# 60A to 100A Upgrade Toronto | Toronto Electrical Panel Upgrade URL: https://electricalpanelupgradetoronto.ca/60a-to-100a-service-upgrades/ ![Crew replacing a 60A service entrance and meter base on an older Toronto semi](/images/misc/two-electricians-seen-from-behind-replacing-a-60a-.webp) # 60A to 100A Service Upgrades in Toronto and the GTA for Older Homes, Insurance Renewals and Basement Suites 60A to 100A service upgrades in Toronto move an original pre-1965 60A fused service to a modern 100A breaker panel (or straight to 200A if OESC Section 8 demand load calculation supports it) with new #2 AWG copper or #1/0 AWG aluminum service entrance conductors, a new 100A main service disconnect breaker, updated meter base, weatherhead, service mast where required, proper grounding electrode conductor and bonding jumper, and an ESA Certificate of Acceptance. Toronto Electrical Panel Upgrade [/ →](/) handles the Toronto Hydro service disconnect and reconnect coordination, files the ESA permit, and delivers same-day energization on most residential jobs. A 60A to 100A service upgrade in Toronto costs $2,000 to $4,500 CAD depending on overhead vs underground service entrance, whether the mast and meter base need replacement, and which load centre you choose from Siemens, Square D or Eaton, with the ESA permit fee itemised. Most calls start with a trigger: a home insurance non-renewal notice, a real-estate closing condition on a Cabbagetown or Riverdale character home, an original knob-and-tube era 60A service flagged during home inspection, or an Edison-base fuse panel that cannot support modern loads. We serve Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York, York and East York on Toronto Hydro, plus Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan and Markham on Alectra Utilities, Oakville on Oakville Hydro, and Ajax, Pickering, Whitby on Elexicon Energy inside our 50km radius. - ECRA/ESA Licensed - ESA Permit Included - Utility Coordination Handled - Written Itemised Quote Get a Free On-Site Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) +1-647-577-6113 [tel:+16475776113 →](tel:+16475776113) Written itemised quote $ 1,500 to $4,000 CAD - ESA permit filed and inspection booked - Utility disconnect and reconnect coordinated - Same-Week Scheduling View Pricing Detail [#pricing →](#pricing) - ECRA/ESA Licensed - ESA Permit Included on Every Job - Same-Week Scheduling - WSIB Certified - Free Written Itemised Quote ## What Is a 60A to 100A Service Upgrade? A 60A to 100A service upgrade replaces the main disconnect, the load centre, the meter base and the service entrance conductors so the property can draw 100A continuously instead of 60A. In most Toronto homes it also means the end of a fuse block, because the two almost always arrive together. A 60A service was sized for a household with a fridge, lights and a radio. It cannot carry a dryer, a dishwasher, a microwave, air conditioning and a home office at the same time, and it certainly cannot carry a charger or a heat pump. Insurers know this, which is why a 60A service is the single most commonly flagged electrical item on Toronto policies. The work is coordinated rather than quick. We run the OESC Section 8 demand calculation, file the ESA Notification of Work, book the utility disconnect, replace the service entrance and panel, pass the inspection, and hand over the Certificate of Inspection. The honest conversation is usually about 100A versus 200A. For what that looks like, see 100A to 200A service upgrades [/100a-to-200a-service-upgrades/ →](/100a-to-200a-service-upgrades/) , and for the wider residential range see residential electrical panel upgrades [/residential-electrical-panel-upgrades/ →](/residential-electrical-panel-upgrades/) . ### Where We See 60A Services - **Weston, Mount Dennis and Silverthorn.** Narrow 1910s to 1940s semis, overhead masts, fuse blocks in the basement. - **East York and Danforth Village.** 1920s to 1950s semis and small detached homes with cartridge-fuse mains. - **Older Oshawa and Pickering stock.** Pre-war and early post-war homes where the original service was never touched. - **Duplex conversions.** A 60A service split badly between two units, which needs both a service upgrade and proper subpanel separation. ## When to Upgrade From 60A - **Your insurer flagged it.** The most common trigger by a wide margin. See insurance-required electrical upgrades [/insurance-required-electrical-upgrades/ →](/insurance-required-electrical-upgrades/) . - **Fuses blow regularly.** A 60A service at its limit trips or blows under normal modern use. - **You are renovating.** A kitchen or basement renovation puts new circuits in front of an ESA inspector, and 60A rarely survives the calculation. - **You are adding air conditioning.