Panel Upgrade Cost in Burlington & Halton: 100A to 200A

October 22, 2026•5 min read

A 100A to 200A panel upgrade with MCS Electrical Solutions costs $2,600 to $4,000 plus tax, depending on the install. Most of our jobs land between $3,000 and $3,200 plus tax. That price includes all permits and the utility disconnect, and the job is done in a day.

That number moves for reasons you can see before anyone starts work, so here's what's in it and what pushes it up or down.

What's included in the price

A quote for a panel upgrade should cover the whole job, from the first look at your load to the final inspection:

The assessment. We look at the existing panel and add up your household load first. That's how we know whether 200A is the right size or whether a larger home, a shop, or a secondary suite needs more.
The ESA permit. Before work starts, we file the notification of work with the Electrical Safety Authority. It's required for a service change, the person doing the work files it, and it's in our price.
The utility disconnect. We coordinate the temporary disconnect with your hydro company so the new panel can go in and your power comes back on safely. That's in our price too.
The new panel and breakers. Sized to the load calculation, not to the number your neighbour got.
The ESA inspection. The Electrical Safety Authority inspects the finished work. When it passes, you get the paper trail you'll want when you sell the house or talk to your insurer.

If a quote leaves out the permit or the inspection, it isn't comparable to one that includes them. Ask.

What pushes the price up

Where the panel lives. A panel on an open basement wall is a straightforward swap. One in a closet, behind finished drywall, or in a tight utility room takes longer and sometimes needs walls opened and patched.
The condition of what's already there. If the service entrance, grounding, or wiring around the old panel doesn't meet current code, it gets corrected as part of the job. The inspection won't pass otherwise, and we won't leave it for the next owner.
Circuits added at the same time. Upgrading the panel is the cheapest moment to add the circuit for an EV charger, a hot tub, or a finished basement, because the panel is already open and the permit is already filed. It adds to this job's price, but it can save you a second visit later. Our EV charger installation guide covers what the charger side involves.
Size beyond 200A. Most homes stop at 200A. Larger properties can need more, and that changes the equipment and the price.
Older homes. Panels in homes built before central air was standard often sit alongside older wiring. Sometimes the panel is the easy part, and what's behind it decides the price.

How long it takes

Our 100A to 200A upgrades are done in a day. The power is normally off from about 8 am until 4 or 5 pm, while the old panel comes out and the new one goes in. The ESA inspection follows the finished work. If you work from home or have a fridge full of food, tell us and we'll plan around it.

How to compare quotes

Three questions separate a real quote from a low one:

Is the ESA permit and inspection in the price?
Is the electrician a Licensed Electrical Contractor? Electrical work done for pay in Ontario has to be. Ours is ESA/ECRA licence #7016366, and you can check any contractor's licence with the Electrical Safety Authority.
What happens if you open the panel and find something wrong? A straight answer beats a low number that grows halfway through.

Older neighbourhoods, older panels

Panel upgrades come up most in the older parts of our service area: Old Milton and Timberlea, Old Georgetown and the heritage streets around Acton and Glen Williams in Halton Hills, and the older cores of Oakville and Burlington. Newer homes in Alton Village or Milton's Ford and Beaty neighbourhoods are a different starting point, but the same load check applies. We look at the house before we quote, not after.

Common questions

Do I need a permit to upgrade my panel?
Yes. A service change needs an ESA notification of work and an inspection. We file it before the work starts.

Will I lose power during the upgrade?
Yes. It's normally off from about 8 am until 4 or 5 pm on the day of the job. We coordinate the utility disconnect and tell you the window ahead of time.

Is the permit included in the price?
Yes. Our price for a panel upgrade includes all permits and the utility disconnect. Taxes are extra.

Is 200A enough for an EV charger?
For most homes, yes, if the load calculation supports it. That check comes first, which is why we do it before quoting the charger.

Licensed, insured, ESA-inspected

Marc Whitford, our owner and a Master Electrician, has been an electrician for over 20 years, and MCS Electrical Solutions holds ESA/ECRA licence #7016366. The crew doing your panel upgrade is the same licensed team behind our 5.0-star rating on Google.

Not sure whether you need the upgrade? Start with our guide to signs your panel needs upgrading. Ready for a number? Call or text (905) 515-0287 for a free assessment and a written quote.

MCS Electrical Solutions

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