Electrical Panel Upgrade in Vancouver
Tripping breakers, an old fuse box, or a panel your insurer flagged? Kato upgrades and replaces electrical panels across Metro Vancouver. Licensed, permitted, BC Hydro coordinated, and most jobs done in a single day.
Signs You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade
If one or more of these sounds familiar, it's worth a free assessment.
Your Breakers Trip Regularly
A breaker that trips when two appliances run at once means the panel is at capacity. A breaker panel upgrade adds the capacity your home actually draws.
You Still Have a Fuse Box
Common in pre-1980 Vancouver homes, and increasingly hard to insure — some BC insurers won't renew without an upgrade. Replacing a fuse box with a modern service panel resolves both the safety and the insurance issue.
Your Panel Is Running Out of Space
If every breaker slot is full or doubled up with tandem breakers, there's no room for new circuits. A service panel upgrade gives you the capacity and slots a modern home needs.
You're Adding an EV Charger, Suite, or Renovation
EV charging, a suite, a heat pump, or a major reno all add load. Finding out mid-project that the panel can't take it costs more than upgrading first — a 200 amp service upgrade is the common fix.
Your Insurer Has Flagged the Panel
If you've had a letter about your panel, the clock is ticking. Kato provides exactly what insurers require: a permitted, inspected upgrade with a Technical Safety BC sign-off.
A warm panel door or burning smell means something is overheating. Turn off high-draw appliances and call Kato now: (604) 239-3084
What a Panel Upgrade Involves
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Assessment and Quote We evaluate your panel's load, circuit count, and service entrance, then recommend the right amperage for your home. The quote is itemized: panel, breakers, permit, and any service entrance work.
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Permit and BC Hydro Coordination We pull the Technical Safety BC permit and coordinate any required BC Hydro disconnection directly, so you don't have to deal with the utility. Please note that while we manage the coordination, all BC Hydro fees are the responsibility of the homeowner.
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Installation, Inspection and Documentation We install and label the new panel, restore power (outage is typically three to six hours), pass the Technical Safety BC inspection, and hand you the full documentation — the paperwork your insurer and future buyer will ask for.
Most residential panel upgrades in Metro Vancouver are completed in a single day.
100-Amp vs 200-Amp Panel — Which Do You Need?
It depends on your home. Here's how we think about it.
| Panel Size | Right For | Not Ideal When |
|---|---|---|
| 100-Amp | Smaller homes with modest loads, no EV charger, no secondary suite | Adding EV charging, a suite, heat pump, or heavy appliances |
| 150-Amp | Mid-sized homes, moderate additions, where 200A is more than needed | Homes with multiple high-draw systems already or planned |
| 200-Amp | Larger homes, EV charging, secondary suites, heat pumps, home offices, future-proofing | Small homes with permanently limited loads — 200A may be unnecessary |
We recommend what your home actually needs, not the most expensive option. With heat pumps, EVs, and electric appliances all on the rise in Vancouver, we size for where your home is heading.
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We'll assess your panel, tell you exactly what it needs, and give you a complete quote before any work begins. No obligation.
Panel Upgrade Cost in Vancouver
Cost varies with your situation, so we don't publish fixed prices — we give free, detailed estimates so you know exactly what's involved before committing. The main factors:
Panel Type & Amperage
Replacing a fuse box takes more than a breaker swap, and 200A means different panels, breakers, and cabling.
Service Entrance Work
Replacing the service cable or meter base adds to the scope, along with any new circuits added at the same time.
BC Hydro Coordination
Service entrance upgrades require BC Hydro involvement, which we manage as part of the project.
Permits & Inspection
Technical Safety BC permit and inspection fees are required, and are always included in our quotes.
The cost of not upgrading is worth weighing too: an insurance non-renewal, a failed pre-sale inspection, or a fault that damages appliances all cost far more than the upgrade itself.
Why Choose Kato Electrical for Your Panel Upgrade
We've upgraded panels across Kitsilano, Burnaby, North Van, Coquitlam, Surrey, and Richmond — from 1950s bungalows with fused panels to newer infills that saturated their service after adding a suite.
- Licensed BC electrical contractor — every job permitted and inspected through Technical Safety BC
- Free, detailed estimates with straight recommendations — the right panel for your home, not the priciest
- BC Hydro coordination handled, including temporary disconnection scheduling
- Full post-upgrade documentation for your insurer and future buyer, most jobs done in a single day
Check our Google reviews from Vancouver homeowners we've upgraded. We'd rather you hear it from them than from us.
Common questions about electrical panel upgrades in Vancouver and Metro BC.
⚡ Vancouver & Metro BC
Book Your Free Panel Upgrade Estimate
We'll assess your panel, tell you exactly what it needs, and give you a complete quote before any work begins. No obligation.
Mon–Fri 8am–4pm · Same-day response