Will your electrical panel cope?
Do you need a new electrical panel for a heat pump?
Not always. Natural Resources Canada says an add-on air source heat pump generally does not need an electrical service upgrade. An all-electric setup normally calls for 200 amp service. A licensed electrician assesses your panel, so get that check before you book.
Add-on versus all-electric
NRCan's page on heating and cooling with a heat pump says two things.
For an add-on air source heat pump, an electrical service upgrade is generally not necessary. For an all-electric air source or ground source system, a 200 ampere service is normally required.
It also notes that the age of your service and your home's total electrical load can still make an upgrade necessary. Switching from natural gas or oil may call for a panel upgrade.
What about a 100 amp service?
NRCan does not give one answer for 100 amp homes, and neither can we. It depends on the heat pump, what else the house runs, and how old the panel is. A 100 amp home keeping its furnace as backup is a different case from one going fully electric.
What gets checked
In general: the size of the service, the age and condition of the panel, free breaker spaces, and the total load once a heat pump is on the same panel as everything else. The result tells you whether the panel can take it or needs work.
A licensed electrician
In Ontario, the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) sets who may do electrical work in a home, and electrical work in a home is generally done by a Licensed Electrical Contractor. Source: ESA, Doing Electrical Work.
Other provinces have their own electrical safety authority. Ask your installer who is doing which part of the job. Then confirm it with your provincial authority.
Panels and your rebate
Check your province page before you book. Some programs have rules about who does the work, and an upgrade may or may not be covered. We do not guess here.
The federal National Heat Pump Rebate is described on canada.ca as "a grant of either $2,000 or up to $10,000 (for low- to median-income households)". Estimate, not guaranteed. Last checked 2026-10-22. Read it on the canada.ca page. The portal is expected in early 2027, and the criteria and eligible equipment list are due as of November 1, 2026. Provincial programs are separate.
Province pages: Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Alberta. Steps before you install: how to apply.
More on panels
Is 100 amp service enough for a heat pump?
Sometimes. It depends on the unit, the house load and the panel. A licensed electrician assesses it.
Do I need a panel upgrade if I switch from oil or gas?
NRCan says switching from natural gas or oil may call for one. Get the panel assessed first.
Can I do the electrical work myself?
Rules vary by province. In Ontario, the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) sets who may do the work. Most people use a licensed electrician.