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Cost to upgrade electrical box in garage attached to house from 100 amp to 200 amp in Vancouver area?

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  • Feb 11th, 2023 6:30 pm
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Feb 2nd, 2023 3:11 pm
SPACEMANRICK [OP]
Sr. Member
Mar 14, 2006
982 posts
478 upvotes
Coquitlam

Feb 2nd, 2023 3:11 pm

Cost to upgrade electrical box in garage attached to house from 100 amp to 200 amp in Vancouver area?

We are looking at upgrading our 30 year old 100 amp electrical box in our garage that is attached to our house in Coquitlam to a 200 amp box. Does anyone know approximately how much this costs and can anyone recommend a reasonably priced electrician for this? I know BC Hydro will have to do some cabling and I know that I will have to pay BC Hydro for that separately and also pay for some permits. Thanks for any information provided!

19 replies
Feb 2nd, 2023 3:51 pm
Jerico
Deal Guru
Jan 25, 2007
12237 posts
7419 upvotes
Paris

Feb 2nd, 2023 3:51 pm

That is quite the conduit going into your meter. Check your meter itself if it’s a 100 or 200 amp meter. You might luck out.

I had 200 amps to my meter and just needed 3 feet from the meter to the panel and it cost around $2k in Ontario August 2021. I would assume prices are higher now.
+2
Feb 2nd, 2023 5:23 pm
SPACEMANRICK [OP]
Sr. Member
Mar 14, 2006
982 posts
478 upvotes
Coquitlam

Feb 2nd, 2023 5:23 pm

I have attached a photo of our meter and the meter has 0.5 amp to 200 amp on the meter. I have no idea what that means......does that mean I may have 200 amps going to my meter from BC Hydro even though my electrical box in the garage is only a 100 amp box?
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+1
Feb 2nd, 2023 8:24 pm
Jerico
Deal Guru
Jan 25, 2007
12237 posts
7419 upvotes
Paris

Feb 2nd, 2023 8:24 pm

SPACEMANRICK wrote: ↑ I have attached a photo of our meter and the meter has 0.5 amp to 200 amp on the meter. I have no idea what that means......does that mean I may have 200 amps going to my meter from BC Hydro even though my electrical box in the garage is only a 100 amp box?
I am but a humble DIYer who has spent 6k across 2 recent electrical Reno’s but I think 99% you have 200amp to your meter.
+1
Feb 3rd, 2023 12:50 am
Navington
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User avatar
Mar 8, 2009
120 posts
89 upvotes
The Great White Nort…

Feb 3rd, 2023 12:50 am

No, that means your meter can read up to 200 amps.

Doubtful you have 200 amp service. Your electrical box says it is 125 amp (I think I saw that on the video).
+2
Feb 3rd, 2023 1:31 am
Jerico
Deal Guru
Jan 25, 2007
12237 posts
7419 upvotes
Paris

Feb 3rd, 2023 1:31 am

Navington wrote: ↑ No, that means your meter can read up to 200 amps.

Doubtful you have 200 amp service. Your electrical box says it is 125 amp (I think I saw that on the video).
I had 200 amp service to the meter and then a 100 amp panel. The wire from meter to panel needed to be upgraded as did the panel.

What his electrical box says is irrelevant.

I am basing my opinion on the conduit size I saw briefly in the video going into the meter and the meter itself. Around here I was told the meter usually matches the service coming in.
+1
Feb 3rd, 2023 2:19 am
Navington
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User avatar
Mar 8, 2009
120 posts
89 upvotes
The Great White Nort…

Feb 3rd, 2023 2:19 am

Jerico wrote: ↑ I had 200 amp service to the meter and then a 100 amp panel. The wire from meter to panel needed to be upgraded as did the panel.

What his electrical box says is irrelevant.

I am basing my opinion on the conduit size I saw briefly in the video going into the meter and the meter itself. Around here I was told the meter usually matches the service coming in.
Yeah the conduit raised a flag for me. Still hard to say because the house is at least 30 yrs old. If it is 200 amp, congrats on winning the electrical lotto!

The writing on the meter does not need to match service. Anecdotally, all the houses around me have 100 amp service with 200 amp meters. Some have larger conduits (though I can't tell the size- if they are 2 inch) and some are fed using service masts.

