Electrical panel upgrades are the most common electrical job we do in Burnaby. The drivers are predictable: aged-out 60A or 100A service that can't support a modern home's load, Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels flagged by home inspectors and insurance companies, and EV charger or heat pump installations that need real panel headroom.
We upgrade to 200A service as the standard recommendation. It supports current load (everything in the house including induction range, heat pump, EV charger), gives 30%+ headroom for future additions, and is what most Burnaby home insurance underwriters expect on homes built before 1970.
Every panel upgrade is permitted through the City of Burnaby, inspected by a Technical Safety BC electrical inspector, and includes coordination with BC Hydro for the service mast and meter base where required. Typical install: 1 day for the panel, 1–3 days waiting for BC Hydro reconnection.
What's Included
60A or 100A → 200A service upgrade
Standard whole-home upgrade including new panel, breakers, mast (if needed), grounding, and bonding to current code.
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok replacement
FPE panels are a documented insurance and fire concern. Replacement is increasingly required for renewal.
Sub-panel installation
Add capacity for a basement suite, garage, hot tub, EV charger, or workshop without re-doing the main panel.
Knob-and-tube replacement coordination
Older Burnaby Heights and Capitol Hill homes often need both panel + knob-and-tube re-wire as one bundled job.
EV-ready panel design
Reserved breaker space, dedicated 50A circuit pathway, and load calc that accommodates a Level 2 charger.
Permits & BC Hydro coordination
City of Burnaby electrical permit + Technical Safety BC inspection + BC Hydro re-energization coordination — all included.
Why Burnaby Panels Need Upgrading
Most Burnaby homes built before 1970 originally had 60A service — sized for an electric range, a few lights, and not much else. Today's homes need 200A to support heat pumps, EV chargers, induction cooking, electric water heaters, and modern circuit density. 60A and even 100A homes routinely trip main breakers under modern load.
Burnaby Heights, Capitol Hill, and East Burnaby heritage homes commonly still have Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels — a brand with documented breaker failure issues that has been out of production since 1980. Most BC home insurers now require FPE replacement for renewal, and BC Realtors disclose them on home sales. We replace several FPE panels every month across these neighborhoods.
Newer Brentwood, Lougheed, and Sullivan Heights townhomes typically have 100A or 125A service. Adequate today, but tight for adding an EV charger plus a heat pump. We do load calcs at quote and recommend either upgrade or a thoughtful sub-panel addition.
Burnaby Panel Upgrade — What It Costs
Installed prices including panel, breakers, labor, permits, and inspection.
- 100A → 200A panel-only upgrade$2,800–$3,800
- 60A → 200A full service upgrade (incl. mast/meter)$3,800–$5,400
- Federal Pacific replacement (200A)$3,200–$4,500
- Sub-panel installation$1,400–$2,400
- EV-ready 200A panel + reserved circuit$3,400–$4,800
- BC Hydro reconnect coordinationIncluded
What Burnaby Homeowners Say
“Old electrical panel was a Federal Pacific — insurance was about to refuse renewal. They upgraded to a 200A panel in one day, pulled the permit, and passed inspection first try.”
“Got a 240V Level 2 charger installed for our EV. They confirmed the panel had headroom, ran the conduit cleanly through the garage, and pulled the City of Burnaby electrical permit. Quote was honest, no add-ons at the end.”
“We bought a 1999 build and the inspection flagged Kitec. They re-piped the whole house with PEX in three days, fixed the manifold, and only opened drywall where they had to. Clean job.”
Other Burnaby Electrical Services
We handle the full electrical silo for Burnaby homes — every service below is from the same in-house team, dispatched from Coquitlam.
Burnaby Electrical FAQs
The questions Burnaby homeowners ask us most about this service.
Do I need a 200A panel to install an EV charger or heat pump in Burnaby?
How long does a panel upgrade take in Burnaby?
What does a panel upgrade cost in Burnaby?
Will my insurance require a panel upgrade?
Do I need a permit to upgrade my Burnaby panel?
Will my home insurance go down after a panel upgrade?
Get a Free Burnaby Panel Upgrade Quote
200A service, EV-ready, insurance-friendly. Permits and BC Hydro coordination included.
- Response within 1 hour — a real human answers, not a call center.
- Same rates 24/7 — no overtime, weekend, or holiday surcharges.
- Licensed, insured, permitted — Red Seal gas fitters, FSR electricians, $5M coverage.
- Workmanship warranty — 1-year labor warranty plus full manufacturer parts coverage.