SCARBOROUGH, Ontario - As a new federal rebate pushes more Ontario drivers toward electric vehicles, XB Electric is helping homeowners across the Greater Toronto Area solve the problem that often follows the purchase: how to charge the car at home without an expensive electrical overhaul. The licensed contractor reports a rising number of requests from residents of older homes throughout the GTA who have been told, incorrectly, that a 100-amp electrical service cannot support an EV charger.

The timing is tied to a real shift in the market. On February 16, 2026, the federal government launched the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP), offering up to $5,000 off a new battery-electric vehicle at the point of sale. At the same time, the Canada Greener Homes Grant - which previously reimbursed homeowners up to $5,000 for charger installations and panel upgrades - ended in early 2024, leaving many buyers unsure how to fund the electrical side of ownership.

That gap has created confusion. Many homeowners in homes built between 1960 and 1980, when 100-amp service was standard, are quoted $2,500 to $4,500 for a panel upgrade before a charger can be added. According to XB Electric, that upgrade is frequently unnecessary.

"A 100-amp panel doesn't mean a house is using 100 amps - it means that's the ceiling, and most homes spend their lives nowhere near it," said Dmitry of XB Electric. "Research shows more than 80 percent of homes never draw above 40 amps at any moment. In a lot of cases, the capacity for a charger is already sitting there unused."

The alternative XB Electric points to is an Electric Vehicle Energy Management System, or EVEMS - a device installed in the electrical panel that monitors the home's total electrical draw and automatically pauses charging when demand nears the service limit. Under Rule 8-106(11) of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, adopted in the 2018 edition of the Canadian Electrical Code, a charger controlled by an EVEMS does not have to be counted in the home's load calculation at all. That provision is what allows many 100-amp homes to add charging legally.

The cost difference is significant. An EVEMS typically adds $1,000 to $1,500 to an installation, compared with $2,500 to $4,500 for a full panel upgrade - and in the GTA, upgrades often reach $5,000. For homeowners who genuinely need more capacity, XB Electric also provides electrical panel upgrades and 200-amp service upgrades, coordinating the required Electrical Safety Authority permit, the utility disconnection, and the final inspection.

"The honest answer isn't always the most expensive one," Dmitry said. "Sometimes a homeowner needs a full 200-amp upgrade because they're adding a heat pump or a hot tub down the line. But when someone just wants to charge one car overnight, telling them to spend five thousand dollars they don't need to spend isn't service - it's a sales pitch. A load calculation tells the truth either way."

XB Electric notes that every hardwired charger installation in Ontario requires an ESA notification, filed by a licensed electrical contractor before work begins, with a minimum residential fee of $88. Work completed without a permit can void insurance coverage and disqualify homeowners from utility incentive programs offered by Toronto Hydro, Alectra Utilities, and Hydro One - the three distributors covering most of the Greater Toronto Area.

The company recommends that homeowners considering an EV charger request a load assessment before purchasing charging equipment, and choose a charger sized to the home's real capacity rather than its maximum. XB Electric offers preliminary estimates from photographs of a home's electrical panel and meter base, allowing homeowners to understand their options before scheduling a visit.

Homeowners in Scarborough, Toronto, North York, Etobicoke, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Mississauga, and surrounding Greater Toronto Area communities can learn more about EV charger installation or electrical panel upgrade services on the company's website, or by contacting XB Electric directly using the information below.

About XB Electric
XB Electric (XBOCT Electric Inc) is a licensed electrical contractor based in Scarborough, Ontario, serving homeowners across the Greater Toronto Area. Operating under ECRA/ESA licence #7016894, the company specializes in electrical panel upgrades, 200-amp service upgrades, EV charger installations, and residential electrical work. XB Electric coordinates the full upgrade process, including ESA permits, utility scheduling, and final inspection.

Media Contact

Name
XBOCT (XB) Electric Inc
Contact name
Dmitry Fishkin
Contact phone
(647) 401-7444
Contact address
23 Thunder Grove
City
Scarborough
State
Ontario
Zip
M1V 0G6
Country
Canada
Url
https://xboct.ca/