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How Much Does an Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost in Toronto in 2026?

Last updated:ByStandby Power Desk

A 100A to 200A service upgrade in Toronto costs $1,500 to $4,000 all-in, per RenoHouse; Foxwood Electric puts a basic upgrade at $2,000 to $5,000. Two fees are easy to miss: the ESA notification, minimum $88, and Toronto Hydro's disconnect and reconnect at about $678 in most cases.

What does a panel upgrade cost in Toronto?

This range rests on 4 independent sources, counted from the 13 priced lines below rather than from a list at the bottom of the page. Every figure was re-read in the page it is credited to. Where sources disagree, both numbers are shown and the disagreement is named in the row's condition; we do not average them and we do not widen a range to cover one.

Each bar runs from the low to the high of one published range, on a scale shared by every electrical panel upgrade line quoted in the same unit. Bars that do not line up are sources that do not agree. 8 of 13 priced lines are drawn here; the numbers are the same ones in the table below.

per project (CAD)

  • 100A to 200A service upgrade, typical all-in project

    $1,500–$4,000

  • 100A to 200A basic service upgrade (Foxwood Electric, Toronto)

    $2,000–$5,000

  • Meter base replacement (if required)

    $200–$500

  • 60A to 200A upgrade (older fused service)

    $2,000–$3,500

  • Fuse box to breaker panel conversion

    $1,000–$1,500

  • 200A to 400A upgrade (larger home)

    $4,000–$8,000

  • Grounding upgrade

    $100–$300

  • Smart electrical panel, installed (alternative to a 400A upgrade)

    $3,000–$5,000

Not drawn: 5 lines, each the only figure on this page quoted in per panel (CAD), per permit (CAD), minimum fee (CAD); larger jobs cost more, per the ESA fee guide, per project (CAD), most cases and per sub-panel (CAD). With nothing else in the same unit there is no shared scale to draw them on. Every one of them is priced in full in the table below.

  • 100A to 200A service upgrade, typical all-in project

    All-in: RenoHouse states this includes the panel, installation, permit and ESA inspection. Their own by-upgrade-type table is narrower for a straightforward job, at $1,500-$3,000, so the top of this range assumes complications.

    Typical range
    $1,500–$4,000
    Unit
    per project (CAD)
    Source
    RenoHouse

  • 100A to 200A basic service upgrade (Foxwood Electric, Toronto)

    For a basic upgrade. Foxwood states the cost rises significantly for a higher amperage such as 400 or 600 amps, and that it moves with the type of service, the complexity of the installation and how much electrical work is needed.

    Typical range
    $2,000–$5,000
    Unit
    per project (CAD)
    Source
    Foxwood Electric

  • New 200A breaker panel, equipment only

    Equipment only. RenoHouse prices the 4-8 hours of labour separately at $600-$1,500, so this is well under half the job.

    Typical range
    $500–$1,000
    Unit
    per panel (CAD)
    Source
    RenoHouse

  • Meter base replacement (if required)

    "if required" - not every upgrade needs one. RenoHouse notes a new meter base is a Toronto Hydro requirement on some service upgrades.

    Typical range
    $200–$500
    Unit
    per project (CAD)
    Source
    RenoHouse

  • City of Toronto electrical permit

    Varies with scope. RenoHouse states the electrician normally files it, though a homeowner may file their own, and that the ESA inspection fee is separate at $100-$200.

    Typical range
    $100–$250
    Unit
    per permit (CAD)
    Source
    RenoHouse

  • ESA residential notification of inspection, minimum fee

    A MINIMUM, not a price. The ESA states fees vary with the type of work done, and that the fee is payable when the notification of work is submitted rather than after the inspection.

    Typical range
    $88–$88
    Unit
    minimum fee (CAD); larger jobs cost more, per the ESA fee guide
    Source
    Electrical Safety Authority

  • Toronto Hydro disconnect/reconnect fee

    "in most cases" - the electrician's own wording, so it is not universal. It is charged on top of the panel work, and RenoHouse's separate breakdown puts utility disconnect/reconnect much lower at $0-$200 depending on the utility.

