How do I choose a good electrician in Ontario?

Hiring the wrong electrician can cost you far more than the job — in redone work, denied insurance claims, and safety risk. The good news is that Ontario's licensing system makes it straightforward to separate legitimate professionals from the rest, if you know what to check.

Verify the licence first

In Ontario, only a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) may legally perform electrical work for hire. The business holds an ECRA/ESA licence number, and you can verify it in seconds on the Electrical Safety Authority's online contractor directory. Ask for the number — a legitimate contractor provides it without hesitation (ours is ECRA/ESA #7015314). No number, evasiveness, or "I work under someone else's licence" without proof are immediate red flags. For the full how-to, see how to verify an electrician is licensed.

Confirm insurance and WSIB

A proper contractor carries liability insurance (protecting your property if something goes wrong) and WSIB coverage (protecting you from liability if a worker is injured on your property). Ask for proof of both. Uninsured work shifts real financial risk onto you — and an injury on your property without WSIB can become your problem.

Insist on a permit and a written quote

For anything beyond a like-for-like swap, the contractor should pull the ESA permit and have the work inspected. A contractor who offers to skip the permit to save money is telling you they're comfortable leaving work uninspected — which can void your insurance and surface as a problem when you sell. Get a written, itemized quote after they've actually seen the job; phone estimates for anything substantial are guesses. The quote should spell out scope, materials, the permit, and the price.

Questions worth asking

• Are you a Licensed Electrical Contractor, and what's your ECRA/ESA number?
• Do you carry liability insurance and WSIB? Can I see proof?
• Will you pull the ESA permit, and is it included in the price?
• Is the quote fixed, and what would change it?
• Do you provide the certificate of inspection when the work passes?
• Can you share references or recent reviews from my area?

Straight answers to these tell you most of what you need to know.

Red flags to walk away from

Be cautious of cash-only deals that avoid paperwork, no licence number, no permit, no written quote, high-pressure tactics, and prices dramatically below everyone else. That last one is the most common trap: an unusually cheap quote almost always means something is missing — the permit, insurance, proper materials, or a licence at all. Unlicensed electrical work is illegal in Ontario, it voids insurance claims, and it routinely costs more to tear out and redo than it ever saved. Compare quotes on scope and credentials, not just the final number — see why electrician costs vary.

The bottom line

A good electrician is licensed, insured, permits the work, quotes it in writing, and explains what they're doing and why. City Power is a Licensed Electrical Contractor (ECRA/ESA #7015314), fully insured, and every job includes the ESA permit and inspection. If you'd like a free, written estimate or a second opinion on a quote you've received, call 416-837-4038 — we serve the entire GTA.