What are the costs and benefits of upgrading from 60 amp to 200 amp service when rewiring?

Upgrading from 60A to 200A service during a rewire is one of the best investments you can make in an older GTA home, typically adding $3,500 to $5,000 to the rewiring cost but future-proofing your electrical system for decades. If you're already paying for a rewire, bundling the service upgrade saves money compared to doing it as a separate project later.

A 60A service was adequate when your home was built — when the heaviest electrical loads were a refrigerator, a few light bulbs, and maybe a window air conditioner. Today's homes need to support central air conditioning, electric dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, multiple computers and devices, LED lighting on dozens of circuits, and increasingly, EV chargers and heat pumps. A 60A panel simply cannot safely deliver enough power for modern living. Even a 100A upgrade — while better than 60A — is increasingly considered undersized for homes planning to add an EV charger (40-50A draw) or heat pump system.

The cost breakdown for a 60A to 200A upgrade during a rewire includes the new 200A panel ($300-$800 for the panel box itself), new service entrance cable from the meter to the panel ($500-$1,500 for materials and labour), meter base replacement ($200-$400 for the base, plus Toronto Hydro coordination fees), and labour for the panel installation and service entrance work. As a standalone project, this runs $3,500 to $5,000. When bundled with a rewire, the incremental cost is lower — perhaps $2,500 to $4,000 — because your electrician is already at the panel and the service entrance work overlaps with the rewiring scope.

The benefits extend well beyond just having more power available. A 200A panel gives you room to grow — enough breaker slots and capacity to add circuits for an EV charger, workshop, basement suite, hot tub, or generator transfer switch without worrying about overloading the system. Insurance becomes simpler — many Ontario insurers charge lower premiums for homes with modern 200A service compared to 60A or even 100A panels, and some won't insure homes with 60A fuse boxes at all. Resale value increases measurably — home inspectors flag 60A service as a major deficiency, and buyers factor the upgrade cost into their offers. Having 200A service with a modern panel is a selling point.

The process requires coordination with Toronto Hydro (or your local utility if you're outside city limits). Your electrician handles this coordination — Toronto Hydro needs to disconnect power at the meter to allow the meter base and service entrance cable replacement, then reconnect and install a new meter once the work is complete. This typically requires scheduling two to three weeks in advance, so plan accordingly. The power outage for the switchover lasts four to eight hours.

For homes across Scarborough, North York, and Etobicoke built in the 1950s and 1960s with original 60A fuse boxes, this upgrade is essentially mandatory for modern living. If you're already rewiring to replace old wiring, adding the service upgrade at the same time is far more cost-effective than coming back for it later. Get matched with licensed electricians experienced in service upgrades through Toronto Electrical Repair — browse electrical professionals in the Toronto Construction Network directory to find the right fit for your project.