Collingwood · EPCOR service area
Licensed electrician in Collingwood and the Georgian Bay area
Chalets that sit empty for weeks, cottages turned into year-round homes and heritage buildings downtown: the Georgian Bay shore has its own electrical needs. We take on generators, panel upgrades, rewiring and EV chargers here, with travel time on the quote.
Electrical work on Georgian Bay
Homes that face the weather
Collingwood started as a port and shipbuilding town, and its downtown still has a Victorian main street and a heritage conservation district. Around it, the area has changed fast: condos and townhouses near the harbour, chalets and ski homes toward Blue Mountain, and cottages in Wasaga Beach and Tiny that have quietly become year-round houses.
Winter is the defining test. Snow squalls off Georgian Bay bring heavy, wet snow and long outages, and many homes here sit empty for days or weeks at a time. A house that loses power while nobody's home can freeze, flood or both before anyone notices. That's why generators, reliable sump pumps and properly sized services come up so often on this shore.
Building permits come from the local municipality (the Town of Collingwood, the Town of The Blue Mountains, the Town of Wasaga Beach, Clearview Township or Tiny Township). The electrical permit is filed with the Electrical Safety Authority by us.
Seasonal and converted homes
What we find in chalets and cottages
Buildings designed for weekends, now used all year, often need their electrical system caught up.
Services sized for summer
A cottage service that was fine for lights and a kettle, now asked to run electric heat, a hot tub and a car charger.
Baseboard heat on every wall
Electric heating that takes most of the panel and leaves little room for anything else.
Add-on wiring
Circuits added by previous owners as rooms and decks were built, not always permitted.
Pumps that can't fail
Sump pumps, well pumps and heat tracing that protect an empty building in winter.
Outdoor exposure
Exterior outlets, lighting and hot tub feeds that take a beating from snow and spray.
Insurance requirements
Insurers asking about wiring, panels and heating before covering a converted cottage.
Backup power and capacity
Generators and service upgrades for the shore
A standby generator is the most common request we hear about here. We size it around the systems that protect the building: heating, sump and well pumps, heat tracing and the fridge, then add whatever you want for comfort. The automatic transfer switch means it works whether you're on the hill or back in the city.
If the generator, a hot tub or a Level 2 charger won't fit on the existing service, a panel upgrade comes first. Converting a cottage to year-round use is also a natural time for full home wiring and an electrical inspection.
Downtown and the harbour
Heritage buildings and new condos
In the older houses and storefronts around Hurontario Street, wiring often spans many decades, and exterior changes in the heritage district may need the Town's approval as well as an electrical permit. We plan meter, panel and lighting changes with that in mind. In newer condos and townhouses near the waterfront, most requests are in-suite: pot lights, new circuits and chargers in shared garages, arranged with the property manager.
Neighbourhoods
Where we work in Collingwood
We cover all of Collingwood, including:
- Downtown Collingwood
- Lighthouse Point
- Cranberry
- Pretty River
- Admiral's Village
- Silver Glen
- Blue Mountain area
- Wasaga Beach
- Stayner
Services in Collingwood
- Panel upgrades100A to 200A service
- Full home wiringWhole house or room by room
- Backup generatorsStandby + transfer switch
- EV chargersLevel 2, 40 to 60A circuit
- Pot lights and lightingInterior + exterior
- New construction for buildersRough-in to final
- 24/7 emergency electricianDay or night
- Full home electrical inspectionsPanel to outlets
- Troubleshooting and repairsDiagnostic call
- Knob-and-tube replacementInspected, then rewired
- Aluminum wiring repairPigtail or rewire
- Whole-home surge protectionAt the panel
- Outdoor and landscape lightingWeather-rated
- Renovation electricalKitchen, bath, basement
- Basements and legal suitesPermit-ready
- Kitchen electricalCircuits + lighting
- Bathroom electricalGFCI, fan, lighting
- Temporary powerSite power, day one
- Permits and load calculationsESA, loads, drawings
- Commercial electricalRetail, office, multi-unit
Collingwood service pages
What customers say
Reviews from our customers
Marrast Contracting did a fantastic job installing a security light on the eaves, 16 feet off the ground. They were very professional, punctual and personable. I highly recommend them. The cost was very reasonable.
Marrast contracting came for an electrical service call. The Master electrician did a full home electrical inspection, and provided a detailed report and recommendations. I was so impressed with the service and knowledge. Absolutely recommend Marrast Contracting.
I've worked with Marrast Contracting and was genuinely impressed. From the beginning, they were super professional and always on time, easy to communicate with, and really respectful of the space. What stood out most to me was their attention to detail. They didn't cut corners and made sure everything was done properly, down to the smallest things. It's clear they take pride in what they do. Overall, I had a great experience and would definitely recommend them.
Marrast Contracting recently came to check on some main electrical panel issues we were having as well as to replace a non-functioning outdoor outlet. Despite being a relatively small job, their response was quick with excellent communication and the work was completed perfectly. Will call again for any other electrical jobs - thanks!
Shaldin and co came to my place to fix an issue with too many appliances being on one breaker. I didn't get all of the details but there was an issue with there being concrete behind the walls in unexpected places which was worked around with minimal fanfare leaving no new holes/marks on the walls. Excellent work!
Marrast contracting came to do some electrical upgrades at our home. I can't say enough how professional, and knowledgeable Shaldin and his electrical apprentice are. This has been the best contracting experience I've had and have already referred them to my friends and family!!
Questions
Collingwood electrical questions
Do you cover Wasaga Beach, The Blue Mountains, Stayner and Tiny?
Yes. We work across the south shore of Georgian Bay, including Collingwood, The Blue Mountains, Wasaga Beach, Stayner and Tiny Township. These jobs include travel time, which is written on your quote before you book. Where it makes sense, we plan the work so it's done in as few trips as possible.
Who supplies power in Collingwood?
Collingwood, Stayner and Creemore are supplied by EPCOR, which bought the former Collus PowerStream in 2018. Wasaga Beach has its own utility, Wasaga Distribution, and much of the surrounding countryside is supplied by Hydro One. We confirm your utility from your bill and book any disconnect with them.
Can a generator protect a chalet I'm not living in?
A standby generator with an automatic transfer switch starts on its own when the power goes out, so the furnace, sump pump and heat tracing keep running even when nobody is there. Many standby generators can also send alerts to your phone when they run or need service, which is useful for a home that sits empty for weeks.
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what you want running during an outage. Some homeowners back up essentials only (furnace, sump pump, fridge, a few lights and outlets). Others want the whole house. We look at your panel and how you use power, then recommend a size and a transfer switch to match.
Do you take out the ESA permit?
Yes. In Ontario, the licensed contractor files the notification of work with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) and books the inspection. We handle it on every job that needs one, and you get the ESA Certificate of Acceptance when the work passes. Keep it: insurers and home buyers often ask for it.
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