Meter base or service cable replacement can add $700 to $1,700.
What is the average cost of an electrical panel upgrade?
For the common 100A to 200A job, most Ontario homeowners land in the $3,000 to $4,000 middle of the range.
Does a panel upgrade need a permit in Ontario?
Yes, always. ESA notification and a final inspection are legally required, with no exceptions.
How long does a panel upgrade take?
The on-site work is typically one day. The longer part is utility scheduling: allow up to four weeks for a 200A-or-larger service design in the Alectra service area.
Will my power be off?
Yes, for most of the working day, while the utility disconnects and reconnects the service.
Can I replace my own panel to save money?
No. In Ontario only a Licensed Electrical Contractor can do this work for hire, and uninspected work can void your insurance.
The short version
A panel upgrade is one of the few home electrical jobs where the cheapest quote is worth questioning, because what makes it cheap is usually what was left out. A quote that does not mention the ESA permit, the meter base or the utility disconnect is not a complete quote.
The honest number: $2,500 to $5,000 for most 100A to 200A upgrades in Ontario, permit and inspection included, with the spread explained by your service entrance, your circuit count and what is behind your walls.
If you want a real number instead of a range, we will give you one. Padi Electric has served Aurora and the GTA for more than 10 years, with 200+ residential projects, and is fully licensed, insured and ESA-certified, with transparent pricing and no hidden fees.
Get a free quote, with a preliminary estimate in 30 minutes. Ready to book? See our electrical panel upgrade service.
Reviewed by Roozbeh Nahreini, founder and owner of Padi Electric Inc. (ECRA/ESA #7016161), Aurora, Ontario. Updated October 8, 2026. Prices are typical 2026 Ontario ranges, not a quote.
Written by Roozbeh Nahreini
Roozbeh Nahreini is the founder and owner of Padi Electric Inc., an ESA-certified electrical contractor serving Aurora and the Greater Toronto Area. With 10+ years of hands-on electrical expertise and a team combining 50+ years of field experience, Roozbeh specializes in residential and commercial electrical solutions—from panel upgrades and EV charger installation to smart home integration and advanced diagnostics. His commitment to transparent pricing, code-compliant workmanship, and 24/7 emergency response has established Padi Electric as a trusted neighborhood contractor across Aurora, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Vaughan, and the GTA.