A quick call to your electrical provider will answer your 200 amp question. Goodluck
+1
Feb 3rd, 2023 7:24 am
mrweather
Deal Fanatic
Aug 29, 2011
8835 posts
5816 upvotes
Mississauga

Feb 3rd, 2023 7:24 am

Our house is 30 years old and had 200 amp service as a builder upgrade. I can’t thank the original owner enough for being so forward thinking. :)

OP needs to contact their provider (BC Hydro?) and ask what their service is. If the line to the meter needs to be upgraded for 200 amps, be prepared to bend over.
+3
Feb 3rd, 2023 6:10 pm
Jerico
Deal Guru
Jan 25, 2007
12237 posts
7419 upvotes
Paris

Feb 3rd, 2023 6:10 pm

Navington wrote: ↑ A quick call to your electrical provider will answer your 200 amp question. Goodluck
Good luck with that around me. They have changed hands a few times lately and no one has a sweet clue without coming to look, and they wont do that.
Feb 3rd, 2023 6:12 pm
SPACEMANRICK [OP]
Sr. Member
Mar 14, 2006
982 posts
478 upvotes
Coquitlam

Feb 3rd, 2023 6:12 pm

I confirmed today that unfortunately the wiring to our meter is only 100 amps and I called BC Hydro and the cost to BC hydro to upgrade the wiring to 200 amps to the meter is $1,400. I received a $4,500 quote today from an electrician to upgrade the electrical box to a new 200 amp electrical box so the total cost based on my first quote is around $6,000! I was told today that you can also apply for a $500 BC Hydro electrical box upgrade rebate if you apply at the same time that you apply for the CleanBC heat pump rebate.

I am considering getting a new heat pump and furnace to replace our 32 year old furnace and upgrading our electrical box to 200 amps so all in the total cost after federal and BC rebates could be over $20,000 :rolleyes:
Last edited by SPACEMANRICK on Feb 3rd, 2023 9:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
+1
Feb 3rd, 2023 8:43 pm
reefcove
Newbie
Jul 18, 2009
30 posts
26 upvotes

Feb 3rd, 2023 8:43 pm

Do you have a contractor for your heat pump & furnace? Based on the new equipment, the electrician should do a load calculation to see if you actually need to upgrade your panel.

I got a heat pump with 4 indoor units installed in Dec. The electrician updated the old 100 amp panel by changing some of the circuits/breakers, and ran new wiring to the heat pump. The cost for just the electrician was about $1700 including Vancouver permit & inspection.

I didn’t bother with the rebates because I thought there were too many hurdles. And what I paid was probably same or less than the after rebate cost when you consider the work needed in order to get the rebates (and I still get to keep my in floor heating).
Feb 4th, 2023 7:38 am
mrweather
Deal Fanatic
Aug 29, 2011
8835 posts
5816 upvotes
Mississauga

Feb 4th, 2023 7:38 am

SPACEMANRICK wrote: ↑ I confirmed today that unfortunately the wiring to our meter is only 100 amps and I called BC Hydro and the cost to BC hydro to upgrade the wiring to 200 amps to the meter is $1,400.
That’s actually not too bad. It sounds like the existing infrastructure can handle it. Where it gets eye-wateringly expensive is if the hydro provider needs to upgrade street transformers.
+2
Feb 4th, 2023 8:45 am
TLSRULZ
Deal Addict
Apr 18, 2005
3605 posts
1834 upvotes
Mississauga

Feb 4th, 2023 8:45 am

SPACEMANRICK wrote: ↑ I confirmed today that unfortunately the wiring to our meter is only 100 amps and I called BC Hydro and the cost to BC hydro to upgrade the wiring to 200 amps to the meter is $1,400. I received a $4,500 quote today from an electrician to upgrade the electrical box to a new 200 amp electrical box so the total cost based on my first quote is around $6,000! I was told today that you can also apply for a $500 BC Hydro electrical box upgrade rebate if you apply at the same time that you apply for the CleanBC heat pump rebate.

I am considering getting a new heat pump and furnace to replace our 32 year old furnace and upgrading our electrical box to 200 amps so all in the total cost after federal and BC rebates could be over $20,000 :rolleyes:
Shop around ... yours is a small panel .. I got a 40/80 panel and went with all slim($$$) breakers .. found a electrician who did it fir 2500 in Dec.. I got quotes for 5K-6K as well. He even said I have a lot of circuits from what he is used to.. and he doesn't usually use the slim breakers as there are expensive.
+2
Feb 5th, 2023 2:37 am
craftsman
Deal Expert
Jan 27, 2006
20911 posts
14406 upvotes
Vancouver, BC

Feb 5th, 2023 2:37 am

mrweather wrote: ↑ That’s actually not too bad. It sounds like the existing infrastructure can handle it. Where it gets eye-wateringly expensive is if the hydro provider needs to upgrade street transformers.
Maybe not.

