Electrical in London, ON

A deeper look at how London conditions shape the electrical work owners actually need.

Electrical work in London's older housing stock requires a specific skill set that goes beyond standard residential wiring. A 1938 Old East Village Victorian with partial knob and tube still in service behind plaster walls is not a property where a standard panel upgrade resolves the compliance picture. The ESA requires that any newly accessed wiring during renovation be brought to current code. This means that a kitchen renovation that opens walls to add circuits will typically also require assessment and replacement of any knob and tube found in the opened spaces. Understanding the scope of a project before starting, documenting the existing conditions with photos, and providing a flat rate quote that accounts for the discovered conditions is the only approach that keeps London property owners from facing mid project surprises.

Panel upgrades are the most common electrical capital project in London's 40 to 70 year old housing stock. A 60 amp panel in a 1958 bungalow in Byron was adequate for 1958 loads: lights, a refrigerator, a television, and a stove. It is completely inadequate for a 2020s household with two or more people working from home on multiple devices, a washer and dryer on dedicated circuits, a modern dishwasher, and a Level 2 EV charger that draws 40 to 50 amps on its own.

A 200 amp service entrance upgrade with a new panel, properly sized ESA permitted service conductors from the utility, and reconnection of all existing circuits is the standard solution. For properties where an EV charger and a heat pump are both planned, a 200 amp upgrade to a 200 amp panel with a sub panel, or a full 400 amp service in larger properties, may be the appropriate scope.

EV charger installation in London is growing rapidly as Ontario's transit and climate policy encourages EV adoption. A Level 2 EVSE charger requires a dedicated 240V circuit with minimum 40 amp capacity (50 amp circuit recommended). ESA permit is required for all EV charger installations in Ontario. Properties in Old South and Byron with 100 amp panels typically need a panel assessment before a charger is installed; the panel may not have capacity for the added load without an upgrade. Bridgepoint assesses panel capacity, quotes any required upgrade, and handles the full installation under ESA permit as a single coordinated project. All electrical work meets Ontario Electrical Safety Code requirements.