How much does commercial electrical work cost in Canada?
Commercial electrical is priced by the job, by the device count, or by service-upgrade capacity (amps). Most property-level work — panel upgrades, lighting retrofits, service calls, and tenant power — falls into predictable bands, but anything touching the main service or requiring an ESA inspection adds engineering and permit cost.
Typical price breakdown
General planning ranges for Canadian commercial work. Your actual price depends on scope, region, building condition, and access.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Service call / diagnosticsTrip + first hour; emergency rates higher. | $150 – $400 |
| Panel / service upgrade (200A) | $2,500 – $6,000 |
| Service upgrade (400–600A)May require utility coordination + ESA. | $6,000 – $20,000+ |
| LED lighting retrofitRebates can offset a meaningful share. | $80 – $250 / fixture |
| EV charger install (commercial L2)Excludes major service upgrades. | $2,000 – $7,000 / port |
| Tenant power / new circuits | $300 – $1,200 / circuit |
What moves the price
Service capacity
Upgrading the main service (amps) is the costliest electrical work and may involve the utility and an ESA inspection.
Device & fixture count
Lighting retrofits and outlet/circuit work scale with quantity — volume usually earns a better rate.
Access & ceilings
Hard-lid ceilings, occupied space, and high or tight runs increase labour hours.
Permits & inspection
ESA permits and inspections (in Ontario) and equivalent provincial authorities add cost and schedule.
After-hours work
Shutdowns for occupied buildings often must happen nights/weekends at premium rates.
How to get an accurate price
The numbers above are for budgeting. To get a real, scope-specific price, post your project as an RFP on PMRFP — describe the building, the work, and your region, and qualified electrical companies respond with their own pricing. Posting is free, and getting two or three competitive responses is the simplest way to know the true market rate.
Use the Electrical Panel Upgrade template
We’ve already built the scope, requirements, and evaluation criteria for this kind of project. Customize in seconds and post — go from cost guide to live RFP without writing from scratch.
Questions
PMRFP is a vendor discovery and RFP visibility platform. We do not guarantee project availability, bid success, contract awards, property manager response, or revenue. Members are responsible for their own due diligence, qualifications, insurance, licensing, pricing, and agreements.
Budgeting commercial electrical work? Get real numbers.
Post your project on PMRFP and qualified Canadian trades respond with real, scope-specific pricing. Free to post.