** Central air on a 60A service is where many homeowners first discover the limit. - **You are selling.** A 60A service narrows your buyer pool because their insurer will flag it too. - **You are adding a charger or heat pump.** Skip 100A and read 200A service upgrades [/200a-service-upgrades/ →](/200a-service-upgrades/) , because the calculation will not support these loads on 100A either. ## What Drives the Cost Between $1,500 and $4,000 **Service entrance scope** leads: replacing the mast, weatherhead, meter base and conductors is the bulk of the labour on these jobs, and an underground lateral costs more than an overhead drop. **Panel position** is second, because a fuse block in a closet or under a stair means the new load centre relocates. **Circuit count and protection** is third, since arc-fault and ground-fault breakers cost more than standard ones and the code requires them on defined circuits. **Access** is the fourth on narrow city lots where there is no driveway to work from. The ESA permit fee is included, and the utility coordination fee is itemised on its own line. If we open the service and find scope the assessment could not see, work stops and you get a revised written quote. ## What to Expect on Install Day The utility pulls the meter in the morning and the property goes without power. We remove the old 60A disconnect and fuse block, replace the mast and weatherhead or the underground lateral, fit the new meter base, pull correctly sized service entrance conductors, and mount the new load centre. Circuits transfer across onto breakers matched to their conductor size, which sometimes reveals a circuit that was over-fused for years. Arc-fault and ground-fault protection goes on where required, the neutral bar is bonded, and the grounding electrode conductor is verified back to the water service or a ground rod. Terminations are torqued and the panel schedule is written and fixed inside the door. The ESA inspector attends, the utility reconnects and sets the meter, and power is back the same afternoon on a standard overhead job. You get the Certificate of Inspection, the panel schedule and an itemised invoice matching the quote. ## Is 60A Service Enough for a Modern Home? A Load Calculation, Not an Opinion A 60A service can run a modest older home with gas heating, gas water heating, and no electric range. Once you add a full electric kitchen, a dryer, central air conditioning, or any charging load, the OESC Section 8 demand calculation stops closing. The answer is a number, not a preference. ### Baseline loads on a 60A service - **Gas furnace with a 240V blower and gas water heater:** together roughly 8-12A of continuous plus start current. - **Refrigerator, general lighting and small-appliance circuits:** typically 10-15A of combined average draw. - **A traditional 30A electric dryer or an 8-12A gas dryer:** the electric variant alone eats 40% of a 60A service capacity in cycle. - **Older 100A rated meter base on a downgraded 60A service:** common in Toronto, this hides the fact that the actual limit is the panel and fuses, not the meter base. ### Where a 60A service fails the calculation - **Any electric range on a 40A circuit:** an induction or resistive coil range at continuous 32A pushes the demand above 60A once the dryer starts. - **A Level 2 EV charger at 30A, 40A or 50A:** even the smallest Level 2 charger on a 30A dedicated circuit puts the demand above the 60A ceiling. - **A cold-climate heat pump replacing gas heating:** a Mitsubishi Zuba or Daikin Aurora on a 240V split-phase circuit adds 30-50A of continuous heating load. - **A basement suite subpanel:** an OESC Section 26 second-suite install with its own range, dryer and heat pumps almost always trips the calculation. ### Practical decision points - **Modest home, gas heat, gas hot water, no EV, no heat pump:** a 60A service may still be legal, but almost every Ontario insurer refuses to bind coverage regardless, so the upgrade is driven by insurance rather than by capacity. - **Any renovation plan that adds an electric range, EV charger, heat pump or second suite:** the OESC Section 8 calculation will not close on 60A, and the upgrade to at least 100A is unavoidable. - **A home already flagged by a broker letter:** the insurance clock decides the timeline. Ask for the letter to be sent by email and forward it with the ESA Certificate when the work is done. - **Home purchase or refinance:** the lender and the buyer’s insurer close the file only when a 100A or 200A breaker service is documented with an ESA Certificate of Inspection. ## How Much Does 60A to 100A Upgrades Cost in Toronto? A 60A to 100A upgrade runs $1,500 to $4,000 CAD. Going straight to 200A instead runs $2,500 to $8,000 CAD and shares the same utility visit and permit. Typical range $ 1,500 to $4,000 per upgrade (CAD) - ESA permit fee included - Final ESA inspection included - Utility coordination itemised, never hidden Get an Itemised Quote [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) ### What Moves the Price #### Overhead mast or underground lateral An underground service entrance needs trenching and civil work, so it sits higher in the range than a mast and weatherhead replacement. #### Panel brand and circuit count Siemens, Square D / Schneider Electric and Eaton load centres price differently, and a 42-circuit panel costs more than a small enclosure. #### Service entrance length and routing Conductor length from the meter base to the panel, plus any wall penetration or conduit work, changes the material and labour line. #### Scope flagged by the load calculation An OESC Section 8 result can add a subpanel, a grounding electrode conductor or a meter base that was not in the original plan. | Scope | Low | High | | --- | --- | --- | | 60A to 100A, overhead, panel in position | $ 1,500 | $ 2,500 | | 60A to 100A with meter base and conductors | $ 2,200 | $ 3,200 | | 60A to 100A with panel relocation | $ 2,800 | $ 4,000 | ## Why Choose Us for 60A to 100A Upgrades? ECRA/ESA licensed, permit filed, utility coordinated, quote itemised. - ### 20+ Years of Panel Upgrade Experience Over two decades of ECRA/ESA-licensed panel replacement, service entrance upgrades, fuse box conversions and utility coordination across Toronto and the GTA. Panel work is the whole business, not a side service. - ### Honest 100A versus 200A maths The utility visit, permit and service entrance work cost the same either way. We show you both quotes so the decision is informed, not guessed. - ### Narrow-lot experience Weston, Mount Dennis and Riverdale semis have tight side yards and no driveway. We stage material and the meter pull around that. - ### Fuse block removed with it Most 60A services still have a fuse block, so the conversion to breakers with AFCI and GFCI protection happens in the same visit. - ### Insurance documentation included 60A services are the single most commonly flagged item by Toronto insurers. The certificate closes the file. ## How Does 60A to 100A Upgrades Work? The sequence every job follows, from the first load calculation to the utility reconnect. 1. 01 ### Assess the 60A service Main disconnect type, conductor sizing, meter base and mast condition, and whether the existing panel is a fuse block. 2. 02 ### Run the calculation An OESC Section 8 demand calculation showing whether 100A covers your loads or 200A is the better decision. 3. 03 ### Permit and utility booking ESA Notification of Work filed and the utility disconnect window requested, usually for a morning slot. 4. 04 ### Service and panel replacement Mast or lateral, meter base, service entrance conductors and load centre all replaced to the new service size. 5. 05 ### Inspection and reconnect ESA inspection passes, the utility reconnects and sets the meter, and the Certificate of Inspection is handed over. ## How Toronto Electrical Panel Upgrade Compares | Feature | Typical provider | Toronto Electrical Panel Upgrade | | --- | --- | --- | | 100A versus 200A advice | Quote for whatever was asked | Both priced, calculation shown | | Fuse block removal | Quoted separately | Included in the service upgrade | | ESA permit and inspection | Extra line item | Included on every job | | Utility coordination | Homeowner calls the utility | Booked and coordinated by us | ## Try Our Free Electrical Load Calculator Check if your current panel can carry 60a to 100a upgrades before you book an estimate. Use the Calculator [/tools/electrical-load-calculator/ →](/tools/electrical-load-calculator/) ## Need 60A to 100A Upgrades in Toronto or the GTA? Free on-site estimate, written itemised quote, ESA permit filed before the work starts. +1-647-577-6113 [tel:+16475776113 →](tel:+16475776113) Free On-Site Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) ## Our 60A to 100A Upgrades Work Documentary photos from panel jobs across Toronto and the GTA. Select any image to enlarge it. ## What Customers Say About Our 60A to 100A Upgrades Work Real Toronto and GTA neighbourhoods, real panel jobs. > Our 60A service with screw-in fuses was the reason our insurer would not renew. They moved us to 100A and the certificate went to the broker that week. Benoit G.Mount Dennis > They priced 100A and 200A side by side and explained that the utility work was identical. We went with 200A because of the difference in headroom. Stacey M.Weston > Tight side yard, no driveway, and they still had the mast, meter base and panel done and reconnected in a day and a half. Ilya