Toronto Hydro service upgrade: your complete guide

A Toronto Hydro service upgrade is the official process for increasing your property’s electrical supply capacity. It involves coordinated steps between you, Toronto Hydro, and the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) to meet all safety and technical standards. If your home runs on a 100-amp panel and you’re adding an EV charger, a heat pump, or a major renovation, your current service likely can’t keep up.

Here’s what the process looks like at a glance:

• Submit your request through Toronto Hydro’s online Service Upgrade Request form
• Review: Toronto Hydro contacts you within 10 business days to confirm project scope
• Design and estimate: Toronto Hydro provides a Job Quotation or Offer to Connect, typically within up to 60 days of receiving all required information
• Agreement: You sign and return the quotation with payment
• Construction: Toronto Hydro completes electrical and civil installation work
• ESA inspection: You schedule a safety inspection with the Electrical Safety Authority
• Final connection: Toronto Hydro completes your upgrade within 5 business days for services 750 volts or less, or 10 business days for services above 750 volts

Toronto Hydro CEO Jana Mosley has confirmed no expectation of brownouts in the city, so the grid is stable while you plan your upgrade. Toronto Hydro operates multiple service locations across the city, including well-known addresses such as 500 Commissioners St and 14 Carlton St, making local support accessible.

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How to request a Toronto Hydro service upgrade, step by step

Getting your residential hydro upgrade right comes down to preparation and knowing exactly what Toronto Hydro expects at each stage. Here’s how to move through the process without unnecessary delays.

Step 1: Assess your current service

Before you submit anything, do a quick visual scan of your property. Toronto Hydro advises customers to identify whether they have an overhead or underground electrical service, because each type has different equipment requirements and ownership boundaries. Overhead service and underground service have different capacity limits based on their installation type. Knowing which applies to you shapes everything that follows.

Understanding customer versus utility ownership also prevents costly miscommunication. For overhead service, Toronto Hydro owns everything up to the top of your service mast. For underground, you own the civil duct from the property line inward.

Step 2: Submit the online request form

Go to the Toronto Hydro website and complete the Service Upgrade Request Online Form. You’ll need to include all required project information: site plan, proposed electrical drawing, building permits, zoning certifications, and load calculations. Missing documents at this stage push your timeline back, so gather everything before you submit.

Step 3: Toronto Hydro reviews your project

A Toronto Hydro representative contacts you within 10 business days to confirm the scope of work. At this point, they may request a design pre-payment, which is a refundable deposit credited toward your total project cost. It’s not an extra fee. It covers the preliminary assessment work needed before design begins.

Step 4: Receive and sign the Job Quotation

Once Toronto Hydro has all required information, they produce a Job Quotation or Offer to Connect. This document specifies project details, timelines, and financial requirements. Sign and return it by email to projectpayments@torontohydro.com, along with all required payments as outlined in the General Payment Instructions section of the quotation.

Pro Tip: For simple overhead upgrades at 120/240 volts and up to 200 amps, Toronto Hydro now offers real-time appointment availability so you can see open slots before you submit. This removes the guesswork from scheduling and can shorten your wait considerably.

Step 5: Work with a licensed electrician

Your electrical contractor handles the internal panel work and coordinates with both Toronto Hydro and the ESA. Licensed electricians in Toronto manage the panel upgrade side of the project, pulling the necessary permits and ensuring your wiring meets Ontario’s electrical code before any inspection. If you’re upgrading to a 200-amp panel, this is the stage where that work happens.

Step 6: Schedule your ESA inspection

After electrical and civil installation is complete, you or your contractor must schedule a safety inspection with the Electrical Safety Authority. The ESA issues Connection Authorization only after a successful inspection. Toronto Hydro cannot complete your upgrade without it. You can contact the ESA directly through their website to book.

Step 7: Toronto Hydro final inspection and connection

Once ESA Connection Authorization is received, Toronto Hydro conducts a site inspection to confirm your setup meets their Conditions of Service. After that, your service upgrade is scheduled and completed within the standard timeframes noted above.

A few practical notes on disruptions: temporary disconnections are sometimes required for panel changes or major renovations. Standard isolations not involving design are typically scheduled two weeks in advance. Plan accordingly if you have tenants or time-sensitive work on site.

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Planning an upgrade for an EV charger? Evchargerinstallationtoronto can help

If your Toronto Hydro service upgrade is driven by an EV charger installation, Evchargerinstallationtoronto handles the full process for you. Their ESA-licensed electricians manage permits, panel upgrades, and rebate applications, with pricing starting from $1,800 and same-week booking available. Use the cost calculator to get a free estimate, or explore available Ontario rebates that can offset your upgrade costs by up to $5,000.

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Key takeaways

A Toronto Hydro service upgrade follows a defined multi-step process requiring ESA inspection and Connection Authorization before the final electrical connection is completed.

Point	Details
Design timeline	Toronto Hydro completes design and estimation within up to 60 days of receiving all required project information.
Final connection speed	Service upgrades at 750 volts or less are completed within 5 business days after successful inspection.
Design pre-payment	The deposit is credited toward your total project cost, not charged as an extra fee.
ESA inspection is mandatory	The Electrical Safety Authority must inspect and issue Connection Authorization before Toronto Hydro can finalize your upgrade.
Overhead vs underground matters	Your service type determines equipment requirements, ownership boundaries, and maximum service capacity.

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