The Short Answer
Most Toronto and GTA homeowners with a 100-amp panel do not need to upgrade before installing a Level 2 EV charger. A smart load management device called an EVEMS (or DCC-12) lets you charge at full speed on your existing service for a fraction of the cost of a panel upgrade. Those with a 200-amp panel can almost always install a charger with no changes at all.
How to Tell What Size Panel You Have
Open your electrical panel (the grey or beige box in your basement, utility room, or garage). Look at the main breaker at the top — it will be labelled either 100A or 200A. If your home was built before 1990 and has never had electrical work done, it is likely 100A. Homes built after 2000 are usually 200A.
If you are not sure, our team can confirm during a free phone assessment before you book anything.
200-Amp Panel: You Are Good to Go
If you have a 200-amp service, you almost certainly have enough capacity for a Level 2 EV charger. We will install a dedicated 40A or 50A breaker, run a new 240V circuit to your garage or driveway, and mount your charger. Total job time: 3 to 5 hours. No utility calls, no service disruption.
100-Amp Panel: You Have Two Options
Option 1: EVEMS or DCC-12 Smart Load Management (Recommended)
An EVEMS (Electric Vehicle Energy Management System) monitors your home's total electrical draw in real time. When your oven, dryer, or air conditioner is running, it temporarily reduces EV charger output to keep total consumption within your 100A limit. When those loads stop, it ramps the charger back up automatically.
The result: full-speed Level 2 charging the vast majority of the time — typically overnight when other loads are off — without touching your service panel.
- Cost: from $799 all-in (permit included)
- Install time: 3 to 5 hours, same day
- No utility coordination needed
- Fully ESA-permitted and code-compliant
- Works with all major Level 2 charger brands
Option 2: 200-Amp Panel Upgrade
A full panel upgrade replaces your 100A service with a 200A service. This gives you plenty of headroom not just for an EV charger but for future loads like a heat pump, hot tub, or workshop. However, it is a bigger job.
- Cost: $2,500 to $4,500 in Toronto and the GTA
- Requires utility coordination with Toronto Hydro or Alectra (can add 2 to 6 weeks)
- Half-day electrical outage during the swap
- Full ESA permit and inspection required
A panel upgrade makes sense if your home has other major electrical upgrades planned (EV + heat pump + EV for a second vehicle), or if your current panel is already overloaded for reasons beyond EV charging.
What Does a Licensed Electrician Actually Check?
When our team assesses your home before installation, here is what we look at:
- Panel amperage: 100A or 200A
- Available breaker slots: Do you have room for a new 40A or 50A double-pole breaker?
- Existing load: Are you running heavy loads like electric heat, a hot tub, or workshop equipment?
- Wire gauge: Can your existing wiring support the planned circuit run?
- Distance from panel to charger location: Longer runs cost more and may affect wire sizing
Most 100A panels have some available capacity. The issue is not usually the total amperage — it is whether your existing loads leave enough headroom for a continuous 32A or 40A EV charger draw. That is exactly what an EVEMS solves.
What About Condo and Townhouse Owners?
Condo and townhouse owners often cannot upgrade their electrical service at all — the service is shared building infrastructure. For these homeowners, a smart load management system is not just the cheaper option, it is often the only option for Level 2 charging. We have installed EVEMS systems in dozens of GTA townhomes and stacked condos with dedicated parking spots.
Cost Comparison: EVEMS vs. Panel Upgrade
| EVEMS Install | Panel Upgrade | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | From $799 | $2,500 to $4,500 |
| Install time | 3 to 5 hours | 1 to 2 days |
| Utility coordination | Not required | Required (2 to 6 weeks) |
| Electrical outage | None | Half-day |
| Charges at full Level 2 speed | Yes (most of the time) | Yes |
Our Recommendation
For most Toronto and GTA homeowners with a 100A panel, we recommend starting with an EVEMS installation. It is faster, cheaper, and causes zero disruption to your home. If your electrical needs grow — second EV, heat pump, hot tub — you can always upgrade the panel later, and by then the rebate programs may be even better.
If you have a 200A panel, there is nothing to think about. We install your charger, file the permit, and you are charging at home within a week.
Get a Free Assessment
Not sure what you have or what you need? Call us at 1-225-708-8796 for a free 10-minute phone assessment, or fill out the quote form and we will call you back within 2 hours. We serve Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, and all of the GTA.
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Free assessment · ESA permit included · Same-week availability across the GTA