K.Silverthorn ## 60A to 100A Upgrades FAQs ### How much does a 60A to 100A upgrade cost in Toronto? A 60A to 100A upgrade runs $1,500 to $4,000 CAD. An overhead job with the panel staying in position sits at the low end. Replacing the mast, meter base and service entrance conductors, or relocating the panel for working-space clearance, pushes toward the top. The ESA permit fee is included and the utility coordination fee is itemised. ### Should I go to 100A or straight to 200A? If your plans include any of EV charging, a heat pump, an induction range, electric water heating or a basement suite, go to 200A. The utility disconnect, the permit, the meter base and most of the service entrance work cost the same either way, so the incremental cost of 200A now is far less than a second upgrade in three years. If the house will stay on gas heating and cooking with no charger, 100A is a reasonable, cheaper answer. ### Why are 60A services a problem? 60A was sized for a household with a fridge, lights and a radio. A modern home with a dryer, dishwasher, microwave, air conditioning and a home office exceeds it on the calculation, which means nuisance tripping at best. Insurers treat 60A services as elevated risk and many will not renew until the service is upgraded. Most 60A installations also still have a fuse block, which is a second flag. ### How long does the upgrade take? Typically 1 to 2 days. The utility disconnect and reconnect is booked in advance for a single day, usually a morning slot, so power goes off in the morning and comes back the same afternoon once the ESA inspection passes. A mast replacement, panel relocation or trenching for an underground lateral pushes into a second day. ### Does the fuse box get replaced at the same time? Yes. Nearly every 60A service we see still has an Edison-base or cartridge fuse block, and it is replaced with a breaker panel as part of the upgrade, with arc-fault and ground-fault protection fitted where the code requires. See \[fuse box replacement\](/fuse-box-replacement/) for that scope on its own. ### Will Toronto Hydro need to cut the power? Yes. Changing the service size means the meter base and service entrance conductors are replaced, so the meter has to be pulled and the service de-energized. We book that window with the utility as soon as the ESA Notification of Work is filed. ### Can a 60A service carry a heat pump? No. A cold-climate heat pump with backup heat is a large dedicated load, and the Section 8 calculation on a 60A service will not support it alongside normal household demand. That project needs a 200A service in almost every case. See \[100A to 200A service upgrades\](/100a-to-200a-service-upgrades/). ### What if my street has underground service? The lateral is replaced rather than a mast and weatherhead, and any trenching or conduit work is priced separately in the quote. The permit, utility coordination and inspection sequence is identical. ### Is my old wiring a problem for the upgrade? The upgrade is inspected, so the terminations entering the new panel have to be sound. Cloth-insulated or aluminum branch wiring is not automatically a failure, but deteriorated insulation at the terminations needs remediation. We flag anything visible at the assessment so it is in the quote. ### Do I get documentation for my insurer? Yes. The ESA Certificate of Inspection plus a written description of the service change, which together is what underwriting accepts. See \[insurance-required electrical upgrades\](/insurance-required-electrical-upgrades/). ### Still have a question? Ask the crew directly. We answer load calculation, permit and utility coordination questions before you commit to anything. Send a Message [/contact/ →](/contact/) Book a Free Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) ## Related Services ### 100A to 200A Service Upgrades A 100A to 200A service upgrade in Toronto is Toronto Electrical Panel Upgrade's most-requested job. Upgrade from an undersized 100A service to a full 200A, 42-circuit panel with 2/0 AWG copper or 4/0 AWG aluminum service entrance conductors sized per OESC Section 8, a new meter base, weatherhead and mast where required, whole-home surge protector, copper grounding electrode conductor, and ESA Certificate of Acceptance. Toronto Hydro disconnect and reconnect coordinated end-to-end so you get one point of contact for permit, materials, and utility scheduling. A 100A to 200A upgrade in Toronto costs $2,500 to $8,000 CAD depending on whether the service is overhead or underground and which load centre you choose from Siemens, Square D or Eaton, with the ESA permit fee and utility coordination fee itemised on the written quote. Most calls start with a trigger: a Level 2 EV charger install, a