How Much Does an Electrician Cost in Victoria BC?
Most electricians in British Columbia bill time and materials at roughly $100 to $150 per hour, which means you do not know the cost until the work is finished. Grifflyn Electric does not work that way. We quote a flat price from a published catalogue before anyone starts: panel replacements start at $2,400, 200 amp service upgrades start at $4,750 with the permit included, and EV charger installations start at $1,969.66 supplied and installed. Call (778) 350-2677 for a firm number on your job.
Updated September 2026. Technically reviewed by Carl Simard, Red Seal Certified Construction Electrician (SkilledTradesBC Certificate of Qualification No. 00316-EW-26), and Behn Larsen, FSR Class B (Certificate # CEL000220404).
We do not bill time and materials
This is the part most homeowners searching for an hourly rate do not realize they should be asking about.
Under time and materials, the meter runs and you find out the total at the end. A slow crew costs you more than a fast one. A complication that was visible during the estimate becomes your bill rather than the contractor's problem. You cannot compare two quotes, because neither one is a price.
Grifflyn Electric quotes a flat price for the work. You see the number before we start, and it does not move unless the job turns out to be something other than what was quoted, in which case we tell you and you approve the change before we continue. We were the first electrical company in Greater Victoria to publish a standardized pricing catalogue, and the figures below are the same ones we quote from every day.
Electrician prices in Victoria, BC
These prices are based on a standard installation. Because electrical work in older Victoria housing stock is variable, we reserve the right to requote any job that goes beyond a standard installation once a certified electrician has assessed it on site. You approve any change before work continues.
| Electrical work | Price in Victoria |
|---|---|
| Service call, including travel and diagnosis | From $200 |
| Electrical panel replacement, same amperage | From $2,400 |
| 200 amp service upgrade, permit included | From $4,750 |
| 400 amp service upgrade | Quoted after a load calculation |
| EV charger, supplied and installed | From $1,969.66 |
| Heat pump electrical connection | From $1,100 |
| Hot tub circuit, 40 amp under 100 feet | From $2,183 plus GST |
| Sauna circuit | From $1,750 |
| Pot lights, first fixture | $577.74 |
| Pot lights, each additional fixture | $185 |
| Dedicated appliance circuit for a business, such as a freezer or dishwasher | From $2,000 |
| Knob and tube replacement | Quoted per home after a free assessment |
| Kitchen or bathroom renovation electrical | Quoted per scope |
| Electrical planning report for a strata | $2,000 flat rate |
| Callout fee, Sooke, Sidney and Brentwood Bay only | $60 |
Why the hourly rate is the wrong question
An hourly rate tells you almost nothing about what a job will cost. Two contractors at $130 an hour can finish the same panel replacement $1,400 apart, and you will not find that out until the invoice arrives. The number that matters is the total, and a contractor who cannot give you one before starting is asking you to carry the risk on their behalf.
There is a second problem with hourly comparison. A rate quoted at $130 with a separate trip charge, a materials markup and a permit billed at cost is not a $130 job. Flat pricing removes all of that, because everything is already inside the number you were given.
The cost most quotes leave out: BC Hydro
On a service upgrade there are three separate costs, and most contractors only show you one of them.
- The electrical work. From $4,750. New panel, panel schedule, meter base, and verification that the circuits throughout your home meet current Canadian Electrical Code.
- The permit. Approximately $400 through Technical Safety BC or the City of Victoria. This is included in our price.
- The BC Hydro portion. Approximately $850 for their new cabling from the pole to your home. This is charged by BC Hydro, not by us. We coordinate the application and you accept their fee directly.
A quote that shows $4,750 and does not mention the BC Hydro portion is not cheaper than one that shows $4,750 plus $850. It is the same job with one line hidden. Ask every contractor you speak to how the BC Hydro charge is handled.
What moves the price on a Victoria home
Victoria has one of the highest proportions of pre-1960 housing in Canada, and that shapes electrical costs here more than in most cities. Two identical looking jobs on the same street can land at different numbers, which is why we assess before we quote rather than quoting from a phone call.
- Age of the wiring. Knob and tube, early aluminum branch wiring and cloth insulated conductors all add scope.
- Distance from the panel. A hot tub or EV charger on the far side of the property costs more in cable and labour than one on the garage wall. Our hot tub pricing is quoted at under 100 feet for exactly this reason.
- Access. Open attics and unfinished basements are quick. Finished ceilings, plaster and lath, and crawlspaces with limited clearance are not.
- Existing capacity. If a new load will not fit in the panel, a service upgrade becomes part of the project. This is the single most common reason a quote comes back higher than expected.
- Panel condition. Some older panels no longer have breakers available and have to be replaced rather than added to.
- Heritage and strata requirements. Heritage designated properties and strata buildings carry approval steps that take time.
Permits and inspections
Service upgrades, new circuits and most renovation work require a permit through Technical Safety BC. We pull the permit and manage the inspection, and the cost is included in our quoted price. A quote that leaves the permit out is not cheaper, it is incomplete, and unpermitted work can surface later during an insurance claim or a sale.
Rebates worth checking before you book
Some of the work homeowners ask us about qualifies for rebates that reduce the real cost. EV charger installations through BC Hydro and heat pump connections through the CleanBC programs are the two most common. We confirm your eligibility during the quote and provide the itemized invoice, broken down by activity performed, that these programs require. Check your eligibility before you book, not after.
