Ontario EV panel upgrade cost

Short run from panel, spare capacity. Labour alone is often $700-$800; ESA certificate brings the all-in total to about $1,000-$1,100. Electricians will ask how far the charger is from the panel before quoting.

100A service needs upgrading to 200A, possibly with utility service work. This is the outlier - not the typical install. Only include this if a load calculation says you need it.

A qualified electrician determines this with a load calculation, not a guess - your home's existing panel amperage, major appliance loads (electric heat, AC, dryer, hot tub, pool), and how much of that capacity is already spoken for all factor in. A 100A panel with an electric furnace and a hot tub already running near capacity is a very different situation from a 100A panel in a smaller home with gas heat and light appliance load - the second one often has room for a Level 2 charger with no upgrade at all.

Ask for a quote split: labour/materials vs ESA. A short-run job can be ~$700-$800 without ESA and ~$1,000-$1,100 once the ESA certificate is included. Expect the electrician to ask how far the install location is from the panel - that distance drives copper, conduit, and labour more than almost anything else besides a panel upgrade. Most Ontario Level 2 installs without a panel upgrade stay under $3,500 all-in. Ask your electrician specifically whether this applies to your panel before agreeing to a full upgrade quote.

In Ontario, EV charger installations require an electrical permit filed with the ESA before work starts, must be performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor, and are inspected on completion. Keep the permit, invoice, contractor licence number, and Certificate of Acceptance.