    Typical range
    $678–$678
    Unit
    per project (CAD), most cases
    Source
    Electrician in Toronto

  • 60A to 200A upgrade (older fused service)

    A whole-service replacement from an older 60A fused supply, not a panel swap. RenoHouse prices a straightforward 100A to 200A job lower, at $1,500-$3,000.

    Typical range
    $2,000–$3,500
    Unit
    per project (CAD)
    Source
    RenoHouse

  • Fuse box to breaker panel conversion

    "typically", and for a SIMPLE replacement. The same electrician says a 100A to 200A upgrade that involves new service runs $3,000 or more, and that extra work such as moving the panel or a second meter can easily double the total.

    Typical range
    $1,000–$1,500
    Unit
    per project (CAD)
    Source
    Electrician in Toronto

  • Sub-panel addition (60A to 100A)

    An addition to an existing service, not an upgrade of it. RenoHouse notes basement apartments typically need a separate 60A or 100A sub-panel.

    Typical range
    $800–$2,000
    Unit
    per sub-panel (CAD)
    Source
    RenoHouse

  • 200A to 400A upgrade (larger home)

    RenoHouse ties this band to large homes running an EV charger plus a heat pump, and recommends 200A as the right size for almost every Toronto home instead.

    Typical range
    $4,000–$8,000
    Unit
    per project (CAD)
    Source
    RenoHouse / Toronto EV Experts

  • Grounding upgrade

    A line item inside the panel-upgrade breakdown, not a standalone job. RenoHouse notes older homes may need new grounding rods or water pipe bonding.

    Typical range
    $100–$300
    Unit
    per project (CAD)
    Source
    RenoHouse

  • Smart electrical panel, installed (alternative to a 400A upgrade)

    Panel plus installation. RenoHouse's case for it is load management rather than capacity: shedding non-critical loads at peak, prioritising EV charging off-peak, and letting a 200A panel handle 250-300A worth of equipment.

    Typical range
    $3,000–$5,000
    Unit
    per project (CAD)
    Source
    RenoHouse

What is actually inside the number?

Two quotes for the same job are hard to compare when one folds a line into its total and the other leaves it out. This is the shape of the work, stage by stage, with every figure taken from the same priced lines in the table above.

The part a contractor prices, and the part nobody controls

A panel quote is two different things added together. The scope is competitive and the fees are not, so a quote that looks high may simply be the one that told you about the utility charge.

The scope, which is what you are comparing

  • 100A to 200A service upgrade

    $1,500–$4,000

    The common case. A second Toronto electrician on this page publishes a higher band for the same job, and both are in the table.

  • 60A to 200A, older fused service

    $2,000–$3,500

    For an older fused service rather than a breaker panel.

  • Fuse box to breaker panel

    $1,000–$1,500

    A conversion rather than a service increase, and the cheapest of these.

  • 200A to 400A, larger home

    $4,000–$8,000

    The large-home case. A smart panel is listed on this page as the alternative to going to 400A.

  • Sub-panel addition

    $800–$2,000

    Relevant here because a generator transfer switch is one of the reasons a second panel gets added.

Sometimes, depending on what is behind the panel

  • Meter base replacement

    $200–$500

    Only where the service entrance needs replacing too, not just the panel.

  • Grounding upgrade

    $100–$300

    Priced separately from the panel itself.

Fixed charges, the same on every quote

  • City of Toronto electrical permit

    $100–$250

    A municipal fee, not a contractor's margin.

  • ESA notification of inspection

    $88

    This is the minimum. Larger jobs cost more, per the ESA fee guide.

  • Toronto Hydro disconnect and reconnect

    $678

    A fixed utility charge independent of the electrician's quote, and the single largest thing a quote can leave out without being wrong.

What drives the price?

Size, access and how much of the existing electrical and gas work has to be redone move a electrical panel upgrade quote more than brand choice does. Each factor below is one a source on this page prices or names.