A real example from Gordon Head
We replaced the panel in a 1970s home on Cedar Hill Road where much of the electrical was still original to the build. The home ran on a 200 amp Federal Pioneer Stab-Lok panel. Stab-Lok systems are known for breakers that can fail to trip during an overload, and the homeowners wanted the reliability of a modern system rather than a repair. Because the service size was already adequate, this was a panel replacement starting at $2,400 rather than a full service upgrade starting at $4,750. Knowing which one your home actually needs is often worth several thousand dollars.
How to compare electrician quotes in Victoria
The lowest number on the page is rarely the lowest cost of the project. Before you compare totals, confirm every quote includes the same things.
- Ask whether the quote is a fixed price or an estimate against time and materials. These are not the same document.
- Confirm the contractor licence number. In British Columbia, electrical contractors are licensed by Technical Safety BC. Ours is LEL0209496.
- Ask whether the permit is included, and who pulls it.
- On a service upgrade, ask how the BC Hydro charge is handled and whether it appears in the quote.
- Ask who is doing the work on site, and whether a Red Seal certified journeyperson is on the job.
- Confirm the liability coverage the company carries.
- Ask what the warranty covers, and for how long, on both parts and workmanship.
- Get the scope in writing, including what happens if the job goes beyond a standard installation.
Why homeowners choose Grifflyn Electric
- Lifetime workmanship warranty
- Up to 5 year warranty on parts
- Licensed by Technical Safety BC, Licence #LEL0209496
- Red Seal certified journeyperson electricians on every job
- $5 million liability coverage
- BBB A+ accredited
- Top rated electrical company on Google
- First electrical company in Greater Victoria to publish standardized upfront pricing
- Full, expanded service department built to get you in fast
- We answer the phone 24 hours a day
Where we work
Grifflyn Electric serves homeowners and businesses across Greater Victoria, including Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, View Royal, Colwood, Langford, Sidney, Sooke and Brentwood Bay. There is no callout fee inside our core service area. Sooke, Sidney and Brentwood Bay carry a $60 callout fee. We handle residential and commercial electrical work across the region.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an electrician cost in Victoria BC?
Grifflyn Electric quotes a flat price rather than billing by the hour. Service calls start at $200 including travel and diagnosis. Panel replacements start at $2,400, 200 amp service upgrades start at $4,750 with the permit included, EV charger installations start at $1,969.66 supplied and installed, and hot tub circuits start at $2,183 plus GST for a 40 amp circuit under 100 feet.
What is the average hourly rate for an electrician in Victoria BC?
Most electrical contractors in British Columbia bill time and materials at roughly $100 to $150 per hour for a journeyperson, plus travel, materials markup and permit costs on top. Grifflyn Electric does not bill this way. We quote a flat price from our published catalogue so you know the total before work starts rather than after it finishes.
Do you bill time and materials?
No. Every job is quoted as a fixed price from our published pricing catalogue. If the work turns out to be something other than what was quoted, we tell you, show you what changed, and you approve the revised price before we continue. You are never billed for time you did not agree to.
How much does a service call cost in Victoria?
Service calls start at $200, which covers travel, diagnosis and the electrician explaining what is happening before any further work is agreed to. If the visit turns into a repair or an installation, that work is quoted at a flat price before it begins.
How much does it cost to upgrade to a 200 amp service in Victoria?
A 200 amp service upgrade in Victoria starts at $4,750, with the permit of approximately $400 included in that figure. BC Hydro charges separately for their portion of the new cabling from the pole to your home, which is approximately $850. The final price depends on how far the meter base sits from the panel, whether new branch circuit wiring is needed back to the old panel location, and whether exterior conduit is required.
How much does it cost to replace an electrical panel in Victoria?
Replacing a panel at the same amperage starts at $2,400. The final price depends on your panel size, the condition of your existing service, the number of circuits, and whether any wiring or grounding needs to be brought up to code. If the service itself is being increased at the same time, the job becomes a service upgrade and starts at $4,750 instead.
How much does an EV charger installation cost in Victoria?
EV charger installation starts at $1,969.66 supplied and installed. The final figure depends on the distance from the panel to the parking spot, the charger you select and whether your existing service has capacity. We check your BC Hydro rebate eligibility before you book.
How much does hot tub wiring cost in Victoria?
Hot tub circuit installation starts at $2,183 plus GST for a 40 amp circuit under 100 feet. The final figure depends on the total run length, your tub's amperage, whether the panel has space, and indoor versus outdoor placement. The circuit must be GFCI protected and have a disconnect within sight of the tub, both of which are code requirements rather than options.
Do you charge a callout fee?
There is no callout fee across our core Greater Victoria service area. Sooke, Sidney and Brentwood Bay carry a $60 callout fee.
Are permits included in the price?
Permits are included in our quoted price for work that requires them, including service upgrades and panel replacements. We pull the permit through Technical Safety BC and manage the inspection. The BC Hydro charge on a service upgrade is separate and is billed by BC Hydro directly.
Are your prices fixed?
Our catalogue prices are based on a standard installation. Electrical work in older Victoria homes is variable, so we reserve the right to requote any job that goes beyond a standard installation once a certified electrician has assessed it on site. You approve any change before work continues.
Get a straightforward price on your job
If you want a clear number before anyone starts work, call Grifflyn Electric at (778) 350-2677 or request a quote. We will tell you what the job costs, what the permit involves and when we can be there.
Grifflyn Electric Inc.
355 Catherine St, Victoria, BC V9A 3S9
(778) 350-2677
