A panel upgrade sounds disruptive, but a well-run job follows a tight, predictable script. Here's exactly how the day goes when we upgrade a panel in the GTA.
The day, hour by hour
We arrive between 8 and 9 AM, having coordinated the utility disconnect (Toronto Hydro, Alectra, or your local utility) in advance. Once the service is dead, the old panel comes off the wall. The new 200A panel goes up, every existing branch circuit is transferred, re-terminated, and labelled, and new grounding runs to the water service and ground rods. If the service entrance cable or meter base needs replacement — common on 60A and older 100A services — that happens in parallel.
By late afternoon the utility reconnects, and we walk the house with you, testing every circuit. You'll have power for dinner. Total elapsed time without electricity: usually 6–8 hours.
What extends the timeline
Three things turn one day into two. A deteriorated meter base or mast discovered mid-job adds utility coordination. Aluminum service entrance cable that must be replaced with copper adds hours of labour. And homes where the panel location itself must move — say, out of a clothes closet, which code no longer permits — involve rerouting every circuit. A proper site visit beforehand catches all three, which is why we quote from a free in-person estimate, not over the phone.
After the work: inspection and paperwork
We file the ESA notification as part of every job, and the inspector typically visits within 3–5 business days. You don't need us present for it. When it passes, you receive the certificate of inspection — keep it with your home documents, because insurers and future buyers will want it. Many insurers offer better rates once a fuse panel is replaced, so send them the certificate proactively.
If you're weighing whether the upgrade is worth it, our guides on the signs you need a panel upgrade and 100 amp vs 200 amp service cover the decision in depth. And if an EV charger or basement finish is anywhere in your future, do them together — the savings are real.