cold-climate heat pump, an induction range, a hot tub or sauna, a basement-suite subpanel, a major renovation that puts the panel in front of an ESA inspector, or a 60A fuse panel flagged during a home inspection. We serve Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York, York and East York on Toronto Hydro, plus Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan and Markham on Alectra Utilities, Oakville on Oakville Hydro, Burlington on Burlington Hydro, and Ajax, Pickering, Whitby on Elexicon Energy inside our 50km radius. View service [100A to 200A Service Upgrades →](/100a-to-200a-service-upgrades/) ### Fuse Box Replacement Fuse box replacement in Toronto converts an outdated 60A fuse panel or Edison-base cartridge fuse box to a modern 100A or 200A breaker panel with arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) and ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) where required by the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, plus a whole-home surge protective device (SPD), a copper grounding electrode conductor, an updated neutral bar bonding jumper, and an ESA Certificate of Acceptance your insurer will accept for policy renewal. Toronto Electrical Panel Upgrade handles the Toronto Hydro service disconnect and reconnect, files the ESA permit, and delivers the inspection certificate on the day of energization. A fuse box to breaker panel conversion in Toronto costs $1,800 to $5,000 CAD depending on panel size (24 to 42 circuits), whether the existing service entrance conductors are reusable or need replacement, and which load centre you choose from Siemens, Schneider Electric Homeline, or Eaton BR series. Most calls start with a trigger: a home insurance non-renewal notice, a real-estate closing condition, a home inspection report flagging the fuse box, a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok or Zinsco panel discovered in the basement, or a Notification of Work required for adjacent renovation. We serve Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York, York and East York on Toronto Hydro, plus Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan and Markham on Alectra Utilities, Oakville on Oakville Hydro, Burlington on Burlington Hydro, and Ajax, Pickering, Whitby on Elexicon Energy inside our 50km radius. View service [Fuse Box Replacement →](/fuse-box-replacement/) ### 200A Service Upgrades 200A service upgrades in Toronto move your entire electrical service to a full 200A rating with a 42-circuit main breaker panel, new 2/0 AWG copper or 4/0 AWG aluminum service entrance conductors sized per OESC Section 8 continuous load calculation, an updated meter base rated for 200A continuous service, a service mast and weatherhead where required, a copper grounding electrode conductor tied to the water main and driven ground rod, and an ESA Certificate of Acceptance. Toronto Electrical Panel Upgrade handles the Toronto Hydro service disconnect and reconnect coordination, files the ESA Notification of Work permit, and delivers same-day energization on most residential jobs. A full 200A service upgrade in Toronto costs $3,500 to $9,500 CAD depending on whether the service entrance is overhead or underground, whether the existing meter base and mast can be reused, and which load centre you choose from Siemens, Square D, or Eaton. Most calls start with a trigger: whole-home electrification with a heat pump plus EV charger plus induction range, a rebuild or major addition that exceeds the existing 100A capacity, a home insurance underwriting requirement, or a resale closing condition. We serve Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York, York and East York on Toronto Hydro, plus Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan and Markham on Alectra Utilities, Oakville on Oakville Hydro, and Ajax, Pickering, Whitby on Elexicon Energy inside our 50km radius. View service [200A Service Upgrades →](/200a-service-upgrades/) ![](/images/hero/two-electricians-in-plain-workwear-seen-from-behin.webp) Same-Week Scheduling ## Book Your 60A to 100A Upgrades Estimate Free on-site assessment across Toronto and the GTA. Written itemised quote before any work begins, with the ESA permit fee and utility coordination fee separated on the line. Get a Free On-Site Estimate [/free-estimate/ →](/free-estimate/) +1-647-577-6113 [tel:+16475776113 →](tel:+16475776113) - ESA permit and final inspection included - Toronto Hydro coordination handled - No hidden fees on the written quote ## Thanks, we have your request. A licensed crew member will be in touch to book the on-site estimate. ## Request a Written Itemised Quote Four fields. We reply with a free on-site estimate date and the ESA permit and coordination fees broken out separately.