LICENSED ELECTRICIAN IN EAST YORK, TORONTO
Portman Electric provides licensed residential and commercial electrical work throughout East York. Panel changes and service upgrades, EV chargers in attached and detached garages, basement and second-unit renovations, troubleshooting and urgent repairs — completed by an ECRA/ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Text photos of the problem — 647-835-7757
- ECRA/ESA Licence #7018049
- Old Toronto Home Specialist
- Fully Insured
- Owner-Operated
- 15+ Years Trade Experience
Looking for an Electrician in East York?
Portman Electric is an ECRA/ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor serving East York and Toronto's east end. We handle panel changes and 100A to 200A service upgrades, EV charger installation including detached garages and trenching, basement and second-unit renovation wiring, lighting circuits, electrical troubleshooting, safety inspections and urgent electrical repairs. Portman Electric is owner-operated and fully insured, with 15+ years of trade experience and completed East York work including a 200 amp panel upgrade and new lighting circuits. Where the work requires it, we file the ESA notification and coordinate the inspection. Licence #7018049 · 647-835-7757.
Electrical Work We've Completed in East York
Our own photographs from jobs actually completed in East York — not stock photography, and not projects borrowed from another neighbourhood.
Panel Upgrade200A Panel Upgrade
East York
A 200 amp panel upgrade completed in East York. See what a panel and service upgrade involves, from the load assessment through to the equipment and ESA coordination.
See this service
LightingNew Lighting Circuits
East York
New lighting circuits installed in an East York home. See what new lighting circuits and pot light installation involve.
See this serviceMore documented jobs — including full rewires, burnt panel replacements and emergency service mast repairs across Toronto — are in the project gallery.
Electrical Work in East York Homes
East York was a separate borough until Toronto amalgamated in 1998, and much of its housing dates from the 1920s through the 1950s — bungalows, 1½-storey homes, semis and post-war brick houses, many with detached garages. Most have been renovated at least once since.
Not every older home has problems, and plenty have been well maintained. But these are the conditions we commonly see in East York housing stock, and each one changes the scope of the work:
60A and 100A services
Sized for a house built long before central air, induction ranges and EV charging.
Fuse panels and early breaker panels
Including obsolete equipment that's difficult to find breakers or parts for.
Post-war bungalows and 1½-storey homes
Often with finished basements added decades after the original wiring.
Basement and second-unit renovations
New kitchens, baths and laundry added to a distribution system that predates them.
Detached garages
Common in East York — and the reason EV charging here often involves a buried run.
Older branch wiring
Ungrounded circuits, two-prong outlets, and additions spliced into original runs.
Too few circuits
Kitchens and basements running on a circuit count that predates modern appliances.
Smoke and CO alarms
Interconnected, hardwired alarm coverage on each storey.
Quick Answer
What electrical upgrades are common in East York homes?
Depending on the condition of the property, common work includes panel changes and service upgrades, added kitchen and basement circuits, grounded circuits replacing two-prong outlets, EV charger installation, interconnected smoke and CO alarm wiring, and renovation wiring for basements and second units.
Related reading and services: panel & service upgrades, knob & tube rewiring, residential electrical and electrical safety inspections. Our guide to common electrical problems in older Toronto homes goes deeper on what inspections tend to turn up.
Common Electrical Projects in East York Homes
Five situations East York homeowners call about most often, and what actually determines the answer in each one.
“My house still has a 60 amp or 100 amp service.”
Service size on its own doesn't automatically mean the service must be upgraded. Plenty of East York homes run a 100 amp service without issue. What matters is the condition of the existing equipment, how the circuits are distributed, and what you actually plan to add — a second unit, electric heating, an induction range or a charger all change the calculation. Portman reviews the existing equipment and the planned loads, then tells you whether an upgrade is genuinely warranted.
“I'm renovating my basement or adding another living unit.”
This is the point to plan the electrical properly, while the walls are open. It usually means dedicated kitchen and appliance circuits, laundry, any electric heating load, lighting and receptacles, interconnected smoke and CO alarm wiring, and a look at how the distribution and overall service capacity handle the finished property. Deciding all of it before the drywall goes back up costs far less than retrofitting afterwards.
“I want an EV charger in my detached garage.”
A 200 amp upgrade is not automatically required. The work starts with a load calculation against the existing service, then the practical side: the route from the panel to the garage, underground conduit and trenching where the garage is detached, distribution inside the garage itself, and load management equipment where capacity is tight. Detached garages are common in East York, so the buried run is often the larger part of the job — not the panel.
“My fuse box or old panel was flagged by insurance.”
The specific equipment and the wiring connected to it should be assessed before deciding what correction is needed. Insurers don't all ask for the same thing, and the right fix depends on what's actually installed — sometimes it's the panel, sometimes it's the branch wiring behind it, sometimes it's documentation of the existing condition. Portman assesses what's there and provides the ESA paperwork for any permitted work carried out.
“Part of my house suddenly lost power.”
