EV CHARGER READY · Metro Vancouver

Upgrade to 200A and charge your EV at home safely.

Installing a Tesla or Level 2 charger? Most older homes still run on 100-amp service. We deliver complete underground 200A upgrades from $5,500 by licensed local electricians.

  • ★ 4.9 · 549 reviews
  • Licensed & insured
  • Serving since 2008

What our customers are saying

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Bob Main profile picture
Bob Main
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Have used these guys on a major rennovation and other occasions and they always do a good job. Prompt response and showed up on site on time promised. Heartily recommend them.
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Gary Krause profile picture
Gary Krause
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Happy with the work Van City did. Here on time. Charges as per quote. Good communication. No issues. This was for installing a level 2 charger.
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TheMasonjarz profile picture
TheMasonjarz
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Excellent Customer Service experience from beginning to end
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Sandi profile picture
Sandi
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Friendly and efficient service
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Jayne McMillan profile picture
Jayne McMillan
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Technician was prompt, tidy and did a great job removing my old microwave and installing my new one over the range. Easy process to coordinate!
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Johnny Alvernaz profile picture
Johnny Alvernaz
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Great experience working with Vancity electric. Friendly, knowledgable staff and great work.
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Doris P profile picture
Doris P
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Receptionist/service coordinator was very welcoming in her demeanor. Electrician Jonathan was on time and was friendly and knowledgeable and willing to answer questions any questions I had. He also did a couple of other things for me as there was still time left for the allotted time for the job which was greatly appreciated. I will not hesitate to use Van City Electric again.
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Sabbath Black
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Great job. Friendly people and done in good time. Would recommend

THE 100-AMP PROBLEM

Why EV chargers require more power

Modern EV chargers place significant demand on your home’s electrical system. Many older homes still run on 100-amp service, which may not safely support:

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Tesla chargers

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Multiple EVs

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Level 2 EV chargers

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Future electrical upgrades

A properly installed 200A upgrade future-proofs your home safely.

TRANSPARENT PRICING

The complete 200A service upgrade

Starting From

$5,500

Complete underground service upgrade

We handle all the paperwork

  • Electrical permit
  • BC Hydro reconnect fee

What’s included

  • 200-amp underground service
  • New electrical panel
  • Meter socket replacement
  • Circuit breaker replacements
  • Ground plate installation
  • Gas & water bonding
  • Expansion joint installation
  • Extra panel space for future circuits
  • All coordination with the city & BC Hydro
  • Bonding for Shaw / Telus lines

Not sure what your home needs? Speak with an electrician →

Upgrade Your Electrical Service. Get a Free EV Charger.

Upgrade your home’s electrical service with Vancity Electric and you may qualify for a free Level 2 EV charger plus earn 10¢ per kWh every time you charge at home, subject to program eligibility.

What’s Included

Electrical service and panel upgrades

Free Level 2 smart EV charger for eligible customers

Earn 10¢ per kWh on home charging

Licensed, code compliant installation

Assistance with the application process

If your home needs an electrical service upgrade for Level 2 EV charging, we’ll handle the installation from start to finish and help you maximize available incentives.

WHY HOMEOWNERS CHOOSE US

Local specialists who keep it clean & clear

Licensed & insured

Certified residential electricians on every job.

Serving since 2008

Deep roots across the Fraser Valley.

Residential specialists

Service upgrades are what we do best. 20+ of experience

Transparent pricing

Clear quotes, no surprise charges.

$ 5000 000

Liability insurance

Clean workmanship

Tidy, professional installs every time.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WORK

Meet the Vancity Electric team

Owner

Cory Byron
Cory has worked in the electrical industry since 2001 and founded Vancity Electric to create a service-focused electrical company that prioritizes communication and client experience.

Owner

Geoff Nunns
Geoff oversees production and project coordination, ensuring projects remain organized and completed efficiently from start to finish.
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Licensed residential electricians

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Service upgrade specialists

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Clean & professional installs

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Clear communication throughout

HOW IT WORKS

From electrical chaos to total
clarity in four steps

1

Book or request a quote
Book online or get a fast virtual
quote no in-person visit needed to start.

2

Transparent assessment
We confirm your service size and
give you a clear, itemised price.

