Overview: Electricians
Electricians in Canada wire everything from a block heater outlet by the driveway to a full service upgrade. They swap panels, run new circuits, install generator transfer switches and hook up car chargers. They're also who you call when breakers trip on the coldest night, with a space heater and a kettle sharing one circuit.
Who you can hire is set by the province. In Ontario, the law says it must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor. You can't hire a master electrician directly, only the licensed contractor they work for. In Quebec, the company gets its licence through the CMEQ, the body for master electricians. In British Columbia, the work is done by trained people who work for licensed firms. A homeowner can only get a permit for a detached house they own and live in, with no rental suite.
Old wiring tends to come up when you buy insurance. Ontario's Electrical Safety Authority says knob and tube wiring is safe when a licensed contractor keeps it in good shape. Yet many insurers won't cover or renew a home that has it. ESA suggests having a licensed contractor look at it, since a home inspector checks the whole house and they check only the wiring.
Our listings show what each contractor states on its own website about licences, insurance and the jobs it takes on. Use the province and city lists to reach electricians in your area.
Electrical service costs in Canada
Compare the complete job price, including the minimum visit, materials and required approvals. Larger upgrades need a defined capacity and scope.
| Service | Planning budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled diagnostic visit | C$175–C$300per service visit | One electrician during regular hours, with the first billable hour included; confirm whether travel uses part of that hour.Confirm when the first billable hour starts and whether it includes travel. Parts and further labour are extra; after-hours prices differ.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Call-out; Included diagnostic time Budget separately or confirm: Repair parts; Additional labour |
| Additional electrician labour | C$90–C$180per electrician-hour | One electrician during regular hours after any included time; confirm minimum hours, billing increments and when the clock starts.Use this only when extra time is separately billed. Confirm minimum hours, travel and crew size; do not add it to a complete fixed job price.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: One electrician’s labour Budget separately or confirm: Materials; Permit and utility charges |
| One standard outlet replacement | C$100–C$300per one-outlet replacement visit | One compatible receptacle replaced at an existing suitable location.Existing suitable wiring and box assumed. Confirm the complete visit total and any diagnostic credit; new cable, special devices and wall repairs are extra.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified basic device; Installation and test Budget separately or confirm: New circuit; Wall repairs |
| Dedicated circuit installation | C$250–C$700per specified circuit installed | One 20 A dedicated circuit with agreed cable route and receptacle, using adequate existing service capacity.Agree the cable route and ask whether permit and inspection charges are included. Service upgrades and repairing opened walls are separate.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified wiring and protection; Installation and test Budget separately or confirm: Service-capacity upgrade; Wall repairs |
| Install an owner-supplied Level 2 charger | C$900–C$2,700per defined home installation | Install a customer-supplied Level 2 charger with a new circuit, adequate capacity and an agreed accessible cable route.Charger hardware is extra. Compare the included cable length and approvals; trenching, load management, service upgrades and shared-building infrastructure are separate.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified wiring, connection and testing; Applicable permit and inspection within the agreed scope Budget separately or confirm: Charger hardware and load-management equipment; Service upgrades, extra cable and difficult access |
| Electrical service upgrade | C$2,700–C$9,500per defined upgrade | Increase an existing home supply from 100 A to 200 A, with a nearby panel and meter and an agreed service route.Incoming-service work can cost more than a panel swap. Utility fees, mast work, difficult underground routes and panel relocation can exceed this range.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified panel and connections; Listed approvals Budget separately or confirm: Unlisted utility works; Whole-home rewiring |
What changes the price
- Fault-finding time, access and concealed cable routes
- Existing service capacity and circuit requirements
- Permit, inspection, utility and after-hours charges
Ask before accepting a quote
- What is included in the minimum visit, and when does extra billing begin?
- For the charger, can load management meet my needs without a service upgrade?
- Who includes permit, utility coordination and wall repairs in the final total?
Do not count the same labour twice
- A complete fixed job price normally replaces the hourly calculation for that work. Ask how a diagnostic fee is credited before adding any further charges.
- For added capacity, compare a panel-only change, a full service upgrade and load management as separate solutions to the required load.
Canadian context
Requirements vary by province; in Ontario, the licensed electrical contractor files the required ESA notification for contracted electrical work.
Planning amounts in Canadian dollars. Published tax treatment varies; confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your written quote. Rows can be different services, alternative packages or separately priced extras. Add only work that is needed and not already included in your quote.
Frequently asked questions
What electrical work needs a permit?
In Ontario, almost all of it. Whoever does the work files a notice with ESA before or soon after they start, and that goes for homeowners working on their own house too. A building permit doesn't replace it, and you may need both. In British Columbia, a licensed firm can swap a switch, an outlet or a thermostat with no permit. Most other jobs need one, from Technical Safety BC or your town or city.
What does an electrical panel upgrade involve?
A notification or permit, a date booked with your local utility to cut the power, then the new panel, circuits landed and labelled, and grounding brought up to code. In Ontario, ESA lists a contractor who says the utility needn't be involved as one sign of unlicensed work. Another is asking you to take out the permit yourself. A real contractor files it.
Is old wiring in my house a problem?
It can be a problem for your insurance before it's one for your safety. ESA says knob and tube is safe when properly maintained, but many insurers see it as a higher risk, and some want it replaced before they'll offer coverage. Ask your insurer what it needs to see. Then have a licensed contractor assess the wiring and put the findings in writing.
What should I know before adding a car charger?
In Ontario, every charger install needs an electrical permit filed with ESA before the work starts. The charger has to carry a recognized Canadian certification mark, so check the label before you buy one online. Then comes capacity. Chargers draw a lot of power, so have the contractor check what your panel can carry, and if it needs an upgrade, your utility gets involved too.
What paperwork should I keep after electrical work?
In Ontario, the Certificate of Acceptance. ESA issues it to whoever filed the notification once the work passes review, so ask your contractor for a copy. ESA calls it important for insurance and resale. In Quebec, the CMEQ advises getting a written, detailed quote that lists the work and materials, then a written contract. Keep those with the invoice and the contractor's licence number.