  • Overhead vs. underground electrical service (underground trenching adds thousands)
  • Whether the mast/service entrance also needs replacing, not just the panel
  • Distance and condition of the existing run from the utility connection point
  • Amperage chosen (100A to 200A vs. jumping straight to 400A for a large home)
  • Whether a second meter or sub-panel is being added for a generator transfer switch
  • Age of the home and presence of knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring behind the panel
  • Toronto Hydro scheduling and disconnect/reconnect fees, which are fixed utility charges independent of the electrician's quote
  • Accessibility of the existing panel location (finished basement, tight clearances, etc.)

What's specific to Ontario and Toronto?

Ontario adds 13 percent HST, requires an ESA permit for the electrical work and a TSSA permit for anything gas-fired, and licenses who may do each. These are the local rules that change the total.

  • All panel, service, and mast work in Ontario must be filed as an ESA notification/permit before work starts; the residential minimum fee is $88 and the notification is valid for 12 months.
  • Toronto also requires its own electrical permit separate from the ESA notification, typically $100 to $250.
  • Toronto Hydro charges its own disconnect/reconnect fee to safely de-energize and re-energize the service during the upgrade, commonly cited around $678, billed separately from the ESA fees.
  • HST at 13% applies to labour and materials on top of the contractor's quoted price.
  • Homes with active knob-and-tube wiring are common in older Toronto neighbourhoods and can affect both insurability and the scope of electrical work required alongside a panel upgrade.

How can I pay less?

The biggest savings come from bundling visits, avoiding after-hours rates, and checking which fees a quote already contains. Each tip below is tied to a figure in the table above.

  • Bundle the panel upgrade with the generator installation quote; many installers discount the combined electrical scope versus hiring two separate contractors.
  • Get at least three itemized quotes and confirm whether the ESA notification fee and the Toronto Hydro disconnect/reconnect charge are included or extra. The ESA minimum is $88 and the disconnect/reconnect is around $678 in most cases, and neither is small enough to discover after you have signed.
  • If the home only needs to run essential loads on generator power, ask about a sub-panel/ATS setup instead of a full 400A service upgrade.
  • Confirm the electrician is ESA-licensed and pulls the permit directly; unpermitted panel work can void home insurance and complicate resale.
  • Ask if the job can be scheduled on a weekday during regular hours; some contractors add a premium for weekend Toronto Hydro coordination.

How did we research these numbers?

Every price on this page was found in the page it is credited to, and recorded with the sentence that carries it. Where a figure could not be found in its source it was removed rather than adjusted. Here is what that left, and what it could not settle.

  • Most Toronto homes still on 100A fused service need a panel or service upgrade before a standby generator can be added, since the transfer switch and generator load both tie into the main panel.
  • The single biggest swing factor is whether the home is on overhead or underground utility service: overhead upgrades finish in a single 6 to 8 hour day, while underground runs that require the city to open the street or trench a new cable can push total cost well past $5,000.
  • Two fees are easy to miss when budgeting: the ESA notification of inspection, whose published minimum residential fee is $88 and rises with the size of the job and the Toronto Hydro disconnect and reconnect fee (about $678), which are billed separately from the electrician's own quote.
  • Contractors quote 100A to 200A upgrades very differently depending on whether the number includes only their own labour and hardware or the full project including permits and utility fees, so always ask what is and is not included.
  • Homes built before the 1970s in older Toronto neighbourhoods sometimes still carry knob-and-tube wiring behind the panel; if so, expect the electrician to flag a larger rewiring scope before or alongside the panel work, which adds materially to both cost and timeline.
  • Sub-panels are the cheaper path when a generator only needs to feed a subset of circuits (an ATS-fed essential-loads panel) rather than the whole house.
  • Pricing is generally quoted before HST; add 13% to any contractor estimate to get the real out-of-pocket cost.

Sources

Who can do the work?

