Panel upgrades · Toronto & GTA
Electrical panel upgrades in Toronto and the GTA
Move from 60 or 100 amps to 200 amp service so your home can safely run an EV charger, a heat pump, a renovation or a new addition. We handle the ESA permit and the utility for you.
Our work
Before and after a panel upgrade
The same service before and after one of our upgrades: the old panel and meter out, a new breaker panel and service equipment in, every circuit moved and labelled.
When to upgrade
Signs your panel is holding you back
Many older GTA homes still run on 60 or 100 amp service, sized for a time before central air, induction cooktops and electric cars. A panel upgrade is usually worth it when:
- You're adding an EV charger, heat pump, hot tub, or a basement or second suite
- Breakers trip often, or lights dim when large appliances start
- You still have a fuse panel, or a panel your insurer has flagged
- The panel is full and new circuits are being doubled up
- You see rust, scorch marks or a warm panel door
- You're planning a renovation or addition that needs more power
100 amp vs 200 amp: which do you need?
A 100 amp service can still suit a modest house with gas heat, a gas stove and no big additions planned. It runs short once you add an EV charger, a heat pump, central air, an electric range or a second suite. Two or three of those together usually settle the question.
The answer comes from a load calculation, not a rule of thumb. We add up what you run today and what you plan to add, then size the service to match. Most homes that upgrade go to 200 amps, and some large custom homes need more.
Fuse box to breaker panel
A fuse panel usually dates the service to the 1960s or earlier, and it's often only 60 amps. Replacing it is rarely a panel swap on its own. The meter base, mast and main cable usually change too, and the service goes to 200 amps. Every circuit lands on a new breaker and gets a label. It follows the same steps as any upgrade, with an ESA permit and the utility's disconnect and reconnect.
What's included
- Load calculation, so the new service is sized to what you actually run
- New 200 amp panel, main breaker and service equipment
- Meter base and service mast, or underground service work, where needed
- Circuits moved to the new panel and clearly labelled
- ESA permit, inspection and Certificate of Acceptance
- Disconnect and reconnect booked with your hydro utility
How it works
From first visit to power back on
Most upgrades take one working day on site once the utility date is booked.
Site visit and load calculation
We look at your panel, meter and service entrance, and size the upgrade to how you use power now and what you're planning.
Fixed written quote
One price covering equipment, labour, the permit and utility coordination.
Permit and utility booking
We file with ESA and book the disconnect with Toronto Hydro or Alectra, depending on where you live.
Upgrade day
Power goes off, we install the new service and panel, move and label every circuit, and power comes back on.
ESA inspection
ESA inspects the work and you receive the Certificate of Acceptance.
What customers say
Clear communication, clean work
I hired Marrast Contracting for a full home electrical inspection and was extremely impressed. The inspection was completed by their Master Electrician, and they provided a detailed, formal report certified under ECRA/ESA.
Marrast Contracting did an outstanding job installing my EV outlet. Shaldin and his team delivered exactly what I wanted, with minimal touch-ups needed afterwards. The process was clear, cost-effective, and I always knew what to expect. Shaldin went above and beyond to make sure I was completely satisfied. I'll definitely be turning to them again for future projects.
Questions
Panel upgrades: common questions
How much does a panel upgrade cost?
It depends on the house. The biggest factor is whether the hydro service to your house is overhead or underground, followed by where the meter and panel sit and how much wiring needs to move. The utility matters too: Toronto Hydro charges a fee for the disconnect and reconnect, which Alectra and Hydro One customers usually don't pay. Send us photos of your panel and meter for a first idea, and we give you a fixed written quote after a site visit.
How long is the power off during a panel upgrade?
Usually most of one working day. The utility disconnects the service in the morning, we swap the panel and service equipment, and power is reconnected once the work is ready. We book the utility appointment for you and tell you the date in advance.
Do I need a panel upgrade for an EV charger?
Not always. A Level 2 charger needs its own 240-volt circuit, usually 40 to 60 amps. We do a load calculation on your home first. If your panel has room, we install the charger on its own circuit. If it doesn't, the options are a panel or service upgrade, or in some homes a load management device that lets the charger share capacity. We'll tell you which applies.
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.
Can I upgrade my electrical panel myself?
Ontario lets homeowners take out an ESA permit for some work on a home they own and live in, but they take on responsibility for it. A panel or service upgrade involves the utility's disconnect, the meter base and the main supply, and the utility won't reconnect until ESA authorizes it. Anyone you pay to do the work must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor. ESA explains the homeowner rules at esasafe.com.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Marrast Contracting is a Licensed Electrical Contractor, licence ECRA/ESA 7016430, and every job is led by Shaldin Marrast, a Master Electrician. You can check our licence on the Electrical Safety Authority's contractor lookup at esasafe.com.
To price your job, send us
- Your current panel size (100A, 200A or other)
- Why you want the upgrade or replacement
- Photos of the panel and the hydro meter
- The address, and whether it's a home or a business
Where we work
Panel upgrades across the GTA
We serve homeowners, builders and businesses across Toronto and the GTA.
- North York
- Toronto
- Forest Hill
- Etobicoke
- Scarborough
- Mississauga
- Vaughan
- Richmond Hill
- Oakville
- Caledon
- King
- Barrie
- Markham
- Aurora
- Newmarket
- Brampton
- Alliston
- Wasaga Beach
- Collingwood