How much does it cost to add a second electrical panel in the basement for a GTA home renovation?

Adding a second electrical panel (subpanel) in a GTA basement costs between $2,000 and $5,000 installed, depending on the amperage of the subpanel, the distance from the main panel, and the complexity of the wiring. If your main service also needs upgrading from 100 amps to 200 amps to support the additional load, the total cost rises to $5,000 to $10,000.

A basement renovation typically requires a significant amount of new electrical — pot lights, outlets every 12 feet along walls (Ontario Electrical Safety Code requirement), dedicated circuits for the bathroom, kitchen or wet bar, sump pump, and any high-draw equipment. In many older GTA homes, the existing 100-amp main panel simply does not have enough capacity or available breaker spaces to accommodate all these new circuits. Installing a subpanel in the basement solves both problems: it provides additional breaker spaces close to the new circuits (reducing wire runs and cost), and it can be fed with a dedicated 60-amp or 100-amp feed from the main panel.

The subpanel itself costs $200 to $600 for a 60-amp to 100-amp panel with 12 to 24 spaces. The real cost is the labour and materials for the feed cable from the main panel to the subpanel location, the conduit and wire, the connections at both ends, and the ESA inspection. A subpanel installed on the same floor near the main panel (shorter wire run) costs less than one installed at the far end of the basement requiring a 30 to 50 foot feed cable.

If your home has a 100-amp main service — common in GTA homes built before the 1980s — your electrician may recommend upgrading to 200-amp service before or during the basement renovation. A finished basement with a bathroom, kitchenette, electric heating, and multiple lighting circuits can draw 30 to 60 additional amps, and a 100-amp service that is already serving the rest of the house simply cannot support this load safely. A 200-amp service upgrade includes a new meter base, service entrance cable, main panel, and coordination with Toronto Hydro or your local utility for the connection — this runs $3,000 to $5,000 on top of the subpanel cost.

All electrical work in Ontario, including subpanel installation, must be performed by an ESA-Licensed Electrical Contractor and inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority. This is Ontario law under the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, and there are no exceptions for homeowner-performed work on panels and service equipment. The ESA inspection fee is typically $100 to $200 and is separate from the contractor's price. Your contractor should pull the ESA permit and arrange the inspection as part of their scope — if a contractor suggests skipping the ESA inspection, that is a serious red flag.

When planning the subpanel location, work with your electrician to place it in an accessible location that meets code clearance requirements — 36 inches of clear space in front of the panel, at least 6 feet 5 inches of headroom, and not in a bathroom, closet, or above a stairway. Many homeowners place the basement subpanel in a utility room or mechanical room where it is accessible but out of sight. Getting the subpanel location right during the planning phase saves money on wire runs for all the individual circuits that will eventually connect to it.