Home Generator Index tracks 97 electrical panel upgrade contractors across the Greater Toronto Area, rated 4.87★ on average. The three below rank highest on our review-weighted score, based on Home Generator Index's analysis of 97 GTA businesses, August 2026.

5 photographs published by 3 of the electrical panel upgrade companies above, on their own Google Business profiles. We show a picture only after looking at it, and only where the subject is the installed work. Storefronts, staff portraits, branded vans and manufacturer product shots are held back, because none of them says anything about whether a company can wire a transfer switch.
See all 97 electrical panel upgrade contractors on Home Generator Index

Work out your own numbers

The table above is what other people paid. These calculators put your own house into the same published figures, and none of them asks for an email address.

What do the terms on a generator quote mean?

Two electrical panel upgrade quotes are hard to compare when each uses the same word for a different scope. These 3 terms appear on the line items above, and each one changes what a number covers.

ESA notification
The filing an ESA-licensed contractor makes before electrical work, which triggers the inspection. The fee is payable when the notification is submitted, not after the inspector visits, and the residential minimum is $88.
Disconnect and reconnect
Toronto Hydro pulling the service so the panel and meter base can be replaced, then restoring it. A utility charge separate from the electrician's price, and one of the two fees most often missing from a quote.
Meter base
The enclosure holding the utility meter, outside the house and ahead of your panel. Some service upgrades require a new one as a Toronto Hydro condition, which is why it is priced on this page as a conditional line rather than a standard one.

What else changes the total?

an Electrical Panel Upgrade is rarely quoted on its own. A cost that looks like an overrun on a electrical panel upgrade quote is usually a priced line item on one of these three guides.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to upgrade a 100A panel to 200A in Toronto?

Most homeowners pay $1,500 to $4,000 for a full 100A to 200A upgrade, including the panel, labour, permit, and ESA inspection.

Does the panel upgrade price include the Toronto Hydro and ESA fees?

Not always. Foxwood Electric prices a basic 100A to 200A service upgrade at $2,000 to $5,000, and contractor quotes commonly cover labour and materials only: the ESA notification (minimum $88) and the Toronto Hydro disconnect/reconnect fee (around $678 in most cases) are often billed as separate line items. Ask which of the two your quote already contains.

How much more does a 400A upgrade cost compared to 200A?

Moving from 200A to 400A service for a larger home typically adds $4,000 to $8,000 on top of a standard upgrade, largely due to heavier cable, a bigger panel, and more involved utility coordination.

Is it more expensive if my home has underground electrical service?

It can, and it is the single biggest thing that pushes a panel upgrade past the published ranges. No Ontario contractor found publishes a price for city trenching to reach underground cable, so this page prints no figure for it - but treat any quote built on an overhead service as not covering it. RenoHouse separately notes that moving the panel to a different wall adds $500 to $1,500, and drywall patching $200 to $500.

What does adding a sub-panel for a generator transfer switch cost?

A 60A to 100A sub-panel addition, often used to feed essential loads from a generator, typically runs $800 to $2,000.

How much is the ESA permit fee for a panel change?

The Electrical Safety Authority's minimum residential notification fee is $88; RenoHouse quotes the typical ESA inspection fee portion of a panel job at $100 to $200.

Can I just replace a fuse box with a breaker panel without going to 200A?

Yes, a straight fuse-to-breaker panel replacement at the same amperage runs $1,000 to $4,000 depending on scope, cheaper than a full amperage upgrade.

What's a smart panel and is it cheaper than a 400A upgrade?

A smart electrical panel, which manages loads instead of requiring more physical amperage, costs $3,000 to $5,000 installed and can be a lower-cost alternative to a full 400A service upgrade.

Questions to ask your contractor

  1. Can you show me the load calculation behind this recommendation? Panel upgrade cost breakdown
  2. Does the quote include the meter, the mast and the service conductors?
  3. Who books the utility disconnect and reconnect?
  4. Is the Electrical Safety Authority inspection fee in the price?
  5. Can the panel work and the generator tie in run under one inspection?