3

Professional installation
Licensed crew completes your 200A upgrade often in a single day

4

Follow-up & peace of mind
We handle BC Hydro coordination and check in after to make sure all is well

GOOD QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

There are several telltale signs that your home’s electrical system is struggling to keep
up with modern demands. Watch for any of the following:

  • Circuit breakers that trip frequently or fuses that blow regularly
  • Lights that flicker or dim when you turn on appliances
  • Outlets or switch covers that feel warm to the touch
  • A burning or “fishy” smell near your electrical panel
  • Your panel still uses fuses instead of breakers
  • You rely on a lot of power bars and extension cords
  • You’re adding a major appliance, EV charger, hot tub, or home addition

If any of these sound familiar, it’s a good idea to have a licensed electrician assess your
panel — it’s a quick visit that gives you real peace of mind.

A breaker that trips occasionally is actually doing its job protecting your home from overloads. But if it’s happening regularly, that’s your panel telling you it’s running out of capacity. Repeatedly resetting a tripped breaker without solving the underlying issue can lead to overheating, damaged wiring, or in serious cases, a fire risk. Don’t ignore it let’s figure out what’s going on.

For most homes built or updated in the last 20–30 years, 100 amps was once considered plenty. But today’s homes are a different story EV chargers alone can draw 40–50 amps, and when you factor in central air conditioning, electric appliances, home offices, and smart home devices, a 100-amp service can become a bottleneck quickly. Most electricians now recommend a 200-amp service as the standard for a comfortable, future-ready home.

Quite possibly, yes. Level 2 EV chargers typically require a dedicated 40–60 amp circuit, and hot tubs generally need 50–60 amps on their own. If your panel is already near capacity, there may simply not be room to safely add these circuits without upgrading the service first. The good news: we can assess your panel and let you know exactly what’s needed before you commit to anything.

An electrical service upgrade (also called a “service panel upgrade” or “main panel upgrade”) is the process of replacing your home’s electrical panel and the associated service entry components to increase the amount of electricity your home can safely use. The most common upgrade is from a 100 amp to a 200-amp service. Think of it like widening a highway more lanes means more traffic can flow smoothly and safely.

We know the idea of electrical work can feel daunting, so here’s what to expect. The
upgrade typically involves:

  • Removing the old electrical panel and installing a new, larger one
  • Handling all BC Hydro paperwork and coordinating the meter
    disconnect/reconnect on your behalf
  • Running new service conductors if required
  • Reconnecting all existing circuits to the new panel
  • A final inspection by a certified electrical inspector (we handle all permit and city
    paperwork you don’t lift a finger)

Most service upgrades are completed within a single day. You’ll be without power for a
portion of that day (usually 6–8 hours), and then you’re back up and running with a
brand new, code-compliant panel.

Not necessarily. A service upgrade focuses on the panel and the incoming service it doesn’t automatically require rewiring the rest of your home. However, if we discover any wiring issues during the job (such as aluminum wiring from the 1960s–70s or knob-and-tube wiring), we’ll let you know and discuss your options. We’ll never surprise you with unexpected scope.

We install high-quality, CSA-approved panels from trusted manufacturers including Siemens, Square D (Schneider Electric), and Eaton. We’ll recommend the best fit for your home’s needs and discuss options with you before any work begins.

For the vast majority of single-family homes, 200 amps is more than sufficient even with EV charging, central AC, electric ranges, and modern appliances all running. If you’re building a large custom home, running a workshop, or planning a major addition with electric heating, we can discuss whether 320-amp or 400-amp service makes sense for your situation.

Yes and that’s actually a good thing for you. In British Columbia, electrical service upgrades require an electrical permit and must be inspected by a certified electrical inspector (through the BC Safety Authority / Technical Safety BC). This protects you as a homeowner by ensuring the work is done to code and is covered by insurance. Here’s the best part: we handle every bit of the permitting paperwork with the city on your behalf. You don’t fill out a single form, make a single call, or chase down a single signature. We take care of all of it from start to finish.

Technical Safety BC (formerly the BC Safety Authority) is the provincial body responsible for overseeing the safety of electrical, gas, and other technical systems in BC. For electrical work, they ensure that licensed contractors complete jobs to the Canadian Electrical Code standards. After we finish your service upgrade, a Technical Safety BC inspector will come out and sign off on the work. You’ll receive a certificate of inspection keep this in a safe place, as it’s a valuable document if you ever sell your
home.

Yes. BC Hydro needs to disconnect and reconnect the meter as part of the service upgrade process and we handle all of that paperwork and coordination directly with BC Hydro on your behalf. You don’t need to make a single call or submit anything yourself. We manage the scheduling, the paperwork, and the communication with BC Hydro from start to finish. We’ll simply let you know ahead of time when to expect the power to be off.

We recommend being home for the inspection, though it’s not always strictly required. The inspector may have questions and will want access to the panel area. The inspection itself is typically brief usually 20–30 minutes. We’ll give you advance notice of the inspection date so you can plan accordingly.

We strongly advise against this. Unpermitted electrical work can void your home insurance, create significant liability if something goes wrong, and cause serious headaches when you sell your home. Buyers and their inspectors will find it, and you may be required to redo the work at your expense before the sale can proceed. Always insist on permitted, inspected electrical work.

Every home is a little different, so the best way to get an accurate price is with a free on- site assessment. That said, as a general reference point, a standard 100A to 200A Strictly Electrical Service Upgrades | Page 5 of service upgrade in the Metro Vancouver area typically ranges from $5,000 to $10,000+ depending on factors like:

  • The condition and accessibility of the existing panel and service entrance
  • Whether the meter base needs replacing
  • Whether the service entrance wiring (from the utility pole or underground) needs
    upgrading
  • Local permit and inspection fees
  • Any additional work discovered during the job

We provide clear, written quotes before any work begins — no surprise charges. What we quote is what you pay.

From the time you reach out to us, most service upgrades are completed within 1–3 weeks. Here’s a rough timeline:

  • Day 1: Free assessment and written quote
  • Within a few days: All city permit and BC Hydro paperwork submitted (we handle everything)
  • Within 10 business days: Upgrade date confirmed by the city and BC Hydro
  • Installation day: Panel replaced (usually a full day’s work)
  • Shortly after: Technical Safety BC inspection and sign-off

Once we’ve completed all the paperwork with the city and BC Hydro — which we handle
entirely on your behalf — both parties will confirm an upgrade date, typically within ten
business days. From there, the actual installation is almost always completed in a single
day.

We know a service upgrade is a significant investment. We work with homeowners to make the process as smooth as possible. Ask us about available financing options when you contact us we’re happy to discuss what works for your situation.

Depending on the timing and what you’re upgrading to support (such as an EV charger or heat pump), there may be rebates available through programs like CleanBC or federal government incentives. These programs change frequently, so we recommend checking CleanBC.gov.bc.ca or Canada Greener Homes for the latest information. We’re happy to discuss what you might qualify for during your assessment.

Absolutely. A freshly upgraded, inspected electrical panel is a strong selling feature it signals to buyers that the home has been well maintained and is move-in ready. An outdated or underpowered panel, on the other hand, is a common deal-breaker or negotiating chip for buyers. Many home inspectors flag older panels, and some home insurance companies won’t insure certain older panel types at all.

Electrical service upgrades involve your home’s main power supply the highest- voltage point in your entire home. This is not a DIY job, and it’s not a job for an unlicensed handyman. In BC, only a licensed electrical contractor can legally perform and permit this work. Beyond the legal requirement, a licensed electrician carries proper liability insurance, knows the code, and most importantly, keeps your family safe.

We specialize exclusively in residential electrical work. That focus means our team is deeply experienced in exactly the kind of work your home needs no generalists, no cutting corners. When service upgrades are our specialty, you get better workmanship and a smoother process.

It’s easy. Just give us a call or fill out the contact form on this page. We’ll arrange a free, no-obligation assessment at your home, walk you through what we see, and provide a written quote. There’s no pressure just honest answers and a clear picture of what’s involved.

Yes and we mean it. All of our electrical service upgrades come with a full 1-year, no questions-asked workmanship warranty, on top of the manufacturer warranties on parts and panels. If anything isn’t right, we’ll make it right, simple as that. We also don’t wait for you to call us we proactively check in with you before your 1-year mark to make sure everything is still performing exactly as it should.

We serve homeowners throughout Metro Vancouver and the surrounding Lower Mainland. If you’re unsure whether we cover your area, just give us a call — we’re happy to confirm.

Request Your Quote

Ready to Upgrade?

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Licensed & insured residential electricians · Serving Metro Vancouver & the Fraser Valley since 2008