February 18, 2026 · eQuote360 Team
$2,500 – $4,500
Upgrading an electrical panel from 100 amps to 200 amps in Ontario typically costs $2,500 to $4,500, including the new panel, breakers, labour, and the required ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) permit and inspection. Costs run somewhat lower in parts of the GTA and somewhat higher outside it depending on local labour rates and how much rewiring is needed to connect to the new panel.
A more modest upgrade — installing a fresh 100-amp panel rather than jumping to 200 amps — typically runs $1,500 to $2,500. It's a smaller job, but still one that needs a permit and a licensed electrician.
One thing that can add real cost: if your home's utility meter base can't handle the new service size, it needs replacing too, which typically adds $600 to $1,400 to the project. A good electrician will check this before quoting, not after starting work.
Why older Golden Horseshoe homes often need this
A lot of housing stock across Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton and the GTA was built when 60-amp or 100-amp service was standard. That was enough for a home with a furnace, a fridge, and not much else — it's often not enough once you add central air, an EV charger, a hot tub, or a finished basement with its own circuits. If your panel still uses fuses instead of breakers, or you find yourself resetting breakers regularly, a panel upgrade is usually the root fix, not a symptom to patch around.
Permits aren't optional
Any panel upgrade in Ontario needs ESA notification and inspection — this isn't a "nice to have," it's how the work gets certified as safe. Every electrician matched through eQuote360 handles this as part of the job, not as an add-on.