Partial power loss has several possible causes and testing is required to tell them apart: a fault on a branch circuit, a problem inside the panel, a failed connection, an issue with the incoming service, or a utility-side fault affecting one leg of the supply. It is not something to diagnose by guesswork — the point of troubleshooting is to establish the actual cause before anything gets replaced.
Panel Change, Service Upgrade or Load Management?
These three are frequently confused, and they solve different problems. Here's what separates them.
Panel Change
Replacing the distribution equipment itself.
Useful when
- Existing distribution equipment needs replacement
- Breaker space is limited
- Fuse equipment is being modernized
- Damaged or obsolete equipment needs replacement
A panel replacement does not necessarily increase the home's electrical service capacity.
Service Upgrade
Increasing the capacity coming into the property.
Useful when
- Calculated demand requires more capacity
- Service equipment must be increased
- Major new electrical loads are planned
A full service upgrade may involve the panel, service conductors, meter equipment, grounding and bonding, Toronto Hydro and ESA.
Load Management
Controlling demand instead of enlarging the service.
Useful when
- Existing service capacity is limited
- A larger service may not be necessary
- Approved energy-management equipment can control load
Load management does not suit every property. Whether it's appropriate depends on a site-specific assessment of the existing service and the loads involved.
Quick Answer
Is a panel replacement the same as a service upgrade?
No. A panel replacement and an electrical service upgrade are not necessarily the same job. A panel change replaces the distribution equipment but does not necessarily increase the home's electrical service capacity. A service upgrade increases the capacity coming into the property and may involve the service conductors, meter equipment, grounding and bonding, Toronto Hydro and ESA.
Quick Answer
Can load management replace a service upgrade?
Sometimes, but not always. Approved energy-management equipment can control load in some EV charging situations where a larger service may not be necessary. Whether it suits a given property depends on a site-specific assessment of the existing service capacity and the loads involved.
Further reading: 100 amp vs 200 amp service in Toronto, fuse box vs breaker panel and how to read your electrical panel.
Electrical Services in East York
Residential and commercial electrical work across East York and the surrounding east end.
What Affects the Cost of Electrical Work in East York?
Electrical work isn't priced off a flat rate card, because two jobs that sound identical on the phone can differ substantially once the conditions are known. These are the variables that actually move the number.
For real Toronto figures rather than estimates invented for a landing page, see how much a panel upgrade costs in Toronto. Related: electrical inspection cost and ESA permits for EV chargers in Ontario.
Getting an Electrical Quote in East York
A few photos usually tell us more than a phone description does. Send them over and we can understand the job before anyone attends — which means a more accurate ballpark and fewer surprises.
For panel, service or EV work
- A photo of the electrical panel — from a safe distance, with the cover on
- A photo of the panel label or service rating, if it's visible
- A photo of the meter and service equipment outside
- A photo of where the charger or new equipment should go
- Roughly how far that is from the panel
- Whether the garage is attached or detached
- A short description of the planned renovation
- Your address or nearest major intersection
For a fault or something not working
- Exactly what stopped working, and what still works
- Whether any breakers or GFCI devices have tripped
- When the problem started
- Whether there's heat, a burning smell or visible damage
Please don't remove panel covers or open up electrical equipment to take a photo. A picture of the closed panel and the label is plenty — leave anything energized to us.
Send Photos for a Free Estimate
Use the estimate form or text the photos straight to 647-835-7757. We'll come back with a ballpark by phone — there's no charge for the remote estimate.
Emergency Electrician in East York
Some electrical conditions shouldn't wait for a scheduled appointment. If you're seeing any of these, turn off the affected circuit if it's safe to do so and call.
Same-day and after-hours service may be available depending on location, access, the nature of the problem and current scheduling. Call 647-835-7757 to check availability, or read more about emergency electrical service in Toronto.
Call 647-835-7757Documented Panel & Service Projects
Real jobs with our own photographs, each shown with the neighbourhood it was actually completed in.
Why East York Homeowners Call Us
Licensed contractor
ECRA/ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor, Licence #7018049. Where the work requires it, we file the ESA notification and coordinate the inspection.
Older Toronto housing
Most of what we do is in houses that have been added to and renovated over decades — which is most of East York.
Free remote estimate
Send photos and a description and we'll come back with a ballpark by phone, before anyone attends.
Owner-operated and insured
Fully insured, WSIB, and the person quoting the job is the person doing it.
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY
"Joshua was experienced, professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. He showed up on time, updated us as he worked, and explained everything! He worked efficiently and cleaned up beautifully. Will definitely use his services again!"
"Very professional and knowledgeable team of folks. Upgraded my electrical panel to 200 amp and added a Tesla charger in less than a day. Highly recommend!"
"Showed up on time, wired up my 3-phase motor had it running faster than I thought. Will be using Portman Electric again."
Areas We Cover In and Around East York
East York sits east of the Don Valley and north of the Danforth. We work throughout the former borough and the neighbourhoods around it.
- Leaside
- Thorncliffe Park
- Pape Village
- Broadview North
- Woodbine Heights
- Topham Park
- Crescent Town
- O'Connor–Parkview
- Todmorden
- Governor's Bridge
- Bennington Heights
- East Danforth
We also serve neighbouring areas across the east end, including The Beaches, Riverdale, Leslieville and the Danforth. For rental and multi-unit buildings, see our work with property managers.
