Electrical Panel Upgrade in Toronto & York Region
100A to 200A panel and service upgrades for homes and businesses. We file the ESA permit, book the utility and hand you the inspection certificate.
Electrical Panel Upgrades in Toronto, Done Under ESA Permit
If your panel is a fuse box, a 60A or 100A service with no free breaker spaces, or a panel that trips whenever the dryer and the air conditioner run together, it is time for an electrical panel upgrade. Padi Electric is a licensed electrical contractor (ECRA/ESA #7016161) based in Aurora, upgrading panels across Toronto and York Region. Most homes go from 100 amps to 200 amps in one working day on site, and we handle the ESA permit, the utility disconnect and the final inspection.
Licensed & Insured
ECRA/ESA #7016161. Every upgrade is filed with the Electrical Safety Authority before work starts and inspected after.
Permit & Utility Handled
We file the ESA notification and book the disconnect and reconnect with Toronto Hydro, Alectra or Newmarket-Tay Power.
Homes & Businesses
100A to 200A home upgrades, sub-panels for basements and additions, and commercial panel replacements.
Quality. Safety. Reliability. Every time.
Call Us Now: (416) 900-6667
Signs your panel needs an upgrade
- A fuse box or a 60A service. Still common in older Toronto houses and in the original neighbourhoods of Aurora and Newmarket, and something insurers ask about.
- No free breaker spaces. Without one you cannot add a circuit for an EV charger, a heat pump, a hot tub or a basement suite.
- Breakers that trip under normal use, or lights that dim when a large appliance starts.
- A panel that feels warm, smells of burning, or shows rust or scorch marks. Call us the same day. That is a safety problem, not an upgrade decision.
- A home inspector or insurer flagged it, for example double-tapped breakers or an older panel brand such as Federal Pacific Stab-Lok.
100A, 200A or 400A: which service fits your home
The right size comes from a load calculation, not a rule of thumb. This is how it usually works out:
| Service | Usually fits | When it stops being enough |
|---|---|---|
| 100A | Smaller homes heated with gas, with a gas water heater and no EV | Adding a Level 2 EV charger, a heat pump, central air with an electric range, or a basement suite |
| 200A | Most detached homes in Toronto and York Region today | Large homes running several of: EV charging, heat pump, pool or hot tub, secondary suite |
| 400A | Large custom homes and some commercial units | Rarely needed for a typical house |
Sometimes the answer is that you do not need an upgrade at all. If the calculation shows your current service has room, or an EV load-management device lets a charger share the capacity you already have, we will tell you before quoting a new panel.
How an electrical panel upgrade works in Toronto and York Region
- Site visit and load calculation. We check your panel, meter base, service cable and grounding, and work out what your home actually draws. You get a written quote with the ESA permit included.
- ESA notification. We file the work with the Electrical Safety Authority under our licence before anything is touched.
- Utility booking. A service upgrade needs the power cut at the street. That is Toronto Hydro in Toronto, Alectra in most of York Region (Aurora, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham) and Newmarket-Tay Power in Newmarket. Their schedule usually sets the date, typically one to two weeks out.
- Installation day. On-site work is usually 6 to 8 hours, and the power is off for roughly 4 to 6 of them. We give you the window in advance so you can plan around the fridge, the sump pump and working from home.
- Inspection and reconnection. ESA inspects the new service and then authorizes the utility to reconnect it. You keep the ESA certificate for your insurer and for resale.
What a panel upgrade costs
For the most common job, a 100A to 200A upgrade, homeowners in Toronto and York Region typically pay $2,500 to $4,500 all-in, including the ESA permit and inspection. A worn meter base, a long run from the meter, or a service cable that needs replacing adds to that. The full breakdown is in our Aurora panel upgrade cost and timeline guide and our panel upgrade cost guide. Your own price comes from the site visit, quoted in writing before any work starts, with no hidden fees.
Panel upgrades for EV chargers, heat pumps and renovations
Most of the upgrades we do now start with another project. A Level 2 EV charger needs its own high-amperage circuit, a heat pump replacing a gas furnace adds a large electric load, and a basement finish or secondary suite needs circuits a full panel cannot give. If you are planning any of these, have the panel looked at first. Doing both jobs in one visit usually avoids a second permit and a second shutdown.
Commercial panel upgrades
For offices, shops and light-industrial units we replace and upgrade distribution panels, add sub-panels for new equipment, and plan the shutdown around your business hours. See our commercial electrical services.
Where we upgrade panels
We are based in Aurora and work across Toronto, including North York, Etobicoke and Scarborough, and across York Region: Aurora, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, Newmarket and King City.
Why homeowners choose Padi Electric
- Licensed and insured, ECRA/ESA #7016161, with 50+ years of combined field experience on the team.
- 10+ years serving Aurora and the GTA, with more than 200 residential and 80 commercial projects completed.
- A written quote before any work, with the permit included and no hidden fees.
- Free quotes, a preliminary estimate within 30 minutes through our online form, and 24/7 emergency response on weekends.
Panel upgrade questions
Do I need a permit to upgrade my electrical panel in Ontario?
Yes. Every panel or service upgrade in Ontario has to be filed with the Electrical Safety Authority before work starts and inspected when it is finished. As a licensed contractor we file it under ECRA/ESA #7016161 and book the inspection for you. Unpermitted work can cause problems with your insurer and when you sell.
How long does a panel upgrade take?
Usually one working day on site, 6 to 8 hours, with the power off for about 4 to 6 of them. Allow one to two weeks from booking, because the utility has to schedule the disconnect and reconnect.
Do I need a 200 amp service?
Not always. Most detached homes adding an EV charger, a heat pump or a basement suite end up at 200A, but a load calculation decides it. If your current service has room, we will tell you.
How much does a panel upgrade cost in Toronto?
A typical 100A to 200A upgrade costs $2,500 to $4,500 all-in, including the ESA permit and inspection. Replacing the meter base or the service cable adds to that. We confirm the price in writing after a site visit.
Will my insurance company care about my old panel?
Often, yes. Many Ontario insurers ask about fuse panels and older breaker panels when you renew or buy a home. A new panel with an ESA certificate answers that question.
Do you upgrade panels outside Aurora?
Yes. We are based in Aurora and upgrade panels across Toronto and York Region, including Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham and Newmarket.
Reviewed by Roozbeh Nahreini, founder and owner of Padi Electric Inc. (ECRA/ESA #7016161). Last updated October 6, 2026. Prices are typical 2026 ranges for Toronto and York Region, not a quote.
Request A Callback
- info@padielectric.ca
- 82 Valhalla Ct, Aurora, ON L4G 5W5
- +1 (416) 900-6667
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