Hamilton, Ontario · Panel and Service Upgrades
Electrical Panel Upgrade in Hamilton
Fuse-to-breaker conversions, 60 to 100 amp and 100 to 200 amp service upgrades, and panel replacements. We handle the ESA notification and the utility disconnect, and you keep the ESA certificate at the end.
Quick answer
An electrical panel upgrade in Hamilton should be done by an ECRA/ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor who files the ESA notification and books the utility disconnect. A panel swap usually takes one day. A full service upgrade adds utility coordination. Both end with an ESA certificate. Apollo Electric holds licence 7009372 and has upgraded Hamilton homes for over 30 years. You can verify any contractor's licence with the ESA contractor locator.
Still Running on a 60 Amp Fuse Panel?
A lot of houses in Hamilton were wired back when a fridge, a radio and a few ceiling lights were everything a family needed. Those homes are still standing, still beautiful, and still running on panels that were never designed for a modern kitchen, a heat pump, a hot tub and an electric car in the driveway.
If you are replacing fuses more often than you used to, if the lights dim when the dryer kicks on, or if your insurance company has started asking questions about your panel, an electrical panel upgrade is usually the answer.
Signs You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade
- You still have fuses. Many insurers now ask about fuse panels at purchase or renewal.
- Breakers trip often on circuits that should handle the load.
- Lights dim or flicker when a large appliance starts.
- The panel is full, with no spaces left for a new circuit.
- You are adding a big load, such as an EV charger, heat pump, hot tub, central air or a basement apartment.
- The panel is warm, buzzing, rusted or scorched, or uses obsolete or recalled equipment.
What an Electrical Panel Upgrade Actually Involves
An electrical panel upgrade is more than swapping a box on the wall. Done properly in Ontario, it means filing the ESA notification, coordinating a disconnect with the utility, replacing the service mast and meter base where needed, installing the new panel and breakers, re-landing every circuit, bonding and grounding to current code, and booking the ESA inspection that signs the job off.
We handle all of that. You get one phone number, one crew, and the ESA certificate at the end.
| Job | What it means |
|---|---|
| Panel replacement | A new panel on your existing service size. Usually a one-day job. |
| Fuse-to-breaker conversion | The fuse box is replaced with a modern breaker panel. |
| 60A to 100A service upgrade | Common in older Hamilton homes still on original service. |
| 100A to 200A service upgrade | Often needed before adding an EV charger, heat pump or second suite. |
| Sub-panel | A second panel for a garage, workshop, basement apartment or addition. |
| Service mast and meter base repair | Repairs after storm or ice damage to the equipment outside your home. |
Load Calculation First
Adding a Level 2 EV charger, a hot tub, central air or a basement apartment to a panel that is already full rarely ends well. A load calculation tells you honestly whether you have room or whether it is time to upgrade. We would rather tell you before you buy the equipment. If you are planning a charger, see our EV charger installation page.
Why Insurance Drives So Many Electrical Panel Upgrades
Insurance is the reason behind a good share of the calls we take. Many Ontario insurers will not write a policy on a 60 amp fuse panel, or they will write it with conditions and a deadline. If you are buying, selling or renewing, a documented electrical panel upgrade with an ESA certificate is what clears the file.
How an Electrical Panel Upgrade Runs
- Site visit. We look at what you actually have and run a load calculation where it matters.
- Written estimate. You get an itemised quote rather than a number over the phone.
- ESA notification and utility booking. We file with the Electrical Safety Authority and arrange the disconnect and reconnect with the utility, Alectra Utilities in most of Hamilton or Burlington Hydro in Burlington.
- Upgrade day. Most residential service upgrades are a one-day job, with the power off for part of that day. We tell you up front how long yours will be down.
- ESA inspection and certificate. Every panel we install is inspected by ESA. You keep the certificate for your insurer, your buyer and your lawyer.
Older Panel, Older Wiring?
Older panels often come with older wiring. If your home still has knob and tube or aluminum branch wiring, we can look at the whole picture at the same visit instead of sending you three separate quotes. Doing the electrical panel upgrade and the wiring together is usually cheaper and less disruptive than doing them a year apart.
What Hamilton Homeowners Say
We had our service cable replaced by Apollo Electric along with a new board to replace the 4-breaker that came with the house. We also had the entire kitchen re-wired since we had walls down... Zvonko also discovered a serious fire hazard a previous owner had hidden inside the walls. We will use Apollo Electric again for sure.
Jason Rondeau, Hamilton
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an electrical panel upgrade take?
A panel swap usually takes one day. A full service upgrade also depends on the utility disconnect and reconnect, which we book for you.
Do I need 200 amp service?
Not always. A load calculation shows whether your current service can carry what you have and what you plan to add. We will tell you if 100 amps is enough.
Will my power be off all day?
The power is off for part of the day. We tell you the expected window before the job so you can plan around it.
Do I get paperwork for my insurer?
Yes. Every panel we install is inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority and you keep the ESA certificate.
Do you do electrical panel upgrades outside Hamilton?
Yes. We work across Hamilton and Halton. Read our guide to panel upgrades in Waterdown for more detail.
Areas We Serve
Apollo Electric serves Hamilton, Dundas, Ancaster, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Grimsby, Burlington, Oakville and Milton, plus Cambridge, Kitchener-Waterloo and the Greater Toronto Area. If you are just outside that list, call anyway. It is often still workable, and we will tell you honestly if it is not.
See all of our residential electrical services.
Contact and Service Details
Apollo Electric Inc.
83 Ferndale Ave, Hamilton, ON L8K 4L7
Phone: 905-921-5487 (24/7 emergency)
Email: zvonkoapollo@gmail.com
Non-emergency hours: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, evening and weekend service available
ECRA/ESA 7009372 · ESA Authorized Contractor Program · WSIB compliant · Fully licensed and bonded · Over 30 years
To book non-urgent work or request an estimate, use our contact page.
Apollo Electric Inc. · ECRA/ESA 7009372 · Last updated 22 October 2026.