East York Electrician — Frequently Asked Questions
Do you serve East York?
Yes. Portman Electric provides licensed residential and commercial electrical services throughout East York and Toronto's east end, including Leaside, Thorncliffe Park, Pape Village, Woodbine Heights, Topham Park, O'Connor–Parkview, Todmorden, Crescent Town and East Danforth. Portman Electric is an ECRA/ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor, Licence #7018049, and has completed work in East York including a 200 amp panel upgrade and new lighting circuits.
Does a 60 amp or 100 amp service have to be upgraded?
No. Service size alone does not automatically mean an upgrade is required. Many East York homes operate on a 100 amp service without any problem. Whether an upgrade is warranted depends on the condition of the existing equipment, how circuits are currently distributed, and the electrical loads you plan to add — a second unit, electric heating, an induction range or an EV charger all change the calculation. Portman assesses the existing service and the planned loads before recommending an upgrade.
Is a panel replacement the same as an electrical service upgrade?
A panel replacement and an electrical service upgrade are not necessarily the same job. A panel change replaces the distribution equipment — useful when equipment is obsolete, damaged or out of breaker space — but it does not necessarily increase the home's electrical service capacity. A service upgrade increases the capacity coming into the property and may involve the panel, service conductors, meter equipment, grounding and bonding, Toronto Hydro and ESA. Which one you need depends on a load calculation and the condition of the existing equipment.
Does installing an EV charger require a 200 amp service?
No. Installing an EV charger does not automatically require a 200 amp service. The correct starting point is a load calculation against the existing service. Depending on the result, the options can include a dedicated circuit on the existing service, a lower-amperage or adjustable-output charger, approved load management equipment, or a service upgrade where one is genuinely needed. Portman performs the calculation first so the recommendation reflects the property rather than an assumption.
Can you install an EV charger in a detached garage in East York?
Yes. Detached garages are common in East York, and the charger itself is usually the straightforward part. The work involves a load calculation, the route from the panel to the garage, underground conduit and trenching where the run is buried, and distribution inside the garage. Where capacity is limited, load management equipment may be an option instead of enlarging the service. The buried run is often the larger portion of the job.
My insurance company flagged my fuse box. What's involved?
The specific equipment and the wiring connected to it should be assessed before deciding what correction is required. Insurers do not all ask for the same thing, and the appropriate fix depends on what is actually installed — sometimes the panel, sometimes the branch wiring behind it, sometimes documentation of the existing condition. Portman assesses the equipment and wiring, explains the options, and provides ESA documentation for any permitted work carried out.
Why did part of my house lose power?
Partial power loss has several possible causes and testing is required to identify which applies. It can be a fault on a branch circuit, a problem inside the panel, a failed connection, an issue with the incoming service, or a utility-side fault affecting one leg of the supply. Because the causes look similar from inside the house, troubleshooting establishes the actual cause before anything is replaced. If there is heat, a burning smell or visible damage, treat it as urgent.
Can you wire a basement apartment or second unit in East York?
Yes. Basement and second-unit wiring typically includes dedicated kitchen and appliance circuits, laundry, any electric heating load, lighting and receptacles, interconnected hardwired smoke and CO alarm wiring, and a review of whether the existing panel and service capacity cover the finished property. A renovation is the best opportunity to modernize older wiring in that part of the house, because the walls are already open.
Do you handle ESA permits and Toronto Hydro coordination?
Yes. Where the work requires it, Portman Electric files the ESA notification and coordinates the inspection as an ECRA/ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor, Licence #7018049. On service upgrades that change the incoming supply, the job also involves coordinating the connection with Toronto Hydro. Both are handled as part of the work rather than left to the homeowner.
How much does electrical work cost in East York?
It depends on the scope. The main variables are the condition of the existing electrical, how accessible the work area is, the existing service size, the panel and service equipment involved, the length and route of new circuits, whether walls are finished or open, any trenching, whether Toronto Hydro is involved, ESA notification and inspection, troubleshooting time, and materials. Portman offers a free remote estimate — send photos and a description and we'll come back with a ballpark by phone.
Do you offer emergency electrical service in East York?
Yes. Portman Electric takes urgent electrical calls across East York and Toronto's east end for conditions like burning smells, overheating or sparking equipment, scorch marks, breakers that trip immediately on reset, partial power loss and storm or water damage to electrical equipment. Same-day and after-hours service may be available depending on location, access, the nature of the problem and current scheduling. Call 647-835-7757 to check availability.
Have you actually done electrical work in East York?
Yes. Portman Electric's completed East York work includes a 200 amp panel upgrade and new lighting circuits, both shown with our own photographs on this page and in our project gallery. We don't publish jobs we haven't done — if a project is listed with a neighbourhood, that's where the work actually took place.
Need an Electrician in East York?
Send photos and a description for a free remote estimate, or call and describe the problem. Portman Electric is an ECRA/ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor, Licence #7018049.