My neighbour tore down their house and rebuilt it. As part of the upgrade, BC Hydro had to come in and replace the underground vault servicing my house, the neighbours as well as the two houses directly across the street. While I don't know how much BC Hydro charged them, my neighbour is cheap so I doubt that they would have gone for it if they had to foot the entire bill to have a crew come out, dig out the old vault, and install a new much larger one. Yes, no street transformers were replaced but the underground vault was.
+1
Feb 5th, 2023 7:40 am
mrweather
Deal Fanatic
Aug 29, 2011
8835 posts
5816 upvotes
Mississauga

Feb 5th, 2023 7:40 am

True, but the cost of that upgrade would (presumably) have been split across the three houses so it may have been more palatable.
Feb 5th, 2023 1:37 pm
craftsman
Deal Expert
Jan 27, 2006
20911 posts
14406 upvotes
Vancouver, BC

Feb 5th, 2023 1:37 pm

mrweather wrote: ↑ True, but the cost of that upgrade would (presumably) have been split across the three houses so it may have been more palatable.
Actually, no. As the three other houses have no say in whether it happens or not so why should they have to share the cost when one house makes the request to upgrade their line? It's not like the vault failed and therefore needs to be replaced as it affected the service at all four houses... the vault was replaced due to a request for additional service from one house.
Feb 9th, 2023 6:35 pm
SPACEMANRICK [OP]
Sr. Member
Mar 14, 2006
982 posts
478 upvotes
Coquitlam

Feb 9th, 2023 6:35 pm

Just an update. I am going with an electrician that is charging me $4,100 for the upgrade to a new 200 amp panel, with new breakers, new grounding, new meter base, and permits. I received 4 quotes and the quotes ranged from $4,100 to $6,000.

The cost to BC Hydro to do the 200 amp wiring from the underground street service to my meter is $1,409. There is a $500 BC Hydro rebate if the upgrade is part of an upgrade to a heat pump system so the net cost for the electrical upgrade should be $5,009 ($4,100 + $1,409 - $500). Thanks for everyone's help!
+2
Feb 9th, 2023 10:02 pm
PCShutters
Deal Addict
Sep 5, 2011
1180 posts
2110 upvotes
Toronto

Feb 9th, 2023 10:02 pm

SPACEMANRICK wrote: ↑ Just an update. I am going with an electrician that is charging me $4,100 for the upgrade to a new 200 amp panel, with new breakers, new grounding, new meter base, and permits. I received 4 quotes and the quotes ranged from $4,100 to $6,000.

The cost to BC Hydro to do the 200 amp wiring from the underground street service to my meter is $1,409. There is a $500 BC Hydro rebate if the upgrade is part of an upgrade to a heat pump system so the net cost for the electrical upgrade should be $5,009 ($4,100 + $1,409 - $500). Thanks for everyone's help!
That is a really good price from BC Hydro. Toronto Hydro charged me $4500 last year for the exact service. My total bill was $9k but I dug the 54ft long x 4ft deep trenches myself. If I were to hire that out, it would be well over 12k
+1
Feb 10th, 2023 12:44 am
craftsman
Deal Expert
Jan 27, 2006
20911 posts
14406 upvotes
Vancouver, BC

Feb 10th, 2023 12:44 am

SPACEMANRICK wrote: ↑ Just an update. I am going with an electrician that is charging me $4,100 for the upgrade to a new 200 amp panel, with new breakers, new grounding, new meter base, and permits. I received 4 quotes and the quotes ranged from $4,100 to $6,000.

The cost to BC Hydro to do the 200 amp wiring from the underground street service to my meter is $1,409. There is a $500 BC Hydro rebate if the upgrade is part of an upgrade to a heat pump system so the net cost for the electrical upgrade should be $5,009 ($4,100 + $1,409 - $500). Thanks for everyone's help!
Are they digging a trench? Or is there an existing correctly sized conduit that they are using?

I'm asking because a 100A conduit is smaller than the 200A. Also, older underground 100A services often don't even have an underground conduit just a buried cable. I have a buried cable for my house.
Feb 11th, 2023 6:30 pm
SPACEMANRICK [OP]
Sr. Member
Mar 14, 2006
982 posts
478 upvotes
Coquitlam

Feb 11th, 2023 6:30 pm

Fortunately, I currently have the needed 3" conduit pipe to the BC Hydro meter needed for the 200 amp electrical upgrade. No digging a trench is not needed for my upgrade.

I contacted BC Hydro last week and they said once they get the paperwork from the electrician for the 200 amp upgrade it usually only takes a few days for them to coordinate with the electrician to